gadsby's tavern museum tours

Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society

Preserving the Past to Inspire the Future

CONTACT US: [email protected]

OUR MISSION

Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all volunteer organization of civic spirited citizens who are dedicated to raising funds for the preservation, enhancement, and interpretation of the Gadsby's Tavern Museum and its history; as well as the promotion of its many educational, cultural, and outreach programs. We also help keep the spirit of the Tavern alive by holding events where Americans have been gathering for over 200 years.

GADSBY'S TAVERN HISTORY

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum is a registered National Historic   Landmark so designated for its prominent role in the social, economic, political, and educational history of the United States. Comprising a Georgian style tavern built in 1785 and a larger Federal style hotel built in 1792, the buildings are named after John Gadsby, operator of the tavern and hotel from 1796 to 1808. 

John Gadsby hosted numerous important statesmen during his tenure.  Six early Presidents (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams) wined and dined at Gadsby’s, as did the Marquis de Lafayette. In fact, George Washington attended the 1799 and 1798 Birthnight Balls held in his honor at Gadsby’s (then known as the City Hotel,) a tradition that continues to today.  More of the Tavern's story is told on the Museum's website.

GTMS IN THE NEWS

Meet the Docents: This historic tavern in Alexandria lets kids run the tours

WAMU , the local NPR radio station, has been producing a series of short programs they call: Meet the Docents: Behind the Scenes with Local Museum Guides and Educators . Recently, they visited with the Gadsby's Tavern Museum's Junior Docent squa d. GTMS annual gifts to the Museum have helped support this project to audition, train, and use the skills of these young historians. WAMU took note! READ : The story with text, picture s, and audio

GTMS EVENTS IN THE NEWS

SPRING FLING 2024 MADE THE ZEBRA PRESS HEADLINES 

In an article entitled Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society’s Spring Fling Boosts Endowment Fund , Alexandria's Zebra Press very nicely told the story of this year's Spring event held at the Museum on April 20th.  The Silent and Live Auctions vied with Yvette Spears Jazz Quorum for the crowd's attention. Read an insider's view of the auction activity and Yvette from the successful bidder for the fabulous cake that you can see on the table to the left in the blog HAVING MY CAKE AND EATING IT TOO, A BIRTHDAY STORY by Carol Supplee of Imagine Artwear .

Click here for what else historic is happening nearby!

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Gadsby’s tavern museum.

• 134 N. Royal Street Alexandria, Virginia
• (703) 746-4242

Discover Alexandria’s five-star hotel of the 18th century! The Museum consists of the c. 1785 tavern and the 1792 City Tavern and Hotel. Both were constructed by John Wise but made famous by tavern-keeper John Gadsby. His establishment was the center of political, business, and social life in Alexandria and in the new federal city of Washington, D.C. The City Tavern’s Ballroom was the location of George Washington’s Birthnight Ball in 1798 and 1799, as well as Thomas Jefferson’s Inaugural Banquet in 1801. The museum offers tours, programs and special events.

Visit the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum website for hours and self-guided tour information.

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Gadsby's Tavern Museum

134 N. Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 - United States

703-746-4242

Gadsby's Tavern Museum consists of two buildings, a ca. 1785 tavern and the 1792 City Tavern and Hotel. In those seven short years, the young Republic began to take shape through the conversations and choices being made in these tavern spaces. The impact of these choices and how far to extend power—political, economic, and social—is still being felt today. Named for Englishman John Gadsby who operated them from 1796 to 1808, the tavern businesses were central to Alexandria’s port-based economy, offering spaces to dine, entertain, and spend the night. A large enslaved labor force made Gadsby’s renowned hospitality possible. Notable patrons that enjoyed this hospitality included George and Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the marquis de Lafayette.

Guests can walk through the museum at their own pace, enjoying period games, reading newspapers from 1787, and even trying out the bed in the dormer sleeping space! As space permits, guests can also redeem their pass for a guided tour, offered at 1:15, 2:15, and 3:15 p.m.

Participation in Museum Day is open to any tax-exempt or governmental museum or cultural venue on a voluntary basis. Smithsonian magazine encourages museum visitation, but is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of the participating museums and cultural venues, and does not subsidize museums that participate.

