The Great Gadsby TavernText Box: Today, the kids and I headed to Gadsby's Tavern in Alexandria. It is a historic building similar to taverns ‘in the day’ when the founding fathers would have gotten together over a pint and decided how our government should be handled. Text Box: Our tour guide was great. She gave us a little background on the importance of Taverns in colonial days. Gadsby’s would have been a tavern at first, with just a few rooms, but later built an addition that was high-end, and considered a hotel. Text Box: Below, is the tavern room. What was nice is how it was set up for ‘business’ and the kids got to handle some ‘tools of the times’. So much different from many of the other ‘house museums’ around here where you have to duck tape your kids arms to their sides, and then to you! It was a really comfortable place to visit. She also showed the various foods and drinks. Text Box: Our guide explained how Alexandria, a port town, would have had a ‘finer’ choice of food, perhaps even oysters! To the right, you see the ladies room used after the addition. In those times, taverns would have been no place for a lady, but a ‘hotel’ with a nice bed, like on the right, was quite a step up! Text Box: Above, you can see where the musician would play. Yes, he’d have to climb up by ladder! This room was larger and held many fancy parties for our newborn government. Text Box: After our tour, the kids read a script about the founding fathers arguing over the location of the Capital. Spencer was the South Carolinian, and Audrey was the New Yorker. It was a good way to learn about the Compromise of 1790. Text Box: Also in the ballroom was a square piano. Audrey thought it was cool, so she started playing “Fall For You” by Secondhand Serenade...just kidding! Below is a coal fireplace. Not functioning now, but it IS where the light switches are located! HA! Part of keeping that “authentic” look—

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