Fraunces Tavern® Museum

07/04/2023

July 4, 1776, the approved the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration severed the colonies' connection with Great Britain and declared war against the British Empire.

The Declaration reads, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

On loan in the Davis Educational Center and Loeb Gallery through July 10th, make sure to view a very rare printing of the Declaration of Independence in The New-York Journal or The General Advertiser, printed by John Holt in Water Street on July 11, 1776 as well as an official facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, made from a copperplate engraving printed by William J. Stone, circa 1833.

Image courtesy of the National Archives

06/14/2023

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. While not a federal holiday, this special day is observed across the nation, from small towns to big cities, often with parades. Since 1916, Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, Inc. (SRNY), the owner and operator of Fraunces Tavern Museum, has hosted the Flag Day Parade, Celebration, and Open House here in New York City.

Check out photos and a video from SRNY's parade and celebration hosted earlier in the month on the Museum's website as well as the winning entries for our 2023 essay and art contest on “What the American Flag Means to Me” and more! Enjoy $1 Admission at the Museum today in honor of Flag Day. https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/flag-day

06/10/2023

A new permanent exhibition highlights the role of Fraunces Tavern in the culminating event in one of the largest emancipations of Black people prior the the American Civil War. "The Birch Trials at Fraunces Tavern" opens at Fraunces Tavern® Museum in New York City on June 27, 2023. An exhibition preview reception and optional dinner will be held on June 26 at 6:30PM; tickets are available on the Museum's website. The Museum will offer $1 admission on June 27th to celebrate the opening of the exhibition.

https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/birch-trials-at-fraunces-tavern

On June 27, 2023, Fraunces Tavern Museum–located in the oldest building in Manhattan–will unveil a new permanent exhibition that highlights the role of Fraunces Tavern in the evacuation of thousands of Black Loyalists from New York City at the end of the Revolutionary War, the culminating event in one of the largest emancipations of Black people prior to the American Civil War. This chapter in the history of Fraunces Tavern adds to the many significant Revolutionary era events for which Fraunces Tavern is already well-known: a meeting place of the Sons of Liberty in the run-up to war breaking out (as depicted in the hit musical "Hamilton"), the site of General George Washington's farewell to his officers at the end of the War, and–in the early years of the Republic–the new Nation's first executive office building, housing the Department of Foreign Affairs (now called the Department of State), then led by John Jay, the Department of War, then led by Henry Knox, and the Board of Treasury.

In 1783, as the Revolutionary War drew to a close, a joint British and American commission–formed as part of the process to implement the peace–met at Fraunces Tavern to review and deliberate upon the eligibility of some Black Loyalists to evacuate with the British Army. Testimonies were provided by interested persons alongside documentary evidence for the commission to render a decision. These proceedings are now referred to as the "Birch Trials," named after British Brigadier General Samuel Birch, Commander of the 17th Regiment of Light Dragoons and Commandant of New York, appointed to oversee them.

The Birch Trials were part of a process whereby 3,000 Black Loyalists evacuated New York City between April and November 1783, many of whom had previously been enslaved. The names of Black Loyalists who qualified for evacuation were recorded in the Book of Negroes, the compilation of which was overseen by the commission.

This new permanent exhibition, located within Fraunces Tavern Museum's Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Educational Center for American History, will highlight these significant events. Visitors will enter the exhibition and observe chairs and a table, arranged as if waiting for the commissioners to enter and hear a case. Along the exhibition's walls, art and written communications of the period will highlight the role of Black Loyalists in the Revolutionary War.

"The Birch Trials were a significant event in the long and continuing story of Americans of African descent in the United States. Although the story of these individuals has been told, including by our own Museum, it is still not widely known by the public. We hope this new permanent exhibition will change that," explained Ambrose M. Richardson III, Co-Chairman of the Museum and Art Committee.

Museum and Art Committee Co-Chairman Craig Weaver emphasized that, "The exhibition reflects two years of exhaustive research on both sides of the Atlantic into thousands of pages of existing original documentation, and provides the most comprehensive insight to date into this significant event in the history of Black emancipation in the United States."

The new exhibition also recognizes the thousands of Black Patriots who fought to further the cause of American Independence. For example: Crispus Attucks, a Black sailor killed in the Boston Massacre, who is thought by many historians to be the first American to die in the rebellion; Peter Salem and Salem Poor, who were recognized for their valor in the Battle of Bunker Hill; James Armistead, who served in a unit commanded by French General Lafayette and provided intelligence on the British positions at Yorktown that was crucial to the American victory; and the 1st Rhode Island Regiment–including a large and visible body of Black soldiers, both free and previously enslaved–who fought bravely during the War, most notably at the Battle of Newport, Rhode Island.

