This Fourth of July, patrons can commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary by visiting taverns in New York and New Jersey that served as gathering places for the Founding Fathers during the American Revolution. These establishments were not only places for food and drink but also crucial centers for political debate, news exchange, and strategic planning.
Travel expert Darley Newman, author of the newly released book “Revolutionary Road Trip,” discovered that these figures often “partied hard” and that many of the sites where they shared drinks and meals are still operational.
Historic Watering Holes
Fraunces Tavern in New York City's Financial District, established in 1762, holds significant historical importance. It was here that George Washington delivered his farewell address to his troops in 1783. The tavern, now a museum and pub, was also frequented by other prominent figures like Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, who dined there shortly before their famous duel. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and John Jay were also patrons. The oldest surviving building in Manhattan, built in 1719, is offering a special three-course colonial dinner and a presidential punch to honor the anniversary.
In Saratoga Springs, NY, the Olde Bryan Inn was purchased in 1787 by Revolutionary War hero Alexander Bryan. The inn was a popular spot for both American and British troops during the war, and Bryan is said to have provided intelligence that aided the Patriots in the Battle of Saratoga. Renovations at the inn have uncovered Revolutionary-era artifacts.
Baird's Tavern in Warwick, NY, dating back to 1766, was visited by both George and Martha Washington. George Washington recorded stopping for a “grog” in his diary in 1783, and local lore suggests Martha stayed overnight in 1786. The tavern, situated on the King's Highway, was a key stop for news and refreshment.
Sweet Clover Farm in Highland Mills, NY, is a distillery on property once owned by Aaron Burr, a Continental Army officer and later U.S. vice president. The farm produces its own vodka, gin, and bourbon, including a Bulls Head bourbon named in honor of a tavern where Washington briefly established headquarters in 1783.
Sites in New Jersey
Nassau Inn & Yankee Doodle Tap Room in Princeton, NJ, originally the College Inn, was occupied by the British during the Revolution and later hosted members of the Continental Congress. The hotel’s restaurant, the Yankee Doodle Tap Room, features a 13-foot Norman Rockwell painting depicting scenes from “Yankee Doodle.”
Flounder Brewing Co. in Hillsborough Township, NJ, is a brewery housed in a restored 250-year-old barn. The location is part of the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, a path taken by Washington’s army in 1781. The brewery has released a beer named Victory Town Ale to commemorate the nation's anniversary.
Glenbrook Brewery in Morristown, NJ, known as the “military capital of the American Revolution,” is serving a “250th Anniversary Ale. Established 1776.” Morristown was where Washington and the Continental Army spent two winters.
Galloping Hill Inn in Union, NJ, is situated along a road used by British troops in 1780. A monument there notes the British retreat and quotes Washington’s praise for the soldiers' actions in New Jersey.