Fraunces Tavern
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1. Fraunces Tavern was a restaurant operated at 54 Pearl Street, at the corner of Broad Street, near current South Ferry in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It was George Washington's last residence as a General for ten days in 1783. It was the site, on 4 December 1783 of George Washington's farewell to his officers at war's end.
2. Fraunces Tavern is a landmark building on the location of the original structure, built 1907, and designed by William Mersereau.
The first Fraunces Tavern
The original structure was built in 1719 as a home for Oliver de Lancey. He sold it to Samuel Fraunces in 1762, who opened a tavern there on January 15 of that year. The tavern was used for Revolutionary War meetings, and was damaged by British bombardment in 1775.
After the war, some offices of the Continental Congress were situated there; after the establishment of the Constitution the building housed the departments of Foreign Affairs, Treasury and War. The offices were moved when the capital was moved from New York to Philadelphia.
The tavern operated throughout much of the 19th century, but suffered several serious fires beginning in 1832. After each fire, rebuildings changed the structures appearance so that it is not reliably known what the 18th century restaurant looked like. In 1890 the first floor exterior was remodeled and the original timbers sold as souvenirs.
The much changed original building was threatened in 1900 with demolition by its owners, who wanted to tear it down for a parking lot. A number of patriotic groups, notably the Daughters of the American Revolution, worked to preserve it. The City of New York used its power of eminent domain and designated the building as a park, which designation was rescinded when title was acquired by The Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York in 1904.
The current Fraunces Tavern
The current 1907 building is characterized by the AIA Guide to New York City as "a highly conjectural reconstruction, not a restoration—based on 'typical' building of 'the period,' parts of remaining walls, and a lot of guesswork." Even many native-born New Yorkers do not know the current building isn't the restored original.
On January 24, 1975 a bomb exploded in the building, killing four and injuring more than 50. The Puerto Rican nationalist group FALN, which had set off other bombs in New York City, claimed responsibility. No one was ever prosecuted for the bombing.
The current building is an important tourist site, housing a restaurant and museum.
External links
- Fraunces Tavern Museum (http://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org/)
- Fraunces Tavern website (http://www.frauncestavern.com/)