Gadsby's Tavern Museum
Gadsby's Tavern Museum
4.5
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Monday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
Learn about early America at Alexandria’s five-star hotel of the 18th century! Gadsby’s Tavern Museum consists of the c. 1785 tavern and the 1792 City Tavern and Hotel. John Gadsby propelled the buildings to fame, managing operations with his enslaved staff. It was the center of political, business, and social life in Alexandria and hosted the likes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Old Town
Steeped in history and charm, Old Town Alexandria is a delightful blend of colonial architecture and modern amenities. The cobblestone streets lead visitors to the famed King Street, renowned for its unique boutiques, antique shops, and distinctive dining experiences. The iconic waterfront provides stunning views and hosts the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a hive of creativity with over 80 artists' studios. Conveniently accessible via the King Street Trolley or the DASH bus service, the neighborhood is also just a short water taxi ride from Washington D.C. Old Town's allure lies in its quaint charm coupled with urban sophistication, making it an irresistible destination for any traveler.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
268 reviews
Excellent
147
Very good
99
Average
20
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Sonja H
Oklahoma City, OK10 contributions
Oct 2022
We got there about 45 minutes before closing so we took the self guided tour after speaking with the delightful docents in the shop. They were so informative and told us what not to miss. Then when we came back down, they answered all of our questions, and we had lots of questions! Very knowledgeable staff and educational-hands on museum. Kids and adults will love playing the games and getting to touch items that is a no-no in other museums. Small, but well worth the stop!
Written 20 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave C
Alexandria, VA1,618 contributions
Jul 2022
This is a very interesting museum in a rare colonial survivor that several founding fathers ate and stayed at. Very neat space to sort of recreate the time in your head. Nice displays, cool stories. It was free for my wife and I because we are residents, but it would be worth a moderate musem charge. Fantastic location, of course, central to much in Old Town.
Written 3 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carlos & Jess
Fort Worth, TX395 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
We're so glad we stopped in for a tour! Donna was our tour guide and was fantastic. Her knowledge goes beyond words. It's certainly worth the $3 to have the guided tour and learn about this historic tavern and all it has to offer! The gift shop is super cute, great prices and lots of fun souvenirs.
Written 22 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate Illinois1
Illinois5,249 contributions
May 2022
We should have done the self guided tour and saved money and time. Everything the guide said was written all through the building, but she left out many items. We went back and read all the placards. That is when we discovered George and Martha Washington attended the 1798 & 1799 Washington Birthnight Ball. Only thing she told us it was where Thomas Jefferson inaugural banquet took place and the room hosted the annual Washington Birthday celebration.
Written 21 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert D
Brooklyn, New York5,465 contributions
Jan 2020
This museum tells the story of this historic tavern over three floors of exhibits. See a recreation of the grand ballroom which played host to George Washington. Definitely worth a visit of you are in Old Town Alexandria.
Written 16 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Group_Hotel_Pro
Alpharetta, GA77 contributions
Jul 2021
This is a very intimate museum, and is priced affordably. My favorite part was the focus on which sorts of food and drinks were commonly served and consumed by travelers in the late 18th century Revolution era. If you are visiting Alexandria, you will walk right past this place, I guarantee it. So stop in and take a look.
Written 3 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
joshmilind
Ashburn, VA107 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
I was really looking forward to this after reading good reviews. We reached at the museum in the afternoon. It wasn't at all crowded. We were greeted by a little girl in period dress as soon as we entered which was a surprise, but a good one. We entered into the tiny gift shop and asked for the tour. We bought 2 tickets (5$ per person, 1$ off if you have AAA membership) and he directed us back to the little girl, who directed us again to one of the rooms right behind her. We then, very quickly realized that ALL the docents were kids. Please don't get me wrong, we loved them and appreciated their effort. They did the best they could, but I believe our experience would have been much different if we had an adult docent guide us. As for the museum, it's filled with history. Two young girls were demonstrating ice-cream making, which was fun.
Written 24 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dover2400
dover, pa18 contributions
Mar 2013 • Couples
Great food at lunch at good prices. Go around 11:30AM. Get Key to City book ($9) at Visitor's Center on King St near waterfront. Gets you $5 off meal and free entrance to other historic sites. Went back again for the Ale battered Cod for kunch.
Written 29 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Loretta V
Lake Dallas, United States111 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
Just to know when and how this started is amazing. The food is wonderful and the servers are all dressed in period dress. It is beautiful inside and has original floor and serving pieces.
Written 9 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elcodfish
Depew, New York6 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
We just visited the museum and had a fabulous tour with Kristy. If you can make the tour, it really tells you so much more about the buildings. What is wonderful is the space was never renovated into a home or other business so you really get to see an authentic representation of life at the time. The tour really tells you about life and about how the tavern would have been utilized. Absolutely worth the hour.
Written 27 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liz W
Alexandria, Virginia
Adults: $5.00
Children (ages 5 -12): $3.00
Children under 5 are free with a paying adult.
Discounts are available to AAA Members and to visitors who have dined at Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant.
Written 15 July 2015
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