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

Stone Tavern and Central Hotel

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008

1. Stone Tavern and Central Hotel Marker

Inscription. George Nicholas, Albemarle County’s Virginia General Assembly delegate in 1783, built a stone house here in 1784. James Monroe occupied it 1789-1790, while improving the dwelling at his nearby farm, later the site of the University of Virginia. Here on 15 Dec. 1806, while the house was being operated as the Stone Tavern, the return of Meriwether Lewis from his expedition to the Pacific with William Clark was celebrated with a dinner. Thomas Jefferson hosted a reception in the tavern (renamed the Central Hotel), on 12 Nov. 1824,for the Marquis de Lafayette. While serving as a hospital during the Civil War, the building burned with no fatalities in 1862.

Erected 1999 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Q-20.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #03 Thomas Jefferson, the Former U.S. Presidents: #05 James Monroe, the Lafayette’s Farewell Tour, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series

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lists. A significant historical date for this entry is October 12, 1824.

Location. 38° 1.834′ N, 78° 28.699′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is in Downtown Mall. It is on East Market Street west of 5th Street NE, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 414 E Market St, 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 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: President Monroe’s Local Homes (a few steps from this marker); Jefferson Street Buildings (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Post Office (about 300 feet away); Carousel (about 300 feet away); Early Hotels (about 300 feet

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008

2. Stone Tavern and Central Hotel Marker

away); University Street Railway Co. Stables and Car Shed (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Carousel (about 300 feet away); Monticello (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottesville.

View from the Intersection of Market & 5th image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 15, 2008

3. View from the Intersection of Market & 5th

Marker is easy to miss if you are walking down from Courthouse Square. The street number shown on the base of the column has been replaced. See Photos 5 and 6.

Site of the Stone Tavern and Central Hotel, with the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 8, 2017

4. Site of the Stone Tavern and Central Hotel, with the Marker

Tablet on the base of the left column image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 8, 2017

5. Tablet on the base of the left column

On this site stood the Stone Tavern, site of the reception celebrating the safe return of Meriwether Lewis Corps of Discovery, Lewis and Clark Expedition, 15 December 1806.

Tablet on the base of the right column image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 8, 2017

6. Tablet on the base of the right column

On this site stood the Central Hotel, site of the reception dinner for Marquis de Lafayette hosted by Thomas Jefferson, 12 November 1824.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,352 times since then and 152 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 10, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 11, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.