West Chester in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Turk’s Head Tavern

1769 – 1964

Photographed by Keith S Smith, October 17, 2011

1. Turk’s Head Tavern Marker

Inscription. This Bank occupies the site on which John Hoopes erected the Turk’s Head Tavern in 1769. Much of West Chester’s early history is associated with The Turk’s Head. For nearly 200 years, as tavern and hotel, it was an important center for military, political, and social discussions. Stock of Chester County Banks was often sold at public auction from the hotel porch.

Erected 1965.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1769.

Location. 39° 57.596′ N, 75° 36.244′ W. Marker is in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It is on East Market Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Chester PA 19380, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Dime Savings Bank (here, next to this marker); The First National Bank of West Chester (within shouting distance of this marker); William Darlington (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Glory (within shouting distance of this marker); Chester County (within shouting distance of this marker); William Darlington M.D.

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Chester County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Disabled Veterans of Chester County Pennsylvania Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Chester.

Also see . . .
1. Barclay Rubincam Burial Site. (Submitted on November 11, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.)
2. West Chester - Originally called Turk's Head. (Submitted on November 13, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.)

Dime Savings Bank &Turk’s Head Tavern Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith S Smith, October 17, 2011

2. Dime Savings Bank &Turk’s Head Tavern Markers

Turk’s Head Inn c. 1940's image. Click for full size.

Photo Post Card from the mid to late 1940's

3. Turk’s Head Inn c. 1940's

Turk’s Head Inn mid 1960's image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Unknown

4. Turk’s Head Inn mid 1960's

The Turk’s Head image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Image of Painting

5. The Turk’s Head

Painted by West Chester artist Barclay Rubincam

Aerial of Turk’s Head a year or so before it was razed image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Riggtown Historian, WCU

6. Aerial of Turk’s Head a year or so before it was razed

Turk’s Head Tavern Post Card found on Ebay image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sold On Ebay

7. Turk’s Head Tavern Post Card found on Ebay

8. Turk’s Head Tavern Marker

To the Honourable Justices at their Court of General Quarter Sessions to be held at Chester, the 31st Day of August A D. 1762. The humble Petition of Phinehas Eachus of the township of Goshen, in the County of Chester, Sheweth, That, Whereas your Petitioner's Habitation is at the Intersection of two Public Roads, one order of leading from Bristol to Philadelphia, And the other from the Susquehanna Valley to Wilmington, which Roads, but Especially the Latter, is much frequented by Travellers from distant Parts, and being Defitute of a Public House for many Miles together, is therefore Inconvenient for those who travel from Remote parts, and Burdensome to the Adjacent Inhabitants. Therefore it is Your Petitioner's Humble Request, that you may be pleased to grant him Your recommendation to the Committee, in Case of his Making a Journey, to keep Such a Public house of Entertainment. And Your Petitioner, as in Duty bound, Shall Pray Phinehas Eachus We the Subscribers, being Neighbours and Acquaintances of the above Petitioner, are of the Opinion, that there is Need of a Public house of Entertainment at the Place above mentioned and deem him to be a Person Sufficiently Qualified for the Exercise of that Calling. Therefore we Request that he may be recommended according to the Tenor of his Petition. Thomas Darlington Joseph Garrett Jos: Matlack Joseph Parsons Gosport Joseph Pierce Thomas Yearley Elles Davies Jonathan Parker Fanny Dilworth Charles Ryant Abiah Taylor Isaac Taylor Joseph Allony Farr Sarah Kennedy Titus Uppenbath Isaac Heins for John Moore John Darlington John Rogers Daniel Hooper George Carter Ralph Ferrington James Marshall William Chorlton James Jekins Alexander Johnson The Him John Donning Warwick Miller Emma Gifford The Stalker William Eachus Isaiah Mattax

9. Turk’s Head Tavern Marker

West Chester sesqui-centennial, commemorating 150 years of progress since the incorporation of the town as a borough, 1799-1949

Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 9,040 times since then and 489 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 11, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on December 6, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 11, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. 8, 9. submitted on April 22, 2026. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.