This exhibition is an important addition to the narrative of the Revolutionary War and its aftermath, and provides powerful visuals and significant historical content for visitors.

In 1783, as the Revolutionary War drew to a close, a joint British and American commission–formed as part of the process to implement the peace–met at Fraunces Tavern to review and deliberate upon the eligibility of some Black Loyalists to evacuate with the British Army.  Testimonies were provi...

04/13/2023

Tickets are still available for our Sat 4/15 + 4/22 walking tour: Washington & Hamilton in New York City led by Bruce Racond! American history comes alive on the streets where it happened in historic locations critical to the lives and partnership of Alexander Hamilton and George Washington! Relive the first reading of the Declaration of Independence and the subsequent revolt, honor the fallen American troops in the Battle of Brooklyn, celebrate the Constitution’s ratification, and applaud Hamilton's achievement of the Compromise of 1790. Stand at the site of Washington's momentous inauguration, dig into the history of the infamous duel between Hamilton and Aaron Burr, pay your respects at the final resting place of the Hamiltons, and much more. This is an immersive tour for lovers of United States’ history and the musical Hamilton! https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/events-calendar/2023/4/15/washington-amp-hamilton-in-new-york-city-walking-tour

04/06/2023

On April 24, 2023, Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York invite you to gather with them to commemorate the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775. At this commemoration, they will also honor the winner of the 2023 Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award, presented annually to the author of the best newly published work on the American Revolutionary War that combines original scholarship, insight, and good writing. This year's winner is Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution by Eric Jay Dolin. Tickets and more information here:

Since 1972 the Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award has been presented annually to the best author of a newly published work on the American Revolutionary War, combining original scholarship, insight, and good writing. This award is one way the Museum fulfills the mission to educate the public about th

04/03/2023

There are still spaces for TONIGHT'S EVENING LECTURE at 6:30pm at the Museum and on Zoom. Between 1776 and 1783, Great Britain hired more than thirty thousand German soldiers to fight in its war against the American rebels. Collectively known as Hessians, the soldiers and accompanying civilians, including hundreds of women and children, spent extended periods of time in locations as dispersed and varied as Canada in the North and West Florida in the South. Author Friederike Baer highlights some of the key experiences of these participants in a war on a distant continent against a people that had done them no harm.

Between 1776 and 1783, Great Britain hired more than thirty thousand German soldiers to fight in its war against the American rebels. Collectively known as Hessians, the soldiers and accompanying civilians, including hundreds of women and children, spent extended periods of time in locations as disp

03/02/2023

03/01/2023

During this March, we encourage you to visit our Women of the Revolutionary War Collection page on the Museum's website. Read these articles to explore the role women played during the Revolutionary War, from manning the battlefield to shaping the economy. Pictured above: Molly Pitcher and the Battle of Monmouth by Dennis Malone Carter, 1854, part of the Fraunces Tavern® Museum Collection, a gift of Herbert P. Whitlock, 1913. https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/wrw-collection

02/22/2023

Happy Birthday, !

, February 22, 1732, George Washington was born in Virginia to Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. Incredibly ambitious, the young Washington joined the British Army and served as an officer when the French and Indian War broke out. He made a name for himself during the war and gained military experience that would later prove to be invaluable.

He left the British Army once it became clear that he would not have the career he had long sought. Upon returning home, he would court Virginia’s wealthiest widow, Martha Dandridge Custis. They married on January 6, 1759, and were devoted to each other. He raised her two children as his own and the family lived together at Mount Vernon.

As the Revolution began, Washington became a prominent supporter of the cause in Virginia. Elected to the Continental Congress, he was nominated by John Adams to be the first Commander of the Continental Army. He proceeded to Cambridge and laid siege to Boston, driving the British out of the city. Unfortunately, the rest of the early war was difficult for the Americans, and the cause was nearly lost. On the brink of collapse and at risk of being replaced, Washington rallied his troops and attacked Trenton on December 25, 1776.

After the war, Washington resigned his commission and retired to Mount Vernon. He was soon called to service when the Constitutional Convention was held in 1787 and was elected its President before becoming the first President of the United States in 1789. His every move setting a precedent, Washington was a stabilizing force in this period. His leadership helped steady and save the country. Perhaps his most powerful precedent was when he voluntarily left the Presidency.

