North Downtown in Charlottesville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Early Hotels

Dining, Dancing, and the Mail

— Charlottesville, Virginia - 1762 —

Early Hotels Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 3, 2021

1. Early Hotels Marker

Inscription. The Eagle Tavern opened here sometime prior to 1791. With its large public room that could feed 200 people, the hotel was primary place for public dances and political celebrations. Traveling peddlers sold products on its long porch during monthly court days. Baptist minister William P. Farish had already developed a stagecoach line in 1845 when he purchased the property and erected this building in 1854. The Farish House hotel soon thereafter became a major stagecoach stop. After the Civil War, Federal occupying forces used it as a headquarters for two years. Just to the west of this property is a building erected in 1926 as the Monticello Hotel where once stood the Jefferson Hotel, a post office, a shoe and book shop, and a drugstore owned by James Barclay (who owned Monticello from 1831 to 1836). One room had been used by the Widow's Son Lodge of Freemasons, and another contained a grocery run by an African American named Edmunds.

Erected by City of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1791.

Location. 38° 1.867′ N, 78° 28.642′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is in North

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Downtown. It can be reached from the intersection of Court Square and Park Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Court Square, Charlottesville VA 22902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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 within walking distance of this marker: First Post Office (here, next to this marker); Watering Fountains (within shouting distance of this marker); Mercantile Business (within shouting distance of this marker); First Public Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Monticello (within shouting distance of this marker); Lynching in America / Lynching of John Henry James (within shouting distance of this marker); A Bicentennial Tribute (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Courthouse Square (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottesville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Albemarle Confederate Monument (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 17, 2024

2. Early Hotels Marker

The marker has been temporarily moved indoors while the building is receiving and update. The property management allowed for the marker to be photographed to show that it is in good state.

300 Court Square image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 3, 2021

3. 300 Court Square

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 791 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on May 18, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on April 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.