On a beautiful September day we set off for the sleepy little town of Sudbury, Massachusetts to visit one of the most famous colonial taverns in America: Longfellow’s Wayside Inn. As one of the best preserved and recorded taverns (also known for its colonial libations) we were pretty excited to visit!
History
Longfellow’s Wayside Inn was established in 1716 on the Old Boston Post Road (one of the first mail routes established in the colonies). Its original name was How’s Tavern (after the innkeeper, David How- I’ve also seen his last named spelled “Howe”) and served many a weary traveler that went to and from Boston. In 1748, David’s son Ezekiel took charge of the property and renamed it the Red Horse Tavern.
The How family fulfilled their patriotic duties during the American Revolution, taking part in the fight at Concord on April 19th, 1775, whilst harassing the retreating redcoats all the way back to Boston. Ezekiel Jr. even partook in the Battle of Saratoga and was wounded (in fact, he believed he would not survive and gave his pocket watch and sword to a fellow soldier to bring to his family- he survived the war and these items are now on display in the tavern today!).
Although General George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette are known to have traveled the Old Boston Post Road and would have passed the tavern, there are no records of them having stopped there (a disappoint to myself and other historians, of course).
Of course, the current name pays homage to the illustrious poet and visitor of the tavern: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In the early 1860s, Longfellow visited the tavern and inn and was inspired by its simplicity and rich American history. The charm of the Red Horse Tavern and Inn led to his writing of Tales of the Wayside Inn (1862), a famous book of poems that includes the well known “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.”
As the oldest operating Inn in the United States, Longfellow’s Wayside Inn continues to be a mainstay for Sudbury and a favorite of historians and Americans alike!
Interesting Facts
Unfortunately, Longfellow’s Wayside Inn has seen many historic and personal artifacts disappear over the years. From antique dishes, wall decorations, and priceless wall art, these pieces of the taverns past have walked off. Perhaps the most alarming is Sudbury’s only copy of the Declaration of Independence owned by Ezekiel How. In fact, during the 300 year anniversary in 2016, the Inn created an “amnesty” program, hoping to have the stolen items returned with zero repercussions for the offender. Alas, many of these artifacts, including the copy of Ezekiel’s declaration, are still not in their rightful home.
Our Visit & Recommendations
We arrived at the charming pastoral grounds of the tavern around 4:30pm and quickly realized that they were preparing for a wedding on the grounds (bad timing on our part- we learned they host over 100 weddings a year and are the busiest restaurant in the area). I recommend to call ahead and make a reservation, especially if you plan on visiting on a weekend. But despite the unexpected crowd, we went into the tavern and began to explore the historic halls and rooms.
The most interesting (and historic) room at the Inn is the Tap Room, so of course we made our way there. As one of the oldest portions of the building, the Tap Room offers an authentic colonial experience (including fireplaces, pewter mugs on the ceiling, and a bartender serving delicious drinks). Longfellow’s Wayside Inn does a fantastic job at offering numerous colonial-era drinks- two of their most well known is the Coo Woo and Meeting House Punch (I tried both).
We beat the crowd and were able to find a cozy table in the corner, which offered a sense of privacy and a great view of the room. I first tried the colonial Meeting House Punch (original recipe below) and Cher had a beer.
Meeting House Punch Original Recipe (imagine making this amount!):
- 4 barrels of beer
- 24 gallons West Indian Rum
- 35 Gallos New England Rum
- 25 lbs. Brown Sugar
- 25 lbs. Loaf Sugar
- 465 Lemons
Although we did not have a reservation, they were able to find a table for us (dinner begins at 5PM Monday – Saturday). We were seated in one of the main dining rooms, which maintained the same charm as the Tap Room.
Warm bread with cheese dipping sauce and fresh pumpkin muffins were first brought out, which were both very delicious. As we enjoyed these free appetizers, I tried the Coow Woow (pronounced “Coo Woo”), which is simply white rum mixed with ginger brandy- a very strong drink that is allegedly America’s first mixed drink.
For dinner, I kept with the colonial vibes and tried to roast half duckling in citrus port wine and cherry sauce, with a side of cheesy potatoes and butternut squash- it was phenomenal and highly recommended (the menu also has steak and seafood options).
Longfellow’s Wayside Inn is a charming colonial tavern that is a must see! With a romantic and cozy ambiance, delightful drinks, and delicious food options, it has served travelers for over 300 years and will continue to do so well into the future.