54 Pearl St

Around Stone Street, take a few minutes to see Fraunces Tavern, at 54 Pearl Street, on the corner of Broad. Although recreated on this subdivision, the 3rd owner, after Stephanus Van Cortlandt in 1686 and his son-in-law Etienne De Lancey in 1700, Mr. Samuel Fraunces (1762) converted the establishment into a tavern. The Tavern of Time, before the building suffered several fires, would have taken place great discussions before, during and after the great American rebellion against the British. It was here, after the British had left the city, that George Washington is said to have thanked his Continental Army officers for their service before retiring (1783). It is also within these walls that several companies have chosen to meet to discuss common issues and the future of the country. Today, the establishment, with a restaurant and bars, continues to welcome visitors. A museum on the upper floor features historical writings on independence, the Sons of Liberty flag and a recreation of the assembly hall.

Note: on Pearl Street, you can find a glimpse of old New York. It is not worth the detour in itself, because the remains are not highlighted but it is still a hidden underground ruins of the time of New Amsterdam which can be seen directly on the street in front of 85 Broad Street and 63 Pearl Street via glass windows. It would be the Lovelace tavern, even older than that of Fraunces and the Stadt Huys (Town Hall) which dates from the mid-17th century.

You can combine this visit with Stone Street, James Watson House, Staten Island Ferry and Battery Park.

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