CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Fraunces Tavern Museum

The first building dates back to 1719 when the wealthy merchant Stephen DeLancey built his Georgian-style house here, inspired by the projects of the Italian architect Andrea Palladio, pseudonym of Andrea di Pietro della Gondola (Padua, 30 November 1508 - Maser, 19 August 1580), who was the most important architect of the Republic of Venice. In 1762 the palace was purchased by Samuel Fraunces who converted it into a tavern, the Queen’s Head Tavern. The building then played an important role during the American War of Independence. In 1768 it was the seat of the New York Chamber of Commerce and a meeting place for the Sons of Liberty. On November 24, 1783, Governor Clinton organized a dinner to celebrate the retirement of British soldiers and on December 4, in the Long Room, George Washington dismissed his officers. Between 1785 and 1788 it was the seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of War and Ministry of Treasury.
When it was purchased in 1904 by the Sons of Revolution of New York State, the building was in disastrous condition, also because of some fires. It was then rebuilt and restored and in 1907 the museum and a restaurant were opened there.
The museum’s collection is dedicated to the history and culture of New York during the American Revolution. In the Long Room and Clinton Room, completely restored in the look of the revolutionary period, there is an exhibition dedicated to the history of the first flags of the country, as well as paintings and historical objects of the early twentieth century.

References

Kenneth T. Jackson, Lisa Keller, Nancy Flood. The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition. Yale University Press, 2010. p. 479
Gerard R. Wolfe. New York, a Guide to the Metropolis: Walking Tours of Architecture and History. McGraw-Hill, 1994, 2° ed. p. 55
54 PEARL STREET HISTORY (Fraunces Tavern Museum)
Fraunces Tavern Museum (Wikipedia)