Fraunces Tavern at 54 Pearl Street

The historic Fraunces Tavern in 1907, after restoration. The iconic tavern is located at 54 Pearl Street, on the southeast corner of Broad Street, in Lower Manhattan. Since 1904, it is owned and operated by the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York. Photograph from the archives at Fraunces Tavern Museum.

Samuel Fraunces established the building as a tavern, in 1762, and he owned it until 1785. It was one of the most important community hubs in Lower Manhattan. The place has played a prominent role in U.S. history. It served as a headquarters for George Washington, a venue for peace negotiations with the British, and it housed federal offices in the Early Republic. On December 4, 1783, Washington bade an emotional farewell to his officers at the tavern.