Michie Tavern was established in 1779 by Scotsman William Michie. Michie, who served at Valley Forge, was politically active. His busy inn and tavern was the perfect place to rouse the sentiments of his fellow countrymen. Historians believe that when local support for the Revolutionary cause was faltering, Michie signed the Albermarle Declaration of 1779 and persuaded his neighbors to do so, also. The Declaration was a document by Albermarle County landowners renouncing support of King George III and affirming allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia as a free and independent state. Another signer of the Albemarle Declaration was a young Thomas Jefferson, who owned property nearby.
You usually see the date of 1784 ascribed to Michie Tavern. That’s when Michie applied for a license as an “ordinary”. When Virginia was under British rule, no license was necessary. The inn and tavern were operating for several years before the establishment of Virginia as an independent state making its own laws.
I believe Michie Tavern is the oldest surviving tavern in America. The tavern served as the social center of the community and provided travelers with food, lodging, and “good keeping of horses”. It was relocated from its original site to Monticello Mountain in 1927.
Accommodations for single travelers weren’t as idyllic as indicated in the lower right photo. Single men claimed their beds on a first-come first-served basis. It was common for men who were strangers to each other to share a bed. Those who arrived too late to snag a bed slept on the floor.
The grist mill was built approximately 13 years later than the tavern in 1797. It ground grain for bread and feed for animals for more than 150 years. It now houses a general store with an old-time mercantile atmosphere.
Michie Tavern is located at 683 Thomas Jefferson Parkway in Charlottesville, VA, about a mile from Monticello. It operates a dining room and the 1784 Pub. The Pub strives to maintain its 1784 ambience, serving Virginia wines, beers, and ciders. It also serves light fare like Virginia country ham biscuits, as well as offering visitors the opportunity to play 18th century games. The Pub is open Thursday through Saturday from 3:30pm to 7:30pm.
The main dining room is open daily from 11:30am to 3:00pm. They offer Southern style dishes such as southern fried chicken, hickory smoked pulled pork BBQ, and black-eyed peas seasoned with country ham. The dining room is child-friendly; meals for children under 6 are free. They also provide youngsters with a Treasure Hunt Map that rewards them at the end of the hunt with chocolate coins.