In this lecture, join author, photographer, and licensed NYC sightseeing guide Tommy Silk as he discusses how he decided on the 120 buildings that constitute the hidden landmarks of the five boroughs. Discover the histories of the city's remaining buildings from the 18th century and earlier, including Fraunces Tavern itself, and learn why so few of these structures remain today.*

On October 23, 2024, Fraunces Tavern Museum will unveil our vastly enlarged permanent exhibition "The Birch Trials at Fraunces Tavern", highlighting the role of Fraunces Tavern in the emancipation of thousands of Black Loyalists at the end of the Revolutionary War enabling them to leave New York City and the creation of the Book of Negroes. The exhibition expands upon one opened at the Museum in June 2023. Recognition is also given to the thousands of Black Patriots who fought to further the cause of American Independence.

During the reception, which will include wine, beer, and hors d'oeuvres, the Birch Trials exhibition's curators will be available to answer questions from attendees. We will also be opening another new exhibition and screening our new film on the history of Fraunces Tavern in a new space within the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Educational Center for American History. Brief remarks will be made around 7:25PM.

During the optional dinner program, which will begin around 8pm, special guests will include Elizabeth Cooke-Sumbu and Andrea Davis, descendants of individuals listed in the Book of Negroes. Ms. Cooke-Sumbu will give remarks and Ms. Davis, Executive Director of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Nova Scotia, Canada, will give a lecture.

Join licensed tour guide Bruce Racond to visit the New York City that George Washington would have known from 1776 to 1790! This walking tour explores the people and places of NYC during the Revolutionary War and Washington’s first term as president, including the important contributions of women and African Americans.

Join licensed tour guide Bruce Racond to visit the New York City that George Washington would have known from 1776 to 1790! This walking tour explores the people and places of NYC during the Revolutionary War and Washington’s first term as president, including the important contributions of women and African Americans.

Step back in time as we explore our nation’s rich heritage through a hands-on craft inspired by the past!

On Friday, October 18th, join us for an historic, fall-themed craft! Discover the history of corn husk dolls, tracing their origins from Native Americans to European settlers and enslaved African Americans. During the Revolutionary era, children made these dolls from available materials, like the corn husks available after harvest. Join us to make your own corn husk dolls, connecting with the historical ingenuity of these children and the broader Revolutionary War era.

Drop in any time from 1:00-3:00pm to try your hand at our all-ages activities!

FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION

Join licensed tour guide Bruce Racond to uncover Central Park’s hidden Revolutionary War history! This walking tour explores some of Central Park’s most beautiful but least-known areas—including the grounds of historic forts and other sites from the war. You’ll encounter great vistas, hear captivating stories, and see vivid images and maps transporting you back to the 18th century as you experience the history of the land that would become Central Park.

Join licensed tour guide Bruce Racond to uncover Central Park’s hidden Revolutionary War history! This walking tour explores some of Central Park’s most beautiful but least-known areas—including the grounds of historic forts and other sites from the war. You’ll encounter great vistas, hear captivating stories, and see vivid images and maps transporting you back to the 18th century as you experience the history of the land that would become Central Park.

Join us as we commemorate martyred spy Nathan Hale at the foot of the Nathan Hale statue which stands at City Hall Park. The ceremony features the SRNY Color Guard, wreath laying, and more.

Nathan Hale was commissioned by George Washington to infiltrate the British ranks to gather intelligence. He was discovered on September 21, 1776 and hanged for treason, without trial, the next morning.

The Nathan Hale Commemoration Ceremony takes place in City Hall Park near the statue of Nathan Hale that was donated by the Sons of the Revolution to New York City in 1893 and stands facing the south main entrance to City Hall. Click HERE to see the exact location on Google Maps.  To enter the park, you may enter the secure area from either the west or east gate of Steve Flanders Square, which is on the south side of the City Hall building.  Everyone who enters will have to walk through a metal detector and have any bags scanned by an x-ray machine, as they will be entering City Hall property. Look for chairs set up where the commemoration is to take place.

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Join Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. to celebrate the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, featuring special guest and speaker Tom Hand*. Hand is the author of An American Triumph: America’s Founding Era Through the Lives of Ben Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams, which was an honorable mention for the 2024 Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award.

In this lecture, Tyson Reeder traces early America's rocky beginnings, when foreign interference and political conflict threatened to undermine its aspirations and ideals, even its very existence. Spanning the period from the Revolution to the War of 1812, and focusing particularly on the career of James Madison, it reveals a nation adjusting to rancorous partisan politics, aggravated by the untested and imperfect new tools of governance and the growing power of media.*

Thanks to The Society of the Second War with Great Britain in the State of New York and The State of New York Society, United States Daughters of 1812 for co-sponsoring this event.

Step back in time this summer as we explore our nation’s rich heritage through hands-on crafts inspired by the past!

