Boswell's Tavern
National Register of Historic Places

Boswell's Tavern

Gordonsville, Louisa County, Virginia
Listed
November 24, 1969
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
69000257

About this property

Boswell's Tavern is an excellent example of a complete 18th century tavern in Virginia. Located near Gordonsville, Virginia, the tavern is located at the intersection of present-day U.S. Route 15 and Virginia State Route 22, the centerpiece of a village named after the tavern. The tavern was built in the mid-18th century, probably by Colonel John Boswell. The tavern was the site of a 1781 encampment by American forces during the American Revolutionary War under the Marquis de Lafayette. The tavern was a frequent meeting place for notable Virginia figures, including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Patrick Henry. A few colonial troops were captured at the tavern in March 1781 by British colonel Banastre Tarleton in an attempt to capture Jefferson and to disrupt meetings of the Virginia legislature. The tavern is a two-story three-bay frame building with prominent chimneys at the west end. The innkeeper's wing, originally 1-1/2 stories, has been increased in height to two stories. A small gabled porch is a modern addition, as is a one-story addition to the innkeeper's quarters. The public section consists of two main rooms, a warming room, a bar and a stair hall. Portions of the original bar remain. The innkeeper's wing consists of a single large room on the main level with a sleeping area above. Boswell's Tavern was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1969. It is included in the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District, encompassing the surrounding countryside and a number of important houses from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Location

Gordonsville, Louisa County, Virginia
38.07123, -78.18220

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Conflict & War
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

Westend
Industrial
1.8 mi
Grassdale
Industrial
2.1 mi
Longwood
Industrial
2.3 mi
Green Springs Historic District
Listed
3.5 mi
Hawkwood
Industrial
3.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Boswell's Tavern listed on the National Register?

Boswell's Tavern was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 24, 1969.

What type of historic resource is Boswell's Tavern?

Boswell's Tavern is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Boswell's Tavern?

The period of significance for Boswell's Tavern is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1781.

Can I research the history near Boswell's Tavern?

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