| Boswell's Tavern | |
| Designated Other1: | Virginia Landmarks Register |
| Designated Other1 Date: | November 5, 1968[1] |
| Designated Other1 Number: | 054-0007 |
| Designated Other1 Num Position: | bottom |
| Location: | Jct. of VA 22 and U.S. 15, Gordonsville, Virginia |
| Coordinates: | 38.07°N -78.1838°W |
| Added: | November 25, 1969 |
| Refnum: | 69000257 |
Boswell's Tavern is an excellent example of a complete 18th century tavern in Virginia. Located near Gordonsville, Virginia, the tavern is located at the intersection of present-day U.S. Route 15 and Virginia State Route 22, the centerpiece of a village named after the tavern. The tavern was built in the mid-18th century, probably by Colonel John Boswell. The tavern was the site of a 1781 encampment by American forces during the American Revolutionary War under the Marquis de Lafayette.[2] The tavern was a frequent meeting place for notable Virginia figures, including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Patrick Henry. A few colonial troops were captured at the tavern in March 1781 by British colonel Banastre Tarleton in an attempt to capture Jefferson and to disrupt meetings of the Virginia legislature.[3]
The tavern is a two-story three-bay frame building with prominent chimneys at the west end. The innkeeper's wing, originally 1-1/2 stories, has been increased in height to two stories. A small gabled porch is a modern addition, as is a one-story addition to the innkeeper's quarters. The public section consists of two main rooms, a warming room, a bar and a stair hall. Portions of the original bar remain. The innkeeper's wing consists of a single large room on the main level with a sleeping area above.[2]
Boswell's Tavern was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1969. It is included in the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District, encompassing the surrounding countryside and a number of important houses from the 18th and 19th centuries.[4]