Boswell's Tavern facts for kids
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Boswell's Tavern
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Boswell's Tavern, HABS Photo, March 1983
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. of VA 22 and U.S. 15, Gordonsville, Virginia |
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| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000257 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1969 |
Boswell's Tavern is a historic building in Virginia that was once a busy inn. It's a great example of what a tavern looked like in the 1700s. You can find it near Gordonsville, Virginia, right where two main roads, U.S. Route 15 and Virginia State Route 22, meet today. The small town around it even got its name from this famous tavern!
Contents
A Glimpse into History
Boswell's Tavern was likely built in the mid-1700s by a man named Colonel John Boswell. It became a very important place, especially during the American Revolutionary War.
Revolutionary War Connection
In 1781, during the Revolutionary War, French soldiers led by the Marquis de Lafayette camped near the tavern. It was a strategic spot. Later that year, British soldiers, led by Colonel Banastre Tarleton, tried to capture Thomas Jefferson and stop important meetings of the Virginia government. They managed to capture a few American soldiers at the tavern in March 1781.
Famous Visitors
Many important people from Virginia's early history often met at Boswell's Tavern. Imagine Thomas Jefferson, who later became president, or James Madison, another future president, and even Patrick Henry, famous for his "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech, all gathering here. It was a hub for discussions and news.
What Does It Look Like?
Boswell's Tavern is a two-story building made of wood. It has three main sections and tall chimneys on one side. The part where the innkeeper lived was originally one and a half stories but was later made into two stories.
Inside the Tavern
The public part of the tavern had several rooms. There was a main room, a "warming room" (probably for guests to get warm), a bar, and a staircase hall. You can still see parts of the original bar! The innkeeper's section had a large room downstairs and a sleeping area upstairs.
A Protected Landmark
Because of its rich history and well-preserved structure, Boswell's Tavern was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1969. This means it's recognized as a special place worth protecting. It's also part of a larger area called the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District, which includes many other important old homes and buildings from the 1700s and 1800s.
