Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Join Open House as we step inside one of the most historic buildings in New York City: Fraunces Tavern Museum, which is located at 54 Pearl Street. Originally constructed in 1719, this landmark features Dutch-inspired architecture that remains visible in the warm yellow brick that lines its exterior and continues to stand as the oldest building in Manhattan.
Our tour guide, Education and Public Programs Manager Melissa Lauer, leads an in-depth exploration of this institution that begins in the Long Room, which has been restored to its former glory. Here, original artifacts anchor the space with remarkable immediacy. Chairs, tables, and period dishes rest exactly where conversation once unfolded among members of the Sons of Liberty, and the worn wood in this area adds to its storied atmosphere.
Melissa then leads us into a special exhibition gallery commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Paintings, prints, and maps trace the arc of the war from 1775 through 1783. Among them, “Retreat to Victory” captures the urgency of the Battle of New York, while a print depicting the toppling of King George III’s statue at Bowling Green is paired with pieces retrieved from the scene of the event, including a snippet of the original fence and part of a nearby tree. These relevant objects lend a tactile dimension to moments often confined to textbooks.
In a more intimate gallery, the focus shifts to the tavern’s role as a hospitality hub. A private dining setting illustrates how affluent patrons experienced their time here, while a collection of personal artifacts includes Martha Washington’s slipper and a lock of George Washington’s hair. Additionally, a nearby period bedroom reveals the accommodations once available to merchants traveling through the city.
Back in the Long Room, the tour reaches one of the building’s most consequential chapters. On Evacuation Day, as British forces withdrew from New York Harbor, the Continental Army moved through the city and gathered here. Within this room, George Washington addressed his officers and shared his intention to resign his commission, a decision that set a lasting precedent for civilian leadership in the United States. The story continues beyond the Revolution as New York briefly became the first capital of the United States. With limited infrastructure, government offices were established within the tavern itself. In the former Department of Foreign Affairs, period furnishings and tools remain intact and offer a glimpse into the early workings of American governance. (This includes a book press used for copying documents and a writing desk associated with the Marquis de Lafayette.) The visit concludes in the Washington Portrait Gallery, where a carefully rendered portrait of Washington brings the experience to a reflective close.
Overall, Fraunces Tavern Museum invites visitors to the imagine the cadence of daily life within its rooms and offers a unique experience that unfolds through its original wooden floors, preserved artifacts, and meticulously restored interiors.
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Join Open House as we step inside one of the most historic buildings in New York City: Fraunces Tavern Museum, which is located at 54 Pearl Street. Originally constructed in 1719, this landmark features Dutch-inspired architecture that remains visible in the warm yellow brick that lines its exterior and continues to stand as the oldest building in Manhattan.
Our tour guide, Education and Public Programs Manager Melissa Lauer, leads an in-depth exploration of this institution that begins in the Long Room, which has been restored to its former glory. Here, original artifacts anchor the space with remarkable immediacy. Chairs, tables, and period dishes rest exactly where conversation once unfolded among members of the Sons of Liberty, and the worn wood in this area adds to its storied atmosphere.
Melissa then leads us into a special exhibition gallery commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Paintings, prints, and maps trace the arc of the war from 1775 through 1783. Among them, “Retreat to Victory” captures the urgency of the Battle of New York, while a print depicting the toppling of King George III’s statue at Bowling Green is paired with pieces retrieved from the scene of the event, including a snippet of the original fence and part of a nearby tree. These relevant objects lend a tactile dimension to moments often confined to textbooks.
In a more intimate gallery, the focus shifts to the tavern’s role as a hospitality hub. A private dining setting illustrates how affluent patrons experienced their time here, while a collection of personal artifacts includes Martha Washington’s slipper and a lock of George Washington’s hair. Additionally, a nearby period bedroom reveals the accommodations once available to merchants traveling through the city.
Back in the Long Room, the tour reaches one of the building’s most consequential chapters. On Evacuation Day, as British forces withdrew from New York Harbor, the Continental Army moved through the city and gathered here. Within this room, George Washington addressed his officers and shared his intention to resign his commission, a decision that set a lasting precedent for civilian leadership in the United States. The story continues beyond the Revolution as New York briefly became the first capital of the United States. With limited infrastructure, government offices were established within the tavern itself. In the former Department of Foreign Affairs, period furnishings and tools remain intact and offer a glimpse into the early workings of American governance. (This includes a book press used for copying documents and a writing desk associated with the Marquis de Lafayette.) The visit concludes in the Washington Portrait Gallery, where a carefully rendered portrait of Washington brings the experience to a reflective close.
Overall, Fraunces Tavern Museum invites visitors to the imagine the cadence of daily life within its rooms and offers a unique experience that unfolds through its original wooden floors, preserved artifacts, and meticulously restored interiors.
Subscribe to Open House TV on YOUTUBE: bit.ly/openhouseyoutubesub
Open House TV INSTAGRAM: bit.ly/2T0aorL
Open House TV TWITTER: bit.ly/2szkqEX
Open House TV FACEBOOK: bit.ly/2TXSztC