On July 26th, join us for our final Funday Friday to explore the history of corn husk dolls, tracing their origins from Native Americans to European settlers and enslaved African Americans. During the Revolutionary era, children made these dolls from available materials, showcasing their resilience and creativity despite adversity. Participants will learn to craft their own corn husk dolls, connecting with the historical ingenuity of these children and the broader Revolutionary War era. 

Drop in any time from 1:00-3:00pm to try your hand at our all-ages activities!

FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION

Step back in time this summer as we explore our nation’s rich heritage through hands-on crafts inspired by the past!

On July 19th, join us for another Funday Friday to investigate the history of invisible ink during the American Revolutionary era. Used by spies and soldiers to send hidden messages, invisible ink played a vital role in communication and espionage. Participants will learn how to create and reveal invisible ink, uncovering the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the time. This hands-on activity offers a deeper understanding of the era's challenges and the innovative strategies that defined the American fight for independence. 

Drop in any time from 1:00-3:00pm to try your hand at our all-ages activities!

FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION

We don't always consider the powerful impact that the War of Independence had on the physical landscape of 18th century America – much less how those impacts might still be seen and felt today. Join Professor David C. Hsiung for fascinating insights into the lasting legacies of the Revolution on the natural world, including deforestation at Valley Forge, raids that seized animals but also produced some surprisingly "positive" effects, and lead musket balls left on battlefields that may only now be poisoning the land.*

Thanks to the Paul Revere House for collaboration and promotion.

Step back in time this summer as we explore our nation’s rich heritage through hands-on crafts inspired by the past!

On July 12th, join us for our second Funday Friday program of the summer to delve into the history and craftsmanship of hornbooks, essential educational tools from the American Revolutionary era. Participants will have the opportunity to create and decorate their own hornbooks, gaining hands-on experience while learning about the vital role these simple yet effective tools played in educating children during this pivotal time in history.

Drop in any time from 1:00-3:00pm to try your hand at our all-ages activities!

FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION

Perhaps no single day in US history was as threatening to the survival of the nation as August 24, 1814, when British forces captured Washington. This unique moment might have significantly altered the nation's path forward, but the event and the reasons why it happened are often forgotten. In this lecture, Dr. Robert Watson explores the British campaign and American missteps that led to the fall of the capital city, but also tells the redeeming stories of the courageous young clerks and the bold first lady who risked their lives to save priceless documents from the flames, including the Constitution. Join Dr. Watson for the shocking, behind-the-scenes story of the British attack on Washington and the rebuilding of the capital and nation.*

Thanks to The Society of the Second War with Great Britain in the State of New York and The State of New York Society, United States Daughters of 1812 for co-sponsoring this event.

Step back in time this summer as we explore our nation’s rich heritage through hands-on crafts inspired by the past!

On July 5th, join us for our first hands-on Funday Friday on moral compass fans from the American Revolutionary era. These decorated fans served as tools for subtly expressing political and moral beliefs. Participants in this drop-in activity will explore how moral compass fans reflected the values of the time and create their own fan, connecting with the personal and political narratives of the Revolutionary era.

Drop in any time from 1:00-3:00pm to try your hand at our all-ages activities!

FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION

Celebrate Independence Day at Fraunces Tavern Museum with $1 admission all day long! Starting at 2:00pm, you can also attend an afternoon of talks as a part of the Lower Manhattan Historical Association’s It Happened Here programming.

Join Anne and Ridley Enslow for a musical presentation about the Marquis de Lafayette! This show covers Lafayette’s storied life before, during, and after the American Revolution — including his farewell tour of the United States in 1824-1825. For this presentation Anne Enslow plays the hammered dulcimer, an instrument documented to have been in the American Colonies and Ridley Enslow plays the violin, in this case a violin made in 1776. They both sing and appear in Colonial American costumes.

Join us for an opening preview reception, lecture, and optional dinner on June 24 for our upcoming special exhibition, Lafayette: A Hero’s Return, opening to the public on June 25.

Marquis de Lafayette, a young, wealthy French aristocrat, volunteered for and later led the Continental Army to victory with General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. Before his death in 1834, Lafayette returned to the United States in 1824 as the last living general from the War. His visit not only helped President James Monroe celebrate the nation’s 50th anniversary, but also reignite its patriotism. He was welcomed with great fondness and fanfare by Americans in each of the then 24 states he visited over 13 months, especially in New York.

Fraunces Tavern® Museum joins the American Friends of Lafayette in celebrating the Bicentennial of Marquis de Lafayette’s return to the United States. This exhibition will showcase objects illustrating both his heroic war-time service and his tour of America.

At this event, preview the exhibition before it opens to the public and hear from Général de Brigade Vincent de Kytspotter, PhD, Head of the French Defense Mission to the United Nations, who will present a lecture, The French Are Coming! The Franco-American Military Alliance 1780-1782. Attendees can also choose to head down to Fraunces Tavern for a delicious dinner after the program.

