North Downtown in Charlottesville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Site of Old Swan Tavern
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 3, 2021
1. Site of Old Swan Tavern Marker
The sign below the brass tablet reads "Court Square Site of Swan Tavern. After 1773."
Erected 1910 by the Monticello Branch of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical date for this entry is June 9, 1781.
Location. 38° 1.892′ N, 78° 28.626′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is in North Downtown. It is on Park Street north of Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling north. It is on the wall of the building, across from the courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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 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
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lynching in America / Lynching of John Henry James (a few steps from this marker); Mercantile Business (a few steps from this marker); Historic Courthouse Square (a few steps from this marker); A Bicentennial Tribute (within shouting distance of this marker); Albemarle County Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); Town Hall / Levy Opera House (within shouting distance of this marker); Albemarle County (within shouting distance of this marker); Jack Jouetts Ride (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottesville.
More about this marker. The facts on this marker may be incorrect. A marker in Kentucky (see related markers list, next) says Jack Jouett died there.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Site of the Swan Tavern. “The old Swan Tavern fell down in the summer of 1832, and was replaced by the brick structure
Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008
2. The signs prior to restoration
2. The Redland Club, site of the Old Swan Tavern. “In 1779 Charlottesville is described as having a courthouse, one tavern, and about a dozen houses. The tavern was the Swan Tavern owned by John Jouett. His son, Jack Jouett, gained fame in 1781 by riding over 40 miles through the night from the Cuckoo Tavern in Luisa to warn Virginia legislators meeting in Charlottesville of approaching British cavalry. Among those who escaped were Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Harrison, John Tyler and Richard Henry Lee. The young Daniel Boone was one of seven captured and briefly detained.” (Submitted on May 2, 2009.)
Additional keywords. General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet GCB (1754–1833), “The Green Dragoon,” commander of the British Legion.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008
3. Building at the Site of Old Swan Tavern
Marker is on the wall of the building that replaced the tavern.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 2, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 4,917 times since then and 183 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 4, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3. submitted on May 2, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
