Gadsby’s Tavern, a Gathering Place for our Nation’s Rich and Famous

Founded in 1785, Gadsby’s Tavern consisted of two buildings — the older tavern building and the Federal City Hotel building, which was added on in 1792. Both offered large assembly rooms for public events, such as Washington’s Birthnight Ball and other festivities. John Gadsby leased and operated the two buildings as Gadsby’s Tavern through 1808.

The location was a good place for a drink. Before Gadsby’s Tavern, there were a series of other taverns in the same location: Charles and Anne Mason ran “Mason’s Ordinary” 1749 – 1752 and in the 1770s, Mary Hawkins ran a tavern there.

The end of the Revolutionary War brought prosperity and a booming economy to Alexandria. Marylander John Wise purchased the land in 1782, and built the Georgian-style tavern, running it until 1792, when Gadsby, newly immigrated from England, leased the property. In 1808, Gadsby moved to Maryland, but his name stuck to the tavern.

The tavern and hotel spaces were fashionable and in high demand. The ball room hosted the big names of the day of our young country. In addition to Washington and Jefferson, other prominent customers included John Adams, James Madison, James Monroe, and the Marquis de lay Fayette.

There is a fair amount known about slavery on the site — Gadsby enslaved 11 individuals as well as rented several other enslaved individuals. The enslaved men, women and children would have worked in the kitchen, stables, the laundry, and serving and taking care of the guests. Wise, before Gadsby, enslaved ten adults. The enslaved individuals lived in small outbuildings on the property; none of the original outbuildings still exist.