DIY Your Own NYC Revolutionary Pub Crawl
Explore Lower Manhattan's historic taverns, Revolutionary War secrets, and cobblestone streets on your own walking tour.
New York Crawling spent nearly a decade billing its Revolutionary Pub Crawl in Lower Manhattan as one of the finest experiences in the city. However, according to the official New York Crawling website, a banner across the page reads simply that they are currently “closed and hoping to reopen soon.” But that doesn’t mean there are no other options.
The Original Tour and Its Closure
Historically, the tours began at the corner of Broad and Pearl Streets, and folks visited four historic taverns while guides shared interesting facts about life in that era. The stories covered George Washington’s 1783 farewell to his officers, secret spy networks, the Sons of Liberty, and the fallout of the Birch Trials.
The craft beer that came with the tours found tons of excellent reviews on TripAdvisor, but it’s thought that the pandemic led to the disappearance of this particular organized tour. However, if you’re in Manhattan, there’s no reason why you can’t do it yourself.
Starting at Fraunces Tavern
There are old taverns in Lower Manhattan that remain open to the public, and the best place to start is at Fraunces Tavern at 54 Pearl Street.
According to the Fraunces Tavern Museum historical archives, the tavern was opened in 1762 by Samuel Fraunces as the Queen’s Head Tavern, and the building is recognized today as the oldest surviving structure in Manhattan.
The Sons of Liberty used to meet there in secret, and the tavern also hosted the Evacuation Day Banquet after the British left New York. Later, Washington said an emotional goodbye to his officers in the upstairs Long Room.
The Fraunces Tavern Museum is on the upper floors, and you can go there in the afternoons. It’s an opportunity to explore the Long Room, check out early American artifacts, and view the George Washington portrait collection. Guided tours are available on Friday through Sunday afternoons.
If you’re tired and need a break after that, you can visit the ground-floor restaurant and pub, which serves food and drinks late into the evening.
Exploring Historic Stone Street
Just around the corner from Pearl Street lies Stone Street, and per the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, it was Manhattan’s first paved roadway and is preserved today as a historic pedestrian-only district. Seven bars and eateries line the narrow street, with outdoor tables on the cobblestones in warmer months.
Ulysses’ Folk House is found near the eastern end of the block, and was the first venue to open during Stone Street’s modern revival. It’s well-known for its extensive draught list and oyster bar.
Further down the block, Stone Street Tavern is situated in a nineteenth-century Greek Revival counting house which has a Dutch-style gable, while Beckett’s Bar and Grill occupies a structure that traces its roots back to the 1600s. The Dubliner sits on the Hanover Square side and is a traditional Irish pub close to India House.
The Dead Rabbit
End your DIY tour at The Dead Rabbit, which you can find at 30 Water Street. It’s a multi-story Irish taproom in the Fraunces Tavern Block Historic District. There, you’ll find vintage nineteenth-century recipes and Irish coffee.
You can usually do the walk in about an hour and a half to two and a half hours. Of course, that depends on how much time you spend at each stop. It’s only about a third of a mile altogether, but wear comfortable shoes because some of the cobblestones are uneven.
Getting There & More Info
Getting to the neighborhood is straightforward using the New York City Subway, with options including the 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green, the 2 or 3 train to Wall Street, the J or Z train to Broad Street, or the 1 train to South Ferry.
If you’d rather listen to someone explain the history as you walk, there are a few options. VoiceMap has a GPS-guided audio tour that takes you from Bowling Green to Stone Street, covering some of Manhattan’s early history. Alternatively, Free Tours By Foot and Frommer’s have walking directions you can follow through the Financial District.
The Revolutionary secrets, early architecture, and historic watering holes of Lower Manhattan are still waiting for you, so next time you visit Manhattan, why not set aside an afternoon for an interesting walk and a pint?
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