Whether he was struggling to keep his frozen troops together at Valley Forge, lifting a pint at the City Tavern or dancing the minuet at the Powel House, George Washington spent a good deal of his social, political and military life in and around Philadelphia. Following in the footsteps of the nation’s first president is a great way to experience some of the region’s most iconic landmarks, many of which do double duty as atmospheric off-site venues.
A good place to begin is Independence Hall, considered the most important building both in Washington’s life and in American history. This is where Washington was appointed chief of the Continental Army in 1775 and where he signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. His chair and inkwell are in the center of the room.
Independence Hall is part of Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, a square mile that is also home to the National Constitution Center, which combines historical exhibits, including a life-size bronze statue of Washington, with a variety of impressive meeting and event spaces. Groups can dine in the Grand Hall Overlook, which accommodates up to 600 people and features spectacular views of Independence Hall.
More intimate meals can be enjoyed at the nearby City Tavern, a favorite watering hole for Washington, John Adams and other founding fathers who enjoyed such dishes as West Indies pepperpot soup and sweet potato biscuits, both still on the menu. With 10 private dining rooms, the tavern will arrange events with period music, costumed interpreters and wait staff in colonial garb.
While serving as president, Washington frequently visited the Powel House, a stately brick townhouse just a short walk from City Tavern that was the home of his good friends, Samuel and Elizabeth Powel. Today the home is a museum where visitors can see the rococo ballroom where Washington, an enthusiastic dancer, reportedly cut quite a rug with the local ladies. Still the scene of private parties, the Powel House and its adjacent garden accommodate groups of 100 or less.
Just outside the city limits are several important key sites where Washington and his troops struggled to gain ground during the American Revolution. Among them is Cliveden, a stone colonial mansion in Germantown that still bears the bullet holes from a fierce battle between British and American forces in 1777. The carriage house and spacious grounds surrounding Cliveden are available for catered events.
North of the city in Bucks County, Washington Crossing Historic Park marks the spot on the banks of the Delaware River where Washington and his army made their famous 1776 Christmas night crossing across the ice-choked river to achieve a surprise victory at Trenton the next morning. Visitors can view exhibits and replicas of the heavy Durham boats that transported the soldiers in the visitor center as well as explore the ferry house that Washington used as his headquarters. Event space at the park consists of several pavilions with fire pits and picnic tables accommodating up to 100 people. Indoor function space is available nearby at the Washington Crossing Inn, which offers several meeting rooms with fireplaces as well as two garden patios for outdoor dining.
About 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, Valley Forge National Historic Park is where the Continental Army encamped during the hard winter of 1777-’78. Some 1,500 replicas of the rude huts where the soldiers lived are scattered throughout the grounds, while the welcome center provides exhibits and artifacts pertaining to the encampment. Visitors can also tour Washington’s Headquarters, a pretty fieldstone house where Washington, along with his wife Martha and 25 staff members, lived in relative comfort.
For More Info
City Tavern 215.413.1443
www.citytavern.com
215.898.1777
www.clivdeden.org
215.597.2305
www.nps.gov/inde
215.409.6637
www.constitutioncenter.org
215.925.2251
www.philalandmarks.org/powel
215.493.7076
www.ushistory.org
215.493.3634
www.washingtoncrossinginn.com
610.783.1077
www.nps.gov/vafo