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Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant and Museum Review: Alexandria

City of Alexandria

Gadsby's Tavern in Old Town Alexandria is an Early American-style restaurant and a museum of 18th-century antiques. The buildings are noted for exquisite Georgian architecture, preserved and restored to a colonial appearance. Gadsby's Tavern was named after Englishman John Gadsby, who operated the tavern from 1796 until 1808 when it was the center of Alexandria's economic, political, & social life. George and Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams had temporary quarters here during the 18th century.

The Bottom Line

Dining at Gadsby's Tavern in Old Town Alexandria is a unique experience. The food is excellent and the atmosphere exudes late 18th-century charm. Entertainment is provided and costumed staff provides friendly service. Gadsby’s Tavern hosts special events throughout the year to remind us of colonial times. Among these celebrations are candlelight tours, children’s days, Civil War balls, dance classes, teas with Martha Washington and the annual George Washington Birthnight Banquet and Ball. The museum offers guided 30-minute tours.

• Great food and friendly service
• Historic site and romantic setting
• Gaslight-style lamps recreate an atmosphere of colonial times but make the restaurant dark

Description

• Address: 138 N. Royal St., Alexandria, Virginia (703) 548-1288. See a map of Alexandria.
• Reservations: Recommended
• Websites : Restaurant:  www.gadsbystavernrestaurant.com , Museum:  www.alexandriava.gov/GadsbysTavern

Restaurant Review

Gadsby's Tavern in Old Town Alexandria is a historic landmark dating back to the 18th century. The tavern was frequented by George Washington Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and James Monroe. The restaurant has been restored to maintain the appearance of more than 200 years ago.

Servers are dressed in colonial period costumes, the men in knee breeches and the women wearing smocks. Roving musicians visit your table giving you personalized attention. Gadsby's tavern maintains its elegance and the menu has been created to appeal to the modern palate.

Appetizers include items such as Baked Brie en Croute stuffed with blueberries and pecans with raspberry coulis or Martha’s Puff Pastry - Virginia ham, Scottish smoked salmon and Chesapeake lump crabmeat with dill sauce & pepper relish.

Some of the main courses are authentic colonial period food like the Gentleman’s Pye, Cedar-Grilled Filet Mignon, Slow-Roasted Hereford Prime Rib Roast with Yorkshire Pudding and George Washington’s Favorite, a Cider-Glazed Duckling with Smoked Bacon-Sage Spoonbread. Since these dishes are realistically quite heavy fare, the chef also prepares some lighter dishes such as the Pecan-Crusted Mahi-Mahi Meuniere and Jumbo Lump Crabcakes.

The white Chocolate Balloon is sinfully delicious! Other tempting desserts are Gingerbread with cinnamon icing, English Trifle, and Rum-Laced Banana Bread Pudding.

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Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and the Real Stories Behind the Ghost Legend

By vivienne brown , october 11, 2023 11:13 am.

It’s a dark, cold stormy night and the lights just went out. Suddenly there is a thump in the hallway…did you hear that? Thus begins the telling of the ghost stories 230 years in the making at Gadby’s Tavern Museum in Alexandria, Va. Gadby's Tavern Museum is not just a place of history, but also a spot where history intertwines with the supernatural. The two buildings that house the museum have witnessed centuries of intrigue, hosting notable politicians and figures such as George and Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, James Monroe, and the Marquis de Lafayette. The tavern, built in 1785, and the City Tavern and Hotel, constructed in 1792, have been at the center of many a historic moment. But it is the ghostly tales that truly captivate visitors. The Haunting Legends Anne Brunton Merry Wignell Warren : A celebrated actress, Anne Brunton met a tragic fate at Gadsby's Tavern. She not only lost her infant son within these walls but also her own life. Her presence is said to linger, and her story echoes through time. The Female Stranger : In 1816, a mysterious couple arrived at the tavern. The young woman, aged 23 years and eight months, was gravely ill. Desperate for help, they sought the city's best doctor, but her condition only worsened. On Oct. 14, she drew her last breath, making the people surrounding her swear an oath never to reveal her or her husband's identity. They kept their promise, and her grave in St. Paul’s cemetery remains marked only with the words 'To the memory of the Female Stranger.' Her ghost is believed to haunt both the cemetery and Room 8 at Gadsby’s Tavern, where she drew her final breath. Even today, the staff and visitors to Gadsby’s Tavern Museum report unsettling experiences. In the historic ballroom and the infamous East bedroom, also known as Room 8, where both the Female Stranger and Anne Brunton met their fates, there are tales of unexplainable phenomena. From pale apparitions peering from the windows to unexplained candles flickering in empty rooms, the echoes of the past are never far away. Hosted by Kristy Huettner, guide and narrator of the tour, these experiences set a ghostly tone. Kristy shared tales of the unexplained, making virtual attendees shiver with stories of pale specters, mysterious candles, and apparitions making a ghostly presence at annual balls. The program delivered 60 minutes of nail-biting fun and speculation. For those brave enough to delve into such eerie history, Gadsby’s Tavern and Museum was the first of three Thrilling Thursdays virtual tours presented by AARP Virginia. So, if you're ready to explore the supernatural side of history, Thrilling Thursdays awaits your virtual presence, where the past and the paranormal come together in spine-tingling adventure.

