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| - The Mount Washington Tavern was built as a stagecoach stop along the National Road (now US#40), which was the first highway commissioned by the United States Federal Government. It was built near the site of Fort Necessity and although the fort predates the tavern by many years, Mount Washington Tavern and Fort Necessity are operated by the NPS as one site.
Back in the early days of the National Road, taverns didn't quite have the same function as we know them today. They weren't just places to imbibe a drink or two (although you could certainly do that if you wished). Travel by stagecoach could be slow and difficult with journeys lasting for several days. They didn't have the modern conveniences that we take for granted such as flight delays, security patdowns, body scanners, road congestion & construction, late Amtrak trains....!
No the tavern was more than that. It was a place for a hot meal, coffee, conviviality, and a room.
We took the tour of the tavern and not every floor is open. The attic & basement are now used for storage. The barroom was the happening place at the tavern. Here tired travelers could stretch out on one of the many chairs, have a smoke, swap stories of travel on the road, read the latest newspapers, play cards, etc. Y'know, I think I left out one important detail. I meant tired male travelers. See, we women weren't allowed in that room. For a female to have a shot of whiskey in that room was just socially taboo back then ("You don't drink anyway, Susan!" my bro Paul remarked).
Nope, we ladies were confined to the parlor, which was across the hall and actually was the fanciest room in the place. It was the only carpeted room in the place and had the fanciest chairs, the best linens, the nicest draperies, etc. This room was equally popular with the locals too. Funny how we couldn't enter the bar but the men could come in here.
The Mount Washington Tavern of course provided meals to hungry travelers. They had community seating here, meaning that you sat wherever there was room and you made friends quickly. You could eat as much as you liked, but you were often rushed because the next stagecoach load would arrive momentarily.
Upstairs were the hotel rooms. Now don't think these were anything like the hotel rooms of today. Or even like those in vintage hotels like the William Penn, the Royal York, or the Palmer House. There was little privacy. A night's hotel rate got you a bed which you often had to share with a stranger. If you could afford better, you'd maybe also get a chair and a washstand, but you were still sharin'! The less well-to-do could sleep in the attic. There you had bed after bed in one large room, like a military barracks.
My Cousin Cindy and I, along with our beaus and bros and their wives came out here for a day's visit. If you're visiting Fort Necessity, it's worth the little side trip to the tavern. They're on the same property and they're connected by a short hiking trail.
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