Burnham Tavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Burnham Tavern
|
|
A postcard showing the tavern in 1911.
|
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 14 Colonial Way, Machias, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1770 |
| Architect | Burnham, Job |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000152 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
The Burnham Tavern is a famous historic building in Machias, Maine. Built way back in 1770, it's one of the oldest buildings still standing in the area. It played an important part in the American Revolutionary War.
Today, the tavern is a museum called the Burnham Tavern Museum. It is cared for by a group called the Daughters of the American Revolution. Inside, you can see furniture from the late 1700s and real objects from the 1775 Battle of Machias. This battle was the very first naval battle of the American Revolution! Because of its history, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Building Design and Features
The Burnham Tavern is a two-story building made of wood. It has a special kind of roof called a gambrel roof, which has two different slopes on each side. Near the top, there is a row of windows called a clerestory, which lets in extra light.
The front of the building has five rows of windows and a large chimney in the center. When you walk inside, you'll find a unique staircase that splits to the left and right. This allowed people to go to the upstairs bedrooms separately. The first floor has two main rooms, called parlors, and a large kitchen with a huge fireplace.
Role in the American Revolution
English settlers first came to the Machias area in 1763. A man named Job Burnham built the tavern in 1770. It is the only building in Machias that is known for sure to be connected to the American Revolutionary War.
Local soldiers, known as the militia, used the tavern as a secret meeting place. They planned the Battle of Machias here in 1775. This was one of the first sea battles of the war, where American colonists captured the British ship Margaretta.
During the battle, the tavern was also used as a hospital to care for wounded soldiers from both sides. Today, the museum displays items related to the capture of the Margaretta. The tavern remained an important social gathering spot for the town for many years.
See also
