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 building in Philadelphia. It looks just like an old tavern from the 1700s that used to be in the same spot. You can find it at 138 South 2nd Street, close to Independence Hall.
Many important people, like America's Founding Fathers, visited the original tavern. Big events happened there, including the very first celebration of the 4th of July.
The old building was partly burned in the 1800s and later torn down. A new version was built in 1976 for America's 200th birthday (American Bicentennial). It became a restaurant serving old-time recipes. It closed for a while in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contents
A Look Back: City Tavern's Story
The first City Tavern was a very fancy place. John Adams, an important leader, called it "the most genteel tavern in America." It was a favorite spot for the Founding Fathers and members of the First Continental Congress.
In 1772, a group of wealthy citizens bought the land. They spent over £3,000 to build the tavern.
Important Meetings and Celebrations
Before the American Revolution, over 200 men met here in 1774. They gathered to help Bostonians after new unfair laws were passed. These laws were called the Intolerable Acts.
Many other big events happened at the tavern. The very first Fourth of July celebration was held here in 1777. This marked America's independence from Britain. Also in 1777, General George Washington met the Marquis de Lafayette for the first time at City Tavern.
The Tavern Today
The original building was partly destroyed by fire in 1834. It was completely torn down by 1854.
The building you see today was built in the 1970s. It opened in 1976 for the United States Bicentennial. It works as a real tavern and restaurant. From 1994 to 2020, Walter Staib ran the tavern. He is a chef and host of TV shows like A Taste of History.
The City Tavern closed in 2020. This was because of problems from the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the National Park Service looked for someone new to run the property.
See also
- List of Washington's Headquarters during the Revolutionary War
