Darley Newman Shares Her Expert Guide to Revolutionary War Taverns with the New York Post
Where Did the Founding Fathers Actually Drink? Darley Newman Knows
Ahead of the Fourth of July and America's 250th anniversary, the New York Post turned to Emmy Award-winning host Darley Newman as the expert source for a guide to historic taverns and breweries across New York and New Jersey — places where George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and other Founding Fathers actually ate, drank, and strategized.
Newman's authority on the subject comes from years of firsthand research for Travels with Darley and her new book, Revolutionary Road Trip: Hidden Stories of America's Founding Journey, out now.
Emmy-winning host Darley Newman shares her expert guide to historic Revolutionary War taverns and breweries in New York and New Jersey with the New York Post, ahead of America's 250th anniversary.
What Did Darley Discover About Revolutionary-Era Taverns?
Through her research, Newman found that taverns during the Revolutionary era functioned as far more than places to eat and drink. They were where revolutionaries debated politics, traded news, planned strategy, and celebrated victories — often over rum punch, ale, whiskey, and hearty comfort food. Her conclusion, as she told the Post: history class left out just how much socializing fueled the Revolution.
The Historic Sites Darley Highlighted
Fraunces Tavern, Financial District, NYC
The oldest surviving building in Manhattan and site of Washington's 1783 farewell address to his troops — and, according to Newman, evidence of an early version of takeout culture in the city.
Olde Bryan Inn, Saratoga Springs, NY
A tavern with ties to intelligence-gathering ahead of the Battle of Saratoga, the turning point of the Revolution. Newman highlighted artifacts the current owners have uncovered during renovations.
Baird's Tavern, Warwick, NY
A documented stop for both George and Martha Washington along the historic King's Highway corridor.
Sweet Clover Farm, Highland Mills, NY
A working distillery on land once owned by Aaron Burr, now producing spirits that nod to Revolutionary-era taverns.
Nassau Inn & Yankee Doodle Tap Room, Princeton, NJ
A site that once housed Continental Congress members, featuring a structurally irremovable Norman Rockwell mural Newman pointed to as a only-in-this-town detail.
Flounder Brewing Co., Hillsborough Township, NJ
A restored 250-year-old barn directly on the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, which Newman flagged as a model for historic preservation done right.
Glenbrook Brewery, Morristown, NJ
Located in what's considered the military capital of the Revolution, and a gathering spot for local reenactors that Newman found especially fun to witness firsthand.
Galloping Hill Inn, Union, NJ
A roadside stop along a route British troops marched in 1780, marked today by a historical monument Newman cited as proof these sites hide in plain sight.