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. While not a federal holiday, this special day is observed across the nation, from small towns to big cities, often with parades. Since 1916, Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York, Inc. (SRNY) has hosted the Flag Day Parade, Celebration, and Open House here in New York City.

Our 2024 Flag Day Parade will kick off at noon on Friday, June 14 from City Hall Park, follows down Broadway, and ends at the grandstand in front of Fraunces Tavern at about 12:30pm. The Ceremony includes the student Essay Contest winners reading their essays on “What the American Flag Means to Me” and more!

What did “the pursuit of happiness” mean to our nation’s founders and how did that famous phrase become the foundation of our democracy?

The Declaration of Independence identifies “the pursuit of happiness” as one of our unalienable rights, along with life and liberty. In his new book, National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen profiles six of the most influential founders—Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton—to show what pursuing happiness meant in their lives.

Join us as Rosen not only elucidates the meaning of the Declaration’s famous phrase, but also takes us on a revelatory journey into the minds of the Founders, providing a deep, rich and fresh understanding of the foundation of our democracy.

On April 22, 2024, Sons of the Revolution℠ in the State of New York, Inc. invite you to gather with them to commemorate the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775. At this commemoration, they will also honor the winner of the Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award, presented annually to the author of the best newly published work on the American Revolutionary War that combines original scholarship, insight, and good writing. This year's winner is Washington’s Marines: The Origins of the Corps and the American Revolution, 1775-1777 by Major General Jason Q. Bohm.

The Reception begins at 6:30 p.m. with brief remarks from the author in Fraunces Tavern Museum at 54 Pearl Street, New York City. Dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Bissell Room of Fraunces Tavern Restaurant and includes a lecture from the author, Q&A, and award presentation.

Walking Tour Led by Bruce Racond*

American history comes alive on the streets where it happened in historic locations critical to the lives and partnership of Alexander Hamilton and George Washington! Relive the first reading of the Declaration of Independence and the subsequent revolt, honor the fallen American troops in the Battle of Brooklyn, celebrate the Constitution’s ratification, and applaud Hamilton's achievement of the Compromise of 1790. Stand at the site of Washington's momentous inauguration, dig into the history of the infamous duel between Hamilton and Aaron Burr, pay your respects at the final resting place of the Hamiltons, and much more. This is an immersive tour for lovers of United States’ history and the musical Hamilton!

Walking Tour Led by Bruce Racond*

American history comes alive on the streets where it happened in historic locations critical to the lives and partnership of Alexander Hamilton and George Washington! Relive the first reading of the Declaration of Independence and the subsequent revolt, honor the fallen American troops in the Battle of Brooklyn, celebrate the Constitution’s ratification, and applaud Hamilton's achievement of the Compromise of 1790. Stand at the site of Washington's momentous inauguration, dig into the history of the infamous duel between Hamilton and Aaron Burr, pay your respects at the final resting place of the Hamiltons, and much more. This is an immersive tour for lovers of United States’ history and the musical Hamilton!

Martha Washington’s worst memory was the death of her husband. Her second worst was Thomas Jefferson’s awkward visit to pay his respects subsequently. Indeed, by the time George Washington had died in 1799, the two founders were estranged. But that estrangement has obscured the fact that for most of their thirty-year acquaintance they enjoyed a productive relationship. In this lecture, Francis D. Cogliano considers the significance of one of the most important but understudied personal relationships of the founding era: the connection between George Washington and Thomas Jefferson that spanned three turbulent decades.

Although among the best-known Revolutionary War soldiers, Benedict Arnold is overwhelmingly remembered as little more than a traitor — yet his enormously important contributions to the patriot cause in the early years of the war are, in many ways, far more important than his treason. Join Jack Kelly, author of God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man, as he highlights some of Arnold's achievements and paints a realistic portrait of a still-notorious figure of American history.

On December 4, 1783, George Washington and his officers met at Fraunces Tavern to say an emotional farewell. Join us in the room where it happened for a special reenactment and opportunity to converse with Washington himself before he returns to Mount Vernon! $1 reserves your space at one of our four timed reenactments and also gives you admission to the Museum to see our current exhibitions.

1775 belonged to Boston but after April of 1776, the Revolutionary War's focus became New York City and the highly strategic Long Island, from Brooklyn's terminal moraine high ground to Queens's Hell Gate. Join author Richard Melnick as he charts the military, political and cultural history 1776 in Long Island City.

When John Hancock needed to win people over, he didn’t talk about resisting taxes or policy improvements; instead, he served alcohol. He offered rum punch and wine at his home and paid for lavish meals in taverns to bring people together.

In this forty-five-minute talk, Brooke Barbier will discuss lively and evocative stories and images that illuminate the critical and complex role that alcohol played in the social, political, and cultural fabric of the American Revolution and how John Hancock used it to his advantage.