Near Manassas in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Brown's Tavern Site
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 12, 2021
1. Brown's Tavern Site Marker
Inscription.
Brown's Tavern Site. . A tavern originally known as Florance's Ordinary was established in this vicinity and operated by Joseph Florance in 1773 on land originally granted to John Florance in 1725. By 1786 it became known as Gaines' Tavern, being operated by William Gaines. Joseph Brown was granted a license to operate it in 1800. Thomas Jefferson paid many visits here, the most notable being a stop on November 26, 1800 while en-route to Washington, D.C. prior to being elected President. References to this tavern appear in his personal papers between 1792 and 1808, wherein he describes it as "A poor house but obliging people." Taverns such as this served travelers of the day by furnishing food, drink, and lodging while providing the community with a gathering place for the communication of news including mail delivery and dispatch prior to the wide-spread establishment of post offices.
A tavern originally known as Florance's Ordinary was established in this vicinity and operated by Joseph Florance in 1773 on land originally granted to John Florance in 1725. By 1786 it became known as Gaines' Tavern, being operated by William Gaines. Joseph Brown was granted a license to operate it in 1800. Thomas Jefferson paid many visits here, the most notable being a stop on November 26, 1800 while en-route to Washington, D.C. prior to being elected President. References to this tavern appear in his personal papers between 1792 and 1808, wherein he describes it as "A poor house but obliging people." Taverns such as this served travelers of the day by furnishing food, drink, and lodging while providing the community with a gathering place for the communication of news including mail delivery and dispatch prior to the wide-spread establishment of post offices.
Erected 2014 by Prince William County Historical Commission.
Location. 38° 42.726′ N, 77° 28.017′ W. Marker is near Manassas, Virginia, in Prince William County. It is on Brentsville Road 0.2 miles south of Dumfries Road (Virginia Route 234), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8825 Brentsville Rd, Manassas VA 20112, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area, in Northern Virginia, and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 12, 2021
Another marker is no longer nearby. John W. Hall Home (was approx. 2.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,100 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 12, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
