Skip Navigation
Popular Searches
Old Town
Brunch
Waterfront Restaurants

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

Spacious, empty room with light wood floors, pale blue trim, red curtains, a chandelier, a fireplace, two wooden benches, a wardrobe, and an upper balcony with a railing.
A woman in a yellow shirt talks to a boy wearing a tricorne hat as another woman kneels beside him, all inside a historic bedroom with two beds, wood floors, and a bust on a small table in the background.
A group of people dressed in Regency-era costumes dance together at a formal event. A smiling couple in the foreground holds hands while other guests mingle and dance in the background.
A large, historic red-brick building with white trim, tall windows, dormers, and two arched doorways, sits along a tree-lined street under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
People dressed in historical costumes dance in a ballroom with wooden floors and chandeliers, recreating a scene from the 18th or 19th century. The group includes men in tailcoats and women in long dresses.
Two canopy beds with white curtains, one with a green cover and one with a cream cover, are in a simple, old-fashioned bedroom with wooden floors and light-colored walls. A small table and wash basin are visible in the corner.
A group of people in Regency-era costumes dance in a brightly lit ballroom, holding hands in two rows, with elegant dresses and suits. Red curtains and a chandelier are visible in the background.
01 | 07

Discover Alexandria’s five-star hotel of the 18th century! The Museum consists of the c. 1785 tavern and the 1792 City Tavern and Hotel. Both were constructed by John Wise but made famous by tavern-keeper John Gadsby. His establishment was the center of political, business, and social life in Alexandria and in the new federal city of Washington, D.C. The City Tavern’s Ballroom was the location of George Washington’s Birthnight Ball in 1798 and 1799, as well as Thomas Jefferson’s Inaugural Banquet in 1801. The museum offers tours, programs and special events.

Visit the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum website for hours and self-guided tour information.