Fraunces Tavern Celebrates 300 Years

Fraunces Tavern Celebrates 300 Years

Peter C. Hein, President of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York welcomed the crowd and toasted Fraunces Tavern

It’s not often you get invited to a 300th birthday party.

Last week, Fraunces Tavern and Fraunces Tavern Museum celebrated the 300th anniversary of the construction of the building at 54 Pearl Street that would become Fraunces Tavern. The museum also highlighted its new exhibition “A Monument to Memory: 300 Years of Living History.”

Built around 1719 as a private residence for  a merchant Stephan Delancey, the building has played various roles in American history.

In 1762, Samuel Fraunces bought the building and turned it into a tavern and colonial meeting place. During the Revolutionary War, it served as Washington’s headquarters, and housed the first offices for the Departments of War, Treasury and Foreign Affairs.

Ambrose Richardson (former SRNY President), Tom Rogers (SRNY Treasurer), Peter C. Hein and Ray Manning (SRNY Vice President)

The Sons of the Revolution took control of the building in 1904, and reconstructed it in 1907. That year, it reopened as a restaurant and, on the upper floors, a museum. Today, Fraunces Tavern Museum and Fraunces Tavern (managed by the Porterhouse Brewing company) keep extraordinary American history alive at the corner of Pearl and Broad Streets.