The Bowery Boys: New York City History Rewind: The Revolutionary Tavern of Samuel Fraunces
Fraunces Tavern is one of America’s most important historical sites of the Revolutionary War and a reminder of the great importance of taverns on the New York way of life during the Colonial era.
This revered building at the corner of Pearl and Broad street was the location of George Washington‘s farewell address to his Continental Army officers and one of the first government buildings of the young United States of America. John Jay and Alexander Hamilton both used Fraunces as an office.
As with many places connected to the country’s birth — where fact and legend intermingle — many mysteries still remain.
Was the tavern owner Samuel Fraunces one of America’s first great black patriots? Did Samuel use his position here to spy upon the British during the years of occupation between 1776 and 1783? Was his daughter on hand to prevent an assassination attempt on the life of George Washington? And is it possible that the basement of Fraunces Tavern could have once housed a dungeon?
ALSO: Learn about the two deadly attacks on Fraunces Tavern — one by a British war vessel in the 1770s, and another, more violent act of terror that occurred in its doorway 200 years later!
PLUS: Where to find the ruins of Lovelace's Tavern, dating back to the days of New Amsterdam.
This is a re-presentation of a show originally released on March 18, 2011 with new 2020 bonus material recorded for this episode.