Michie Tavern

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Michie Tavern

| image = Vacation05 053.jpg

| caption =

| location = Albemarle County, Virginia

| nearest_city = Charlottesville

| coordinates = {{coord|38|0|31.22|N|78|27|54.55|W|display=inline,title}}

| built = 1784

| architect =

| architecture =

| added = 1986

| refnum = 86003913{{NRISref|2009a}}

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

}}

Michie Tavern (pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɪ|k|i}}), located in Albemarle County, Virginia, is a Virginia Historic Landmark that was established in 1784 by Scotsman William Michie, though in Earlysville. The Tavern served as the social center of its community and provided travelers with food, drink and lodging. It remained in operation, in the Michie family, until 1910, when it came to be owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1927, the Tavern was purchased by Josephine Henderson, who had it moved seventeen miles from Earlysville to its present location, close to Monticello.{{cite news |url=http://www.roanoke.com/entertainment/insideout/eat/wb/190308 |title=Don't be a stranger to Michie Tavern |first=Dolores |last=Kostelni |work=The Roanoke Times |publisher=The Times-World Corporation |date=2008-01-08 |accessdate=2009-06-28 |quote=[I]t opened in 1784 as a stop on a busy stagecoach route on Buck Mountain Road in Earlysville. [...] Between 1924 and 1927, Mrs. Mark Henderson purchased 'Michie's Old Tavern' and moved it 17 miles by horse and wagon from Earlysville to its current location... |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120909003244/http://www.roanoke.com/entertainment/insideout/eat/wb/190308 |archivedate=2012-09-09 }}

History

In 1746, Major John Henry sold land in northern Albemarle County to John Michie. His son, William Michie, inherited the property from his father and built a house. Many people came to his house looking for food and a place to sleep, so William obtained a license to operate an ordinary in 1784 and operated a tavern, inn, and restaurant. The property reverted to state ownership in 1910 when Sallie Michie was unable to care for the business. She was the last Michie family member to own the property. Josephine Henderson bought the tavern in 1927, and had it dismantled and moved near Monticello. Part of her interest in the tavern was to have a place to display her large collection of antiques. It was used as an architectural office by Milton Gregg beginning in 1932.{{Cite web |title=Michie Tavern |url=https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/michie-tavern |access-date=2021-05-01 |website=Thomas Jefferson's Monticello |archive-date=2021-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501202147/https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/michie-tavern |url-status=live }} The tavern was acquired by a local family in 1968, and the restaurant was started the following year. The Meadow Run Mill was moved from Augusta County and reconstructed on the property in 1976. The tavern continues to be operated by the same family that acquired it in 1968.Personal interview with Gregory McDonald, current Executive Director of the Tavern on February 28, 2025.

Overview

Michie Tavern is now a collection of historic buildings that includes a pub and restaurant. It has the largest grouping of reassembled buildings in Albemarle County. Now located near Monticello, it has retained the atmosphere of an 18th-century inn, pub, and a set of stores: The General Store and the Tavern Shop.{{Cite web |title=Michie Tavern ca. 1784 |url=https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/listing/michie-tavern-ca-1784/2040/ |access-date=2021-05-01 |website=www.visitcharlottesville.org |language=en-us |archive-date=2021-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501200234/https://www.visitcharlottesville.org/listing/michie-tavern-ca-1784/2040/ |url-status=live }}

Gallery

Image:Mitchietavern.jpg|Michie Tavern

Image:100 1078.jpg|Michie Tavern

File:1784 Pub, Michie Tavern.jpg|1784 Pub

File:Michie Tavern General Store Candy.jpg|General Store

File:Michie Tavern by Frances Benjamin Johnston 1933.jpg|Michie Tavern

References

External links

{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Official website}}
[https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/item/va1820/ Michie Tavern, 683 Thomas Jefferson Parkway (moved from Buck Mountain Road), Charlottesville, Charlottesville, VA] at the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)

Category:Taverns in Virginia

Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia

Category:Houses in Albemarle County, Virginia

Category:Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area

Category:Drinking establishments on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia

Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in Virginia

Category:Virginia Historic Landmarks

Category:Museums in Albemarle County, Virginia

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Albemarle County, Virginia