Boswell's Tavern is an excellent example of a complete 18th century tavern in Virginia. Located near Gordonsville, Virginia, the tavern is located at the intersection of present-day U.S. Route 15 and Virginia State Route 22, the centerpiece of a village named after the tavern. The tavern was built in the mid-18th century, probably by Colonel John Boswell. The tavern was the site of a 1781 encampment by American forces during the American Revolutionary War under the Marquis de Lafayette.[3] The tavern was a frequent meeting place for notable Virginia figures, including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Patrick Henry. A few colonial troops were captured at the tavern in March 1781 by British colonel Banastre Tarleton in an attempt to capture Jefferson and to disrupt meetings of the Virginia legislature.[4]
Boswell's Tavern | |
.jpg) Boswell's Tavern, HABS Photo, March 1983 | |
   | |
| Location | Jct. of VA 22 and U.S. 15, Gordonsville, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°04′12″N 78°11′01.8″W / 38.07000°N 78.183833°W |
| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000257[1] |
| VLR No. | 054-0007 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1969 |
| Designated VLR | November 5, 1968[2] |
The tavern is a two-story three-bay frame building with prominent chimneys at the west end. The innkeeper's wing, originally 1-1/2 stories, has been increased in height to two stories. A small gabled porch is a modern addition, as is a one-story addition to the innkeeper's quarters. The public section consists of two main rooms, a warming room, a bar and a stair hall. Portions of the original bar remain. The innkeeper's wing consists of a single large room on the main level with a sleeping area above.[3]
Boswell's Tavern was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1969.[1] It is included in the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District, encompassing the surrounding countryside and a number of important houses from the 18th and 19th centuries.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ^ a b Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (April 28, 1969). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Boswell's Tavern" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "Boswell's Tavern". Journey Through Hallowed Ground. National Park Service. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (February 1973). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Green Springs Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved 19 October 2011.
External links
edit
Media related to Boswell's Tavern at Wikimedia Commons
- Boswell's Tavern at Journey Through Hallowed Ground (National Park Service)
- Boswell's Tavern, Route 22 vicinity, Gordonsville vicinity, Louisa, VA at the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)
- Boswells Tavern, Smokehouse, Route 22 vicinity, Gordonsville vicinity, Louisa, VA at HABS