Hill's Tavern
North Bethlehem Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
This tavern, in continuous operation since 1794 when it was opened by Stephen Hill, is one of the oldest on the National Road. It was a popular spot for stage coaches and waggoners.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Stephen Hill opened this tavern in 1794, and it has poured for travelers ever since, making it one of the oldest houses of entertainment on what became the National Road. Stagecoaches changed teams here and heavy Conestoga wagoners bunked down for the night as freight and passengers rolled between the eastern seaboard and the Ohio country. Taverns like Hill's were the roadside infrastructure of early overland travel.
Why it matters
As a fixture on the National Road — the first federally funded highway — the tavern marks the era when the government first invested in connecting the young nation's east to its western frontier.
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Related people
- · Stephen Hill
Related events
- · National Road
Themes & tags
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