White Horse Tavern (Newport, Rhode Island)
Historic place in Rhode Island, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The White Horse Tavern is a tavern in Newport, Rhode Island. The building was constructed before 1673 and is believed to be the oldest tavern building in the United States.[2] It is located on the corner of Farewell and Marlborough streets.
Newport, Rhode Island
White Horse Tavern | |
White Horse Tavern in 2017 | |
  Location within Rhode Island  Location within the United States | |
| Location | 26 Marlborough Street Newport, Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°29′29.0″N 71°18′49.5″W |
| Built | 1652–1673 |
| Part of | Newport Historic District (ID68000001[1]) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000032[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
| Designated NHLDCP | November 24, 1968 |
History
English immigrant Francis Brindley constructed the original building on the site in 1652 on land obtained from his brother-in-law William Coddington.[2] In 1673, he sold the lot to William Mayes, who enlarged the building to become a tavern.[2] It was also used for large meetings, including as a Rhode Island General Assembly meeting place, a courthouse, and a city hall.[2] Mayes obtained a tavern license in 1687, and his son William Mayes Jr. operated it through the early eighteenth century.[2] The operation was named "The White Horse Tavern" in 1730 by owner Jonathan Nichols.[2]
Loyalists and British troops were quartered at the tavern during the British occupation of Newport in the American Revolution, around the time of the Battle of Rhode Island.[2] It is rumored that Benjamin Franklin patronized the tavern when visiting his brother James, who operated a printing press in town.[3]
Modern use
Newport's Van Bueren family donated money to the private Preservation Society of Newport to restore the building in 1952, after years of neglect as a boarding house.[2] After the restoration, it was sold and once again operated as a private tavern and restaurant,[2] and it remains a popular drinking and dining location today.[4]
