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Wetherburn’s Tavern is an original 18th-century building on Duke of Gloucester Street in [[Williamsburg, Virginia]], interpreted by Colonial Williamsburg as a place to explore tavern life and the experiences of Henry Wetherburn, his family, and the people he enslaved. Colonial Williamsburg lists the historic site as temporarily closed; check its official site before planning a visit. <ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/historic-area/historic-places/
|title=Historic Places
|website=Colonial Williamsburg
|publisher=The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
|access-date=2026-10-24
}}</ref>
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== What to expect ==
Wetherburn’s is a guided historic site, rather than a restaurant. Colonial Williamsburg describes the tavern and the dairy behind it as original buildings, and says the interpretation considers the private lives of Henry Wetherburn, his family, and enslaved people who lived and worked there. The organization currently lists the site as temporarily closed, so do not assume it will be open during your visit. <ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/historic-area/historic-places/
|title=Historic Places
|website=Colonial Williamsburg
|publisher=The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
|access-date=2026-10-24
}}</ref>

== The tavern and its history ==
Henry Wetherburn owned the property from 1738 until 1760. Colonial Williamsburg’s research describes his tavern as one of the city’s best-known, and records that the city’s mayor and aldermen hosted a dinner there for the newly arrived Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie in 1751. <ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/DigitalLibrary/view/index.cfm?doc=ResearchReports%5CRR1638.xml&highlight=
|title=Wetherburn's Tavern Historical Report, Block 9 Building 31
|website=Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library
|publisher=The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
|access-date=2026-10-24
}}</ref>

A tavern was more than a place to eat or sleep: Colonial Williamsburg’s interpretation describes taverns as places where people formed communities, while also setting boundaries around who belonged. The tavern’s history therefore offers a way to consider everyday social life alongside the prominent visitors and gatherings associated with the building. <ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/DigitalLibrary/view/index.cfm?doc=ResearchReports%5CRR1638.xml&highlight=
|title=Wetherburn's Tavern Historical Report, Block 9 Building 31
|website=Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library
|publisher=The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
|access-date=2026-10-24
}}</ref>

== Location and nearby sites ==
The tavern is at 406 East Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. It is near other historic sites along the street, including [[Raleigh Tavern]], but each site has its own operating status and visitor arrangements. <ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/historic-area/historic-places/
|title=Historic Places
|website=Colonial Williamsburg
|publisher=The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
|access-date=2026-10-24
}}</ref>

== Planning a visit ==
As of 2026-10-24, Colonial Williamsburg’s historic-places listing marks Wetherburn’s Tavern “Temporarily Closed.” Confirm its status and any available interpretation before making it part of an itinerary. Colonial Williamsburg says admission tickets are required to enter Historic Area buildings and experience programming; check current ticket details and the event calendar for what is open on your visit date. <ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/historic-area/historic-places/
|title=Historic Places
|website=Colonial Williamsburg
|publisher=The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
|access-date=2026-10-24
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/visit/know-before-you-go/
|title=Know Before You Go
|website=Colonial Williamsburg
|publisher=The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
|access-date=2026-10-24
}}</ref>

The Historic Area is about a mile long and a half-mile wide, according to Colonial Williamsburg. Its visitor guidance notes that some buildings are private residences and are not open to the public; look for the organization’s opening indicators and follow the day’s site information rather than assuming a building can be entered. <ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/visit/know-before-you-go/
|title=Know Before You Go
|website=Colonial Williamsburg
|publisher=The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
|access-date=2026-10-24
}}</ref>

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'''Related books:''' [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Wetherburn%27s%20Tavern%20Virginia%20books%20history%20guide&tag=virginiawiki-20 Browse related Virginia books on Amazon]
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== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/historic-area/historic-places/ Colonial Williamsburg: Historic Places]
* [https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/visit/know-before-you-go/ Colonial Williamsburg: Know Before You Go]
* [https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/DigitalLibrary/view/index.cfm?doc=ResearchReports%5CRR1638.xml&highlight= Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library: Wetherburn’s Tavern historical report]
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