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Fraunces Tavern Museum

The Fraunces Tavern Museum is Manhattan’s oldest building and the site of meetings of the Sons of Liberty.

  • Wheelchair Accessible
  • Restrooms
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54 Pearl Street New York, NY 10004
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Manhattan, NY

Fraunces Tavern is one of New York City’s most storied historic landmarks, a 1719 Georgian‑style building that became a hub of Revolutionary‑era patriot activity. Established as a tavern in 1762 by Samuel Fraunces, it served as a meeting place for the Sons of Liberty and later hosted pivotal moments in the nation’s founding, including George Washington’s emotional farewell to his officers on December 4, 1783.

The tavern played a key role during the British evacuation of New York, serving as the site of the Birch Trials, which documented the eligibility of Black Loyalists—many of whom had been enslaved—to leave New York City with the British Army. After the Revolution, from 1785 to 1788, it functioned as the new nation’s first executive office building. The structure houses a bar and restaurant on the lower floors and a museum above.

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