City Tavern

A Brief History: The City Tavern located at 138 South 2nd Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Fifty-three citizens of Philadelphia in 1772 commissioned the building of the City Tavern with a mind to create the largest and best tavern in the colonies. The building was completed in 1773 and quickly became an important part of life in Philadelphia. The original structure had five levels with kitchens, a bar room, two coffee rooms, three dining rooms, the second largest ballroom in the New World and five lodging rooms and servants’ quarters.  The tavern played an important role in the founding of the United States with it becoming a meeting place for our founding fathers during and after the American Revolution. On July 4, 1777, the first celebration of the Fourth of July happened at City Tavern and from August 3rd to the 5th in 1777 it was used as the headquarters of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. In September 1787 after the signing of the Constitution, the delegates went to the tavern to celebrate with John Adams describing it as the “most genteel tavern in America.”

In March 1834 the tavern’s roof caught fire and the building was severely damaged and then in 1854 the building was torn down. In 1948 the U.S. Congress authorized Independence National Historical Park to preserve select areas in the city of Philadelphia with the original plot of City Tavern being one of them. In 1975 the building was rebuilt to be historically accurate to the late 1700’s with a restaurant opening in 1976 just in time for the bicentennial.

Today, City Tavern operates as a restaurant and museum where guests can experience real 18th century American cuisine. It can also be used for private events and has a gift shop.

Haunted History: Beyond patriotic sayings about the American Spirit living on in the structure, there are two popular ghost stories involving the tavern. One of a waiter who lost a duel in 1790 whose bloody apparition has been seen falling to the ground. He is also blamed for the moving of table settings and clattering of silverware. The other story explains the 1843 fire that damaged the original building. It is said that while getting ready for a wedding a candle caught a curtain on fire, which quickly engulfed the room killing the bride-to-be. Her spirit is said to have been seen on the second floor still in her wedding gown.