Okay team, this one is another short, picture-forward one as I work to catch up with myself and break my writer’s block. The weekend of the 15th I went to Fraunces Tavern, which is the oldest bar in New York City and the forty-first oldest building. It is most famous for being the place where George Washington greeted and celebrated with his troops and the city after winning the revolutionary war, and it’s amazing to find this keystone of history among the huge glass buildings of the financial district.
Fraunces Tavern from the street
I joined a tour group already partly in session
They were meeting in a hallway that served as a portrait gallery for depictions of George Washington.
Our tour guide, in the plaid, was a very charming dork.
A replication of what the dining table might have looked like when George Washington met with his officers.
This and the below are a replica of a study space where articles of governance might have been drafted while Washington was staying at the Tavern.
One exhibition they had on display was Cloaked Crusader: George Washington in Comics and Pop Culture.
“GEORGE WASHINGTON IS ALIVE AND WELL— WATCH OUT MR. SPOCK!”
A hall displaying the various flags that were considered and used before the American flag we have today.
A painting of Betsy Ross showing George Washington her American flag for the first time.
An exhibition on Black soldiers in the revolutionary war— both sides promised them their freedom in return for fighting, and both sides put a good amount of red tape down which made it harder for those Black soldiers to get their promised reward.
A newspaper from 1906 about restoring Fraunces Tavern, which had then fallen into disrepair, and recognizing it as a historical landmark.
Some of the possessions of Frederick Samuel Tallmadge, including his personal journal which features his account of Washington’s stay at Fraunces Tavern.
The museum’s collection of Revolutionary War-Era weapons.
A lock of George Washington’s hair!
A marble bust of Alexander Hamilton, who looks a little different than the last time I’ve seen him…
A shoe that once belonged to Martha Washington
And that’s all on the Fraunces Tavern! I’m hoping to write out a full post on the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, which I visited this weekend— stay tuned to see if I do!
This is extremely excellent, personally, I loved the Spock and also I love beer <3
I love Martha Washington’s shoe!