Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society

Preserving the Past to Inspire the Future

OUR MISSION

Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all volunteer organization of civic spirited citizens who are dedicated to raising funds for the preservation, enhancement, and interpretation of the Gadsby's Tavern Museum and its history; as well as the promotion of its many educational, cultural, and outreach programs. We also help keep the spirit of the Tavern alive by holding events where Americans have been gathering for over 200 years.

GADSBY'S TAVERN HISTORY

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum is a registered National Historic Landmark so designated for its prominent role in the social, economic, political, and educational history of the United States. Comprising a Georgian style tavern built in 1785 and a larger Federal style hotel built in 1792, the buildings are named after John Gadsby, operator of the tavern and hotel from 1796 to 1808.

John Gadsby hosted numerous important statesmen during his tenure. Six early Presidents (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams) wined and dined at Gadsby’s, as did the Marquis de Lafayette. In fact, George Washington attended the 1799 and 1798 Birthnight Balls held in his honor at Gadsby’s (then known as the City Hotel,) a tradition that continues to today. More of the Tavern's story is told on the Museum's website.

SPRING FLING 2025!

A Roaring Success!

GTMS continue its tradition of fun
fundraising on June 14th

The evening offered participants a Jazz Combo, a Silent Auction, and a demonstration of 18th century chocolate making by the Museum's Junior Docents, a program supported by GTMS. Profits from this event brings brings us ever closer to our Endowment goal.

GTMS IN THE NEWS

Condé Nast Traveler Highlights Gadsby's

Alexandria was named again as #3 in Conde Nast Best Small Cities list as reported by The Patch. Gadsby's gets a shout out at the end of the review, "End the day at Gadsby’s Tavern, where some of our founding fathers used to drink—don’t mind the actors in colonial garb." While this comment related to the restaurant, the mention seems to have spurred a sudden interest in the Museum itself from other media outlets. Stay tuned!

Meet the Docents: This historic tavern in Alexandria lets kids run the tours

WAMU, the local NPR radio station, has been producing a series of short programs they call: Meet the Docents: Behind the Scenes with Local Museum Guides and Educators. Recently, they visited with the Gadsby's Tavern Museum's Junior Docent squad. GTMS annual gifts to the Museum have helped support this project to audition, train, and use the skills of these young historians. WAMU took note!
READ: The story with text, pictures, and audio

GTMS EVENTS IN THE NEWS

SPRING FLING 2024 MADE THE ZEBRA PRESS HEADLINES

In an article entitled Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society’s Spring Fling Boosts Endowment Fund, Alexandria's Zebra Press very nicely told the story of this year's Spring event held at the Museum on April 20th. The Silent and Live Auctions vied with Yvette Spears Jazz Quorum for the crowd's attention. Read an insider's view of the auction activity and Yvette from the successful bidder for the fabulous cake that you can see on the table to the left in the blog HAVING MY CAKE AND EATING IT TOO, A BIRTHDAY STORY by Carol Supplee of Imagine Artwear.