He would finally retire to his plantation, though it would only last two years before his December 1799 death. As the nation mourned, he was remembered as the “Father of His Country,” which has stuck ever since. to George Washington, who the country owes so much! (Image: General George Washington by John Ward Dunsmore, Collection of Fraunces Tavern Museum)

02/18/2023

Join us in celebrating George Washington’s birthday THIS WEEKEND, Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19, with $1 Museum admission! Check out our new exhibitions and pick up a "George Washington in New York City" brochure to take a self-guided tour around the Museum exploring Washington's connections to the city! Can't make it to the Museum in person? Visit our website to check out a virtual version of the tour! https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/washington-in-nyc-intro

02/18/2023

Watch an interview by Reuters with Renee Witterstaetter, the curator of our exhibition "Cloaked Crusader: George Washington in Comics and Pop Culture".

02/01/2023

During this February, we encourage you to visit our Fighting For Freedom Collection page on the Museum's website. This collection of articles explores the important role that Black people, both enslaved and free, played in the American Revolution. Read these articles to explore the role of Black Patriots during the Revolutionary War, like the Bucks of Massachusetts and the First Rhode Island Regiment, and learn about the Black experience in New York City. https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/fff-collection

01/21/2023

NEW EXHIBITION NOW OPEN - Private Dining at Fraunces Tavern: This new permanent exhibition portrays one of Fraunces Tavern’s private dining rooms in the late 18th century. Government officials and prominent members of society (including many of the country’s Founding Fathers), as well as private clubs and companies used these rooms to meet and entertain away from the Tavern’s public rooms. And while other taverns were providing average communal fare, Samuel Fraunces was making culinary history. Fraunces was one of the first to offer not only delicious food, but also at any time of day, in an elegant setting with individual table service.

The exhibition showcases the City’s colonial foodways (the eating habits and culinary practices of a people, region, or historical period) and their influence on the cooking at Fraunces Tavern. It also provides more information on the prominent individuals who dined at the Tavern during this period. Fraunces, his household, and the food, furnishings, and patrons who filled these private dining rooms exemplified New York’s status as a global port city, where people from different backgrounds influenced the culture and cuisine of what would soon become the United States of America.

Learn more about the current exhibitions at Fraunces Tavern Museum.

01/11/2023

, January 11, 1755, Alexander Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean. Hamilton would move to the American colonies and study law at King’s College, now Columbia University. During the Revolutionary War, he was an officer, serving as an aide to General Washington and commanding troops at Yorktown. After the war, he would become the first Secretary of the Treasury, helping establish the financial system of the United States.

A self-made man, Hamilton was born out of wedlock and was mostly self-educated. While working as a clerk, Hamilton impressed local leaders enough to raise money to send him to New York for his education. He enrolled at King’s College, and while studying there, the American Revolution began.

Hamilton was an early supporter of the Revolution and impressed others with his political writings. He became an officer in the Continental Army, seeing combat at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. He would later accept an appointment to become one of General George Washington’s aides. He would quickly gain Washington’s trust and become one of his most trusted advisors.

Long desiring a battlefield command, Hamilton eventually received one in the summer of 1781, leading forces at Yorktown, earning the military glory that he long sought was necessary for his career. After the revolution, he became a leader of the Federalist Party and the chief rival of Thomas Jefferson. One of the most notable appointments was the Secretary of the Treasury, working to establish the groundwork for the financial system still used today. Hamilton would remain influential after leaving his secretary post until his death in a duel with Aaron Burr, the sitting Vice President of the United States, in 1804. His shocking death ended a remarkable life that was one of the first rags-to-riches stories in American history. Let us to Alexander Hamilton on his birthday, one of America’s most influential figures. !

Image: Alexander Hamilton by John Trumbull, copied after Giuseppe Ceracchi, 1806. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery

