City Tavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids City Tavern |
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The façade of the building
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| Restaurant information | |
| Slogan | A Triumph of Tradition |
| Established | 1976 |
| Current owner(s) | Walter Staib |
| Food type | Colonial Cuisine |
| Street address | 138, South 2nd Street, Walnut Street |
| City | Philadelphia |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Postal/ZIP code | 19106 |
| Country | United States |
| Reservations | Yes |
The City Tavern is a special restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It looks just like an old building from the 1700s. This building stands at 138 South 2nd Street, close to Independence Hall.
The original tavern was a very popular spot. Important people like the Founding Fathers used to meet there. They even celebrated the first 4th of July anniversary at the City Tavern!
The first building was partly damaged by fire in the 1800s. It was completely taken down by 1854. The current building was built in the 1970s. It opened in 1976 for America's 200th birthday, called the American Bicentennial. It serves food made from old 18th-century recipes. The City Tavern closed for a while in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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History of City Tavern
The first City Tavern was a very fancy place. John Adams, who later became president, called it "the most genteel tavern in America." It was a favorite meeting spot for the Founding Fathers. These were the leaders who helped create the United States. Members of the First Continental Congress also met there. This was a group of representatives from the American colonies.
The land for the tavern was bought in 1772. A group of wealthy citizens paid over £3,000 to build it. That was a lot of money back then!
Important Events at the Tavern
Many important events happened at the City Tavern. On May 20, 1774, over 200 men met there. They gathered to help the people of Boston. Boston was facing unfair new laws from Britain. These laws were called the Boston Port Bill.
The first Fourth of July celebration took place at the tavern in 1777. This marked one year since America declared its independence from Britain. Also, General George Washington met the Marquis de Lafayette at the City Tavern in 1777. Lafayette was a French nobleman who helped America in the Revolutionary War.
The Tavern Through the Years
Sadly, the original building was partly destroyed by a fire on March 22, 1834. By 1854, it was completely taken down.
The building you see today was built in the 1970s. It opened in 1976 as a working tavern and restaurant. From 1994 to 2020, a chef named Walter Staib ran the City Tavern. He was also the host of TV shows like A Taste of History.
The Tavern closed in 2020. This was because of a big drop in business due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Park Service, which owns the property, started looking for someone new to run it in 2022.
See also
- List of Washington's Headquarters during the Revolutionary War
