Fraunces Tavern
Also known as: Fraunces' Tavern; Fraunces's Tavern
Why it's listed
Fraunces Tavern occupies the northeast corner of Pearl and Broad Streets in Lower Manhattan. Built in 1719, it is the earliest of the eighteenth-century buildings still standing in Manhattan. The four-story brick building has marble trim, a hipped roof with dormers, and a white marble portico on Pearl Street. About three-quarters of the second- and third-floor brick on both street facades dates from 1719, along with surviving wall sections and floor framing. Its present appearance comes mainly from a 1905-07 restoration by architect William H. Mersereau, carried out after the Sons of the Revolution bought the property in 1904 in memory of Frederick S. Tallmadge. The site is linked to the founding of the Chamber of Commerce in 1768, George Washington's farewell to his officers in 1783, and the founding of the Sons of the Revolution in 1883. It continues as a restaurant, museum and society headquarters, and it was also individually designated a New York City Landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues for national-level significance, presenting new research on the building. It is the earliest surviving eighteenth-century building in Manhattan. It is tied to Washington's 1783 farewell to his officers, the 1768 founding of the Chamber of Commerce, and the founding of the Sons of the Revolution there in 1883. Its 1905-07 restoration was among the first purchases of a historic site by a patriotic organization for use as a museum.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 08000140, listed March 6, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 54 Pearl St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | March 6, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000140 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | William H. Mersereau, architect of the 1905-07 restoration |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Education, Other |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a restaurant, museum and society headquarters; it retains nearly complete integrity to its 1907 restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Wall Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.70538, -74.01089 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 08000140.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2947539
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.