Tickets & prices Gadsby's Tavern Museum

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Admission prices & discounts for tickets to Gadsby's Tavern Museum in Alexandria

The following overview lists the admission prices and various discounts and discount codes for a visit to Gadsby's Tavern Museum in Alexandria . All prices are displayed per age group or reduced rate group. You can also directly book your discounted online ticket for the Gadsby's Tavern Museum here, if available, or make a reservation to reserve a timeslot if applicable.

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Wondering what a ticket to Gadsby's Tavern Museum costs? These are the prices:

Ticket prices & discounts

Free admission for: City of Alexandria residents. Alexandria City Employees. Active duty military personnel and their families. American Alliance of Museum members (AAM) and Virginia Association of Museums Members (VAM). Members of the Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society and HHMC member organizations.

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Lafayette in Alexandria

In 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette returned to America for the first time in forty years, visiting twenty-four states in thirteen months. Lafayette returned to Alexandria on October 16, 1824; an occasion marked with a grand parade and celebration. Join us as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of Lafayette's visit.

Lafayette Walking Tours

Saturday October 5 or Sunday, October 6, 10 a.m. or 2 p..m. Old Town Alexandria $15 / $12 for OHA members & volunteers / $30 for the tour and a signed copy of Elizabeth Keene’s book Marquis de Lafayette Returns, A tour of America’s National Capital Region Purchase Tickets

In 1824, the Marquis de Lafayette returned to America for the first time in forty years, visiting twenty-four states in thirteen months. Lafayette returned to Alexandria on October 16, 1824; an occasion marked with a grand parade and celebration. Join public historian and author Elizabeth Reese on a walking tour of Alexandria, retracing Lafayette's steps in the city.

Lafayette Marker Dedication and Reception

Wednesday, October 16, 5-6 p.m. Lafayette House, 301 South Saint Asaph Street Free

• Remarks and historic marker dedication.
• Lafayette re-enactor
• Support from the American Friends of Lafayette, Society of Cincinnati, and Sons of the American Revolution

View the Marker.

Lecture and Book Signing

Wednesday, October 16, 7:30-9 p.m. Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum 7:30-9 p.m. $15 / $12 for OHA members & volunteers Purchase Tickets

Join Elizabeth Reese, author of Marquis de Lafayette Returns, A Tour of America’s National Capital Region for a lecture followed by a reception and book signing. Walk in the footsteps of the Marquis de Lafayette as he makes a final trip through the young United States. Against the backdrop of a tumultuous election, a beloved hero of the American Revolution returned to America for the first time in forty years. Elizabeth Reese traces Lafayette's route throughout the National Capital Region, highlighting the locations and people the famous General held closest to his heart.

Lafayette Dinner

Thursday, October 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum $150 Purchase Tickets

• Re-enactor will attend as Lafayette.
• 6:30 p.m. reception. 7 p.m. dinner and program highlighting Lafayette’s life and his time in Alexandria in 1824.
• American Friends of Lafayette support.

Hero of Two Worlds, A Musical Celebration of Lafayette

Sunday, November 24, 3-4 p.m. Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum $20

In 1824, American Revolutionary War hero Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette visited the United States of America for a Grand Tour of all 24 states. For 13 months, Americans across the country celebrated Lafayette with ceremonies, balls, dignitary visits, parades, and concerts. The sounds of military wind bands greeted the Hero of Two Worlds nearly everywhere he went. 

On November 24, 2024, the period-instrument wind band Music of the Regiment will commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s visit to Alexandria with a concert. The program, featuring works by Francis Johnson, anonymous women composing under the alias “A Lady…”, and others, will transport audiences to the sound world of Lafayette’s Grand Tour with grand marches, dance tunes, and America’s earliest patriotic airs performed on the instruments of Lafayette’s time.

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