Self guided tours of some of the most historic pubs and taverns in the tri-state area.
Who doesn’t like going on an adventure. The Mr. Local History Project has been building a list of historic pubs and taverns in the Jersey/New York City area over the years and have come up with a number of self guided day trips you can take via your car, your motorcycle, or Uber (if you care to imbibe over the legal limits. We introduce you to our Great Historic Tavern and Pub Crawl tours.
We like touring Morris and Somerset County since this is the “cockpit of the revolution” and most of the old taverns were meeting places of the resistance. Want to grab a pint where General Washington drank (and maybe slept)? How about a cold one where Ben Franklin gathered his thoughts? Here’s where history meets the road….literally.
In addition to churches, pubs and taverns served as the meeting places of the revolution. How fun now would it be to create a trip, learn some great stories, and maybe even sit and have a bite and drink. This project is a community effort to create tours of historic taverns, gin mills, speakeasies across the New York/New Jersey metro area and along the majestic Delaware River area.
How did the Mr. Local History Project come up with the list? Well, the crawl is first about history. All of the postings on the map need to be at LEAST 100 years old. While many of the locations go back to the Revolutionary War, they are not just about the revolutionary war. For example, take in Hoboken while you learn about Frank Sinatra and some of his favorite early hangouts. Take our advice on suggested tours, or make up one of your own. Let us know how it works out in the comments section below.
We also suggest you pick up the book “Colonial Taverns of New Jersey – Libations, Liberty & Revolution” by Michael Gabriele– A great pre-read before you head out on your adventure.
Next to churches, taverns and pubs historically were part of every town’s fabric. Build a tour of your own or take one of ours. Learn some history, and create a tour of historic Taverns/Inns Still Serving (Fork/Spoon), Still Standing (YELLOW House), or Gone Forever/Plaque or Signage (PURPLE STAR).
Suggested Tours
FYI – our suggested tours are on the Google Map (click to open in new window).
Mr. Local History
All you have to do is enlarge the map and check the checkbox for the map tour view you’d like to take
Tavern History
One of the best things about history is the method you choose to learn it. This idea grew out of a great memory of a Hoboken Pub Crawl I went on a number of years ago. If you know your history, Hoboken has the highest concentration of bars/pubs in the US. Back in the late 1700’s, when travel was slower, each town had three places to support travel: a hotel, a church, and a pub or tavern. Tavern’s are where people met, swapped stories, and history was made. Now it’s your turn to create a list that will later be turned into a Historic Pub Crawl Event.
1. Morris/Somerset County Tour (About 3 hours)
Start at the historic Arnold’s Tavern site in Morristown where there have been not just one winter encampment during the revolutionary war, but two! Go up the street to see the winter home of General George Washington while your there.
After taking a few fun pics of the “Revolutionary Trio” walk down from the green and grab a pint at the Glen Brook Brewery, an new spot in town who loves our local history.
Then drive south to grab a bite at the historic Grain House Restaurant in Basking Ridge. After, drive down to view the historic Coffee House in Madisonville section of Bernards Township. After the quick stop, travel thru downtown Basking Ridge and find the site of the historic Widow White’s Tavern. Then back up the road past John Parker’s Tavern in Bernardsville. Then make a choice to close out the event. Delicious Heights (Bedminster), Stirling Hotel (Long Hill), Pluckemin Inn (Pluckemin) or the Gladstone Tavern (Gladstone).
2. Tri-State Historic Pub & Tavern Crawl (Make a Day of It)
Here’s one to make a day of it. This tour is a combination of sites, standing taverns, and active eateries. If there are 5 on the list you have to hit we’d suggest: McSorley’s in NYC (Active), Fraunces Tavern (Active), Arnold’s Tavern (Morristown/Site), Widow Whites Tavern (Basking Ridge/Site), Logan Inn (Active/New Hope,PA) and end at City Tavern in Philadelphia. You complete this tour and you’ve probably seen the top historic venues in the tri-state area.
3. Motorcycle Tour (Make an Afternoon of It)
A slice of city, country, and a tour worth riding. One of the best rides is to start at the historic Arnold’s Tavern Site in Morristown, New Jersey. Then decide which direction to take.
4. Delaware River Tour – Taverns and Inns
Travel South – From there many make the decision to travel south towards New Hope, PA. There are plenty of active open taverns, as well as a number of taverns/Inns that are now restored homes or historic sites. Great fun traveling down the banks of the Delaware River south to Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, PA. Check out the Logan Inn and check out a few ghost stories.
Travel North – Another favorite is to start in Princeton, NJ and work your way north through Hunterton County, Morris County, and north to Sussex County.
(OPTIONAL) Designated Driver Tour (Make a Night of It)
Here’s where you get the change to get your drink on while getting a fill of history. Start with a walk, then grab a ride share and keep it going.
NYC and Hoboken by far are the best historic walking and Uber pub crawl tours on the map. There are more bars per square mile in Hoboken than anywhere in America! With Hoboken just across the Hudson River you could take just a few hours and visit historic taverns that are both open and visible. Fraunces Tavern in NYC is a MUST! Either start or end there!
Share Your Tour (Or Suggest a Tavern Spot)
Map Your Tour
Over 50 pubs, taverns, museums, inns to choose from in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.
Here’s what we’re looking for you to do. Tell us where the place is, when it was built, if the Tavern is still serving libations (tap, package, liquor,food) and any historical story tied to the establishment. Take photos and send them to us!
Start posting and let’s see what you’ve got. How good is your history? Better yet, how good is your tavern history. Bet you have a good story in there somewhere!
If you don’t want to post to the map, just post a comment at the end of the piece,and we’ll get it up there sometime. (See info below the map).
Map Listings
* City Tavern – c1772
* Grain House – c1768
* Stirling Hotel – c1903
* Gladstone Tavern – c1847
* Landmark Tavern – c1868
* Blue Pig Tavern – Congress Hall – c1816
* Blue Anchor Tavern – c1750
* Arnolds Tavern – c1764
* Widow White’s Tavern c1700s
* Stockton Inn – c1710
* The Village Inn – c1726
* Nassau Inn – c1756
* French Arms Tavern – c1750s
* Fraunces Tavern Museum – c1719
* White Horse Tavern – c1880
* Franklin Inn – c1734
* Pittstown Grill and Inn – c1760s
* Brownstone Inn
* 110 Main Street
* The Old ’76 House
* Willie´s Taverne – c1780
* Black Horse Tavern – c1740
* Pete’s Tavern -c1864
* McSorley’s Old Ale House – c1854
* PJ Clarke’s – c1864
* Lambertville House Historic Inn – c1812
* Pluckemin Inn – mid 1700s
Colonial Taverns of New Jersey
A great book to bring along on the tour.
Check out the new book Colonial Taverns of New Jersey – Just released in 2023. Click the book to learn more and how you can get one before your trip.
Additional Tours
