Fraunces Tavern Museum and Magna Carta

On 27 Jan, I headed out to visit the Fraunces Tavern Museum located in the financial section of lower Manhattan on the corner of Pearle and Broad Street. It was the sight of George Washington's famous Farewell Address to his generals after the British evaucated New York City on 25 Nov 1783. The museum also had on display one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta signed by King John in 1215. Thought it be good to see them.

I took the #5 Train got off at the Bowling Green Station and walked a couple of blocks to the Museum. Fraunces Tavern is still a working restaurant after all these years. Entering the restaurant, one goes upstairs to the 2nd floor where the artifacts are located.

The most famous is the "Long Room" where Washington's Farewell Address was delivered. The room is kept in the same form as it would have been in the 18th-century. Nicely laid out with food, chairs, tobacco pipes and writing quills. There is also a couple of other rooms on this floor belong to George Clinton, the first Governor of the State of New York, in the same period setting. He hosted a dinner party for George Washington after British Evacuated New York in 25 Nov 1783. Along the hall walls, are images from various artist of the time of George Washington. Some were fanciful images of his Farewell Address. Most of these were sketches used in the newspapers of the times and part of Stanley and Elizabeth DeForest Scott's collection on permanent display to the museum. The images give a glimpse of what people's feeling at the time were towards the First President.

Going up the wooden stairs to the 3rd floor is a large museum rooms filled with artifacts collected by the Sons of the Revolution, the folks who take care of the museum. Items like muskets, statues, a lock of George Washington's hair, a piece of wood from his coffin(before being placed in a tomb), one pair of Washington's false teeth and period clothing were on displayed. Also information and images of the Sons of the Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution were also there. Nice collection of period items.

Walking into the adjoining gallery was a large room with information on the Magna Carta. It is in this room, near the side one sees the display of a hand written copy of this great document. The copy is on loan from its home in Lincoln Cathedral in England. The "Great Charter" is behind a glass booth, the document itself is small about 11 x17 inches, gray and hard to read. Information around the area explains some of the words and its implications. Before entering this area there is a large copy of the Declaration of Independence. The plaques claim this is the only one of two original copies of the Declaration still around.

Around the exhibition rooms flew some flags of various Kings of England, which added the flare that the Magna Carta is very much British. Next to this gallery were paintings showing New York's involvement in the Revolutionary War and times leading up to it. There were also paintings of many of the significant events/people such as Molly Pitcher, Van Stuben, Thaddeous Kosciusko and others.

Also on display were many of the famous paintings by John Ward Dunsmore. Most have seen his work but this was a display of his original painting. Paintings were dramatic representations of some of the events like the Battle of Yorktown.

Well it was sad I was not allowed to take pictures of the exhibits and artifacts, I really don't understand this since most of what is on display already have pictures some where else on the Web, but it was a really good experience. The viewing was less then one hour and seeing the places that was built so long ago surrounded by modern builds made for financing was rather striking juxtaposition.

Photos of the outside of the building can be seen in location below:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46377&id=1507778102&l=45961cd35f