Step back in time to Pennsylvania’s colonial era, when taverns were the heart of community life. These historic establishments weren’t just places to grab a drink—they served as meeting halls, courthouses, and even revolutionary planning centers. Today, these nine colonial-era taverns continue to serve guests, offering a delicious taste of American history alongside their traditional fare.
1. City Tavern – Philadelphia’s Revolutionary Meeting Place
George Washington and John Adams clinked glasses here while planning America’s future. Opened in 1773, this elegant Georgian-style tavern became the unofficial headquarters for Continental Congress delegates.
After a devastating fire, the tavern was meticulously reconstructed in the 1970s based on original architectural plans. Servers in period attire now deliver historically authentic dishes like pepper pot soup and turkey pot pie, recipes that would be familiar to our Founding Fathers.
2. Jean Bonnet Tavern – A Whiskey Rebellion Landmark
Nestled along the Lincoln Highway stands a fortress-like stone tavern that witnessed American history unfold. Built circa 1762, the Jean Bonnet Tavern sheltered frontier travelers and later became a gathering spot for disgruntled farmers during the Whiskey Rebellion.
The thick stone walls have weathered centuries of change, yet still welcome modern guests. Ghost stories swirl through its historic rooms where patrons enjoy hearty Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine while surrounded by authentic colonial artifacts and architecture.
3. Dobbin House Tavern – Gettysburg’s Freedom Outpost
Reverend Alexander Dobbin never imagined his 1776 stone home would play roles in both the Underground Railroad and Civil War. The oldest building in Gettysburg now serves hearty colonial fare in candlelit dining rooms where history whispers from every corner.
Wounded soldiers once filled these rooms during the Battle of Gettysburg. Secret hiding places for escaping slaves remain preserved beneath the floorboards. Visitors today can enjoy a meal in the tavern room or dine more formally in the upstairs colonial restaurant while soaking in authentic 18th-century ambiance.
4. General Wayne Inn – Haunt of Revolutionary Heroes
Named for Revolutionary War hero “Mad” Anthony Wayne, this 1704 inn has welcomed patrons for over three centuries. Edgar Allan Poe allegedly penned poems at its bar, while George Washington strategized military campaigns within its walls.
Local lore claims the inn hosts more than living guests. Staff and patrons report ghostly encounters with Revolutionary-era spirits who never checked out. The historic structure stands as one of America’s oldest continuously operating inns, its colonial architecture preserved despite centuries of modernization around it.
5. Jamison Publick House – The Rebellion’s Hidden Gem
Far from Philadelphia’s revolutionary spotlight, this unassuming 1745 tavern played a surprising role in American history. During Fries’ Rebellion of 1799, local farmers gathered here to protest unfair taxation, echoing the spirit of the earlier revolution.
Original stone walls and hand-hewn beams frame dining spaces where modern patrons enjoy contemporary American cuisine with colonial flair. The massive walk-in fireplace, once used for all cooking, remains the heart of the building. Visitors can almost hear the heated political debates that once filled these historic rooms.
6. Old Stone Tavern – Pittsburgh’s Whiskey Rebellion Hub
Rugged frontier traders swapped tales over whiskey in this sturdy stone tavern during the late 1700s. As Pittsburgh’s oldest commercial building, its walls absorbed the plotting of Whiskey Rebellion participants who opposed Alexander Hamilton’s excise tax.
The tavern’s worn ledger books reveal transactions with notable frontier figures and Revolutionary War veterans. Despite brief closure during Prohibition, the establishment returned to its roots as a gathering place for locals. Its rustic interior preserves the authentic atmosphere of early Pittsburgh, when the city was America’s gateway to the western frontier.
7. McGillin’s Olde Ale House – Philadelphia’s Enduring Pub
When Irish immigrants Catherine and William McGillin opened their inn in 1860, they couldn’t have imagined it would become Pennsylvania’s longest continuously operating tavern. Originally called the Bell in Hand, locals nicknamed it “McGillin’s” and the name stuck.
During Prohibition, the resourceful owners kept doors open by emphasizing food service while quietly serving homebrew upstairs. The walls display decades of Philadelphia memorabilia, including signs from long-gone local businesses. Modern patrons enjoy house beers while sitting beneath the original gas-lit chandeliers that have illuminated countless celebrations since Lincoln’s presidency.
8. Skinner Tavern – Washington’s Whiskey Rebellion Stopover
President Washington himself slept here! While traveling to western Pennsylvania to quell the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794, our first president sought rest at this sturdy stone tavern built between 1788-1792.
Situated along the crucial Three Mountain Road, the tavern served as a vital stopping point for travelers braving the journey west. The simple yet sturdy construction reflects practical frontier architecture rather than city refinement. Its listing on the National Register of Historic Places ensures this presidential waypoint remains preserved for future generations to appreciate its role in early American westward expansion.
9. King of Prussia Inn – A Royal Name With Revolutionary Ties
A humble farmhouse built in 1719 transformed into an inn by 1769, taking its name from a sign depicting Prussia’s Frederick the Great. The irony of American revolutionaries drinking beneath a European monarch’s portrait wasn’t lost on George Washington, who stopped here in 1777 during the Valley Forge campaign.
Modern development threatened this historic gem until preservationists relocated the entire structure in 2002. The painstaking restoration preserved original beams, fireplaces, and floor planks. Today’s visitors can dine where Continental Army officers once planned strategies, surrounded by authentic colonial architecture that witnessed the birth of a nation.