12/19/2022

, December 19, 1777, the infamous winter encampment at Valley Forge begins for the Continental Army. Located near Philadelphia, held by the British, General Washington led around 12,000 men and camp followers to the site. Despite not being the worst winter experience that the Continental Army faced during the war, that being at Morristown, Valley Forge has nonetheless gained an infamous place in American history for the hardships faced by the soldiers.
A lack of food and cold weather were nothing new to the Continental Army and would not stop being issues at Valley Forge. But this winter would go down in infamy for just how bad things got and how much of a toll it took on morale. Nearly 2,000 soldiers died from disease, with the weather and malnutrition speeding up the process.
Among the things that aided the soldiers were the construction of huts and the ordering of the inoculation of troops against smallpox. The huts provided much needed shelter against the elements and improved the quality of life for the soldiers. Washington, well read on the latest advancements in medicine, ordered that all soldiers be inoculated against smallpox. Though a controversial, and sometimes dangerous, process, it proved to be overwhelmingly successful. The order to be inoculated would stand for the rest of the war and is credited with saving thousands of lives and saving the Continental Army from being crippled.
General Washington refused to leave his struggling army for more comfortable conditions elsewhere. In fact, Martha Washington even joined him and provided a morale boost by her presence. General Henry Knox and his wife, Lucy, were also present. The Marquis de Lafayette would also be present. This would be the winter that von Steuben made a name for himself by becoming the Continental Army’s drillmaster. He turned the rag-tag group of soldiers into a professional army through his simplified drilling process.
Today, we remember those who suffered through the winter at valley Forge and promise to their sacrifice. Let us to them!
Image: Washington and Lafayette at Valley Forge by John Ward Dunsmore, 1907 Courtesy of the Library of Congress

12/02/2022

Join us this Sunday, December 4 from 12pm to 5pm Washington’s Farewell Open House! Commemorate Washington’s emotional farewell to his Officers that took place in the Long Room on December 4, 1783 with $1 admission to the Museum! Witness a reenactment of the Farewell in the room where it happened and take a self-guided tour exploring George Washington’s connections to New York City.
Please note: space is limited for reenactment performances. Advanced registration is recommended.
Tickets can be purchased on our website.

On December 4, 1783, nine days after the last British soldiers left American soil, General George Washington visited Fraunces Tavern. He invited his officers from the Continental Army to thank them for their service, and to bid them farewell. After embracing each officer and wishing them well, Washi...

11/11/2022

Celebrating Veterans Day today, we remember the six remaining veterans of the Revolutionary War highlighted in today’s post from Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York’s new Instagram account. Thank you to all veterans who have served our country. Veterans (and active military) always receive free admission to the Museum. https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck0cuMWOPAo/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

11/10/2022

to the United States Marine Corps! in 1775, the Continental Marines were formed by an act of Congress. Captain Samuel Nicholas was appointed to lead them and proceeded to begin recruiting in his native Philadelphia. Tradition holds that this recruitment took place primarily at Tun’s tavern in that city. Future President John Adams noted in his diary that: “two Battalions of Marines be raised, consisting of one Colonel, two Lieutenant Colonels, two Majors, and other Officers as usual in other regiments.”
Nicholas would successfully recruit over 300 men before being deployed in December of that year. The primary purposes of the Marines were to provide ground support for the naval campaigns. In other words, they were to be soldiers at sea. They would serve on ships in conjunction with the Continental Navy and see action on the ground. This multi-purpose role has continued as a mainstay of the Marines ever since.
Some of the most notable actions in which the Continental marines took place included the Raid of Nassau in the Bahamas in 1776 and the Battle of Princeton in January 1777. These were both successful engagements in which the Marines played a part. Among their most notable officers, in addition to Nicholas, were Isaac Craig and the controversial Esek Hopkins. During the war, the Continental Marines would fight as an integrated group, with at least thirteen African Americans serving among the 2,000 Marines. John Martin would be the first of these men to join.
The Marines would serve throughout the war in various roles, primarily supporting the Continental navy at sea. They would help gather intelligence, capture arms, and participate in naval battles. They would be officially disbanded at the end of the war, along with the Continental navy, but not before serving as an essential part of the overall American forces.
Today let us to the Continental Marines and all those who have worn the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor since! Marines!

Image courtesy of the United States Marine Corps.

11/07/2022

Join us on November 10th, as we welcome Adam Van Doren to talk about his new book, "In the Founders' Footsteps: Landmarks of the American Revolution." In this lecture, the author discusses his book and explores well-known and lesser-known historic sites in the 13 original North American colonies, accompanied by his paintings.
The lecture will be held in-person and via zoom. Tickets can be purchased on the museum website. There is a $5 fee for non-museum members for in person tickets and admission is free for museum members in person. Attendance over zoom is free of charge and registration can be found on the museum website. The lecture will begin at 6:30.

11/05/2022

Join us next Saturday and Sunday, November 12 and 13, as licensed tour guide Bruce Racond visits the New York City that George Washington would have known from 1776 to 1790! This new walking tour explores the people and places of NYC during this period and Washington’s first term as president, including the important contributions of women and African Americans.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. Ticket purchase for this walking tour includes complimentary Museum admission. Tickets are $25 for museum members and $30 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased on the museum website. The tour will run from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/events-calendar/2022/11/12/george-washingtons-new-york-walking-tour

Fraunces Tavern Museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history of the American Revolutionary era through public education.

