Q. What was Gadsby's Tavern called in Mr. Gadsby's time?

A. In 1792, Alexandria's "Tavern King," John Wise, built the prominent building on the corner of Royal and Cameron Streets. He called it the City Tavern, a name that was often given to the most refined and stylish tavern in a large American city. Taverns were also commonly nicknamed after their posted signs and/or the tavern keeper. In this case, the City Tavern was also known as Sign of the Bunch of Grapes and Wise's Tavern. To further align it with the upper classes and refinement John Gadsby added the French word "hotel" to the building's title. So our tavern has changed name many times:

1792-1796: City Tavern or Wise's Tavern or Sign of the Bunch of Grapes
1796-1808: City Tavern, Gadsby's Tavern and/or Gadsby's Hotel.
Most of 19th Century: City Hotel
Early 20th Century on:  Renamed Gadsby's when it was saved from demolition by American Legion Post #24.

Q. How accurate are the Ballroom curtains?

A. In the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, both public buildings and private homes often had no curtains at all. However, an inventory of the City Hotel furnishings taken in 1802 by tavern keeper John Gadsby lists, as part of the ballroom furnishings, "7 Large curtains with Lath Leds and Lines compleat" valued at $9.00 each.

$9.00 per window is six times more expensive than the curtains found in Gadsby's best bedchambers. This difference in the value may be explained by the use of the word "compleat." Based upon other period documents, John Gadsby probably included both the curtain hardware and some type of simple cornice, as well as the curtains themselves, in his value. It is also likely that the ballroom curtains were of a more substantial type of fabric and more expensively trimmed than those in the bedchambers. …

Reproduction window curtains specially made for the ballroom only a couple of years ago reflect architectural and documentary information as well as the latest research into 18^th-century window treatments. These lined drapery style curtains are a deep, rich red, ornamented with contrasting gold-colored fringe, tassels. Curiously modern-looking but completely authentic fabric-covered cornices grace the tops. The red and gold colors contrast with the ballroom's Prussian blue woodwork using a popular late 18^th-century color palette.

The cords used to draw up the curtains are tied off on paired ornamental cloak pins made of brass.  You can buy reproductions of these pins for your lapel at the Tavern Gift Shoppe or the On-line Shop

Still Curious? E-mail Provey!