11/03/2022

For this Native American Heritage Month, we are highlighting the story of Koquethagechton, known to many as Chief White Eyes. History goes that Koquethagechton was born sometime in the second half of the 15th century as a member of the turtle clan of the Lenape nation. Given his involvement in the American Revolution, he was actually probably born closer to 1700. As chief, he encouraged his people to form friendly relationships with the white settlers that surrounded them in their traditional homeland of the Delaware River Valley. In 1776, Koquethagechton was sent to the Continental Congress as a representative of Lenape. He agreed that the Lenape would fight with the Patriots if war broke out with the British.

In exchange, the Patriots promised to recognize the Lenape as a sovereign nation, with representation in the new American Congress. Koquethagechton wanted the Lenape to form the 14th state of the United States. This was the first treaty signed between the United States and a Native American Nation. This is known as the Treaty of Fort Pitt, for the places where it was signed.

Soon after Koquethagechton died. According to the colonists this was caused by smallpox, although an American Indian agent and associate of Koquethagechton, named George Morgan, claimed that he had been assassinated by American militiamen. Following his death in 1778, the Lenape relationship with the Patriots began to sour. In December of 1779, a delegation of Lenape went to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to discuss their dissatisfaction with the treaty they had signed, but they were ignored. After the war, the new United States government disregarded this treaty entirely.

Because of this unhappiness and the lack of Koquethagechton’s influence, the pro-British sentiments among the Lenape began to rise. Many Lenape became neutral, while others decided to fight for the British.

11/01/2022

Today on the blog: Programs & Events Associate Jack Campbell highlights the important role played by privateers in the Revolutionary War. Read about the Pirates of the American Revolution! https://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/privateer-revolution

10/31/2022

from Fraunces Tavern Museum!

10/28/2022

that the earliest reference to baseball came all the way back in 1744? It appeared in a children’s book entitled “A Little Pretty Pocket-Book,” sometimes considered to be the first children’s book. Though the game it refers to is actually Rounders, an ancestor of modern baseball, it is still the first time that “baseball” appears in print. It is described in a poem that goes:
Base-Ball
The ball once struck off,
Away flies the Boy
To the next destin’d Post,
And then Home with Joy.
Written by John Newbery, also known as the “Father of Children’s Literature” in some circles, the booklet also included an image of the game being played. Though visually different from the modern game, one can see its origins in the image. So, as the begins tonight, think back to the colonial era and the origins of “America’s National Pastime.” It goes back much farther than you may expect!
Image: A Pretty Little Pocket-Book by John Newbery courtesy of the Library of Congress

10/26/2022

Join us on October 27th as we welcome author Keith Beutler as he discusses his new book "George Washington's Hair: How Early Americans Remembered the Founders. In this lecture, the author will discuss how surviving reported locks of George Washington’s hair in the holdings of more than 100 public archives and historical museums, including Fraunces Tavern Museum, offer clues about influential, but often forgotten performances of patriotic memory in the early United States.
This lecture will be held in person and via zoom. In person tickets are $5 or free for museum members and can be purchased on the museum website. Online tickets are completely free and can also be purchased on the museum website. Please note that the lecture will begin at 5:30 pm.

10/24/2022

Charlotte Temple was the first novel published in the United States to become a best seller. Written by Susanna Rawson, the novel was originally published in England in 1791. It became Rawson’s greatest success after 1794, when it was first published in America.

This book can be considered a Sentimental novel. This was a genre of writing that became popular in the eighteenth century, focusing on stories of heightened emotions to evoke feelings of sympathy and catharsis in the reader. The most famous example of an American sentimental novel is Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

This book focuses on the life of its titular character, a young woman who is deceived by a wealthy man. He promises her marriage and they elope to New York, but after Charlotte falls pregnant he abandons her to marry a wealthier woman. Many novels like Charlotte Temple focus on the story of a seduced woman, reflecting social concerns of the time. In the late eighteenth century, seduction moved from being a crime prosecuted by the Church to one prosecuted by the state. The Marriage Act of 1753, an act of Parliament which outlawed marriage outside of the Church of England and forbade people under 21 from marrying without parental consent, also led to some young people running away to elope, as Charlotte does in the novel.

Charlotte Temple went through over 200 editions in America and remained the biggest bestseller in the country until Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published in 1851.

Images: Charlotte Temple Title page, Susanna Rawson, 1814 edition, New York, E. Duyckinck.

Watercolor miniature of Susanna Rawson, Courtesy of the University of Virginia Library.