HISTORY

Originally established in 1783 by clockmaker John Suter, The Fountain Inn (a.k.a. Suter’s Tavern) was one of the most important taverns in American history.

While the precise location of the original tavern is unknown, we do know this …

Washington
slept (t)here.

Suter’s Tavern 1791*

In George Washington’s Diary dated Monday, March 28, 1791: he noted that he “… dined at Suter’s tavern (where he also lodged)..”*

Jefferson
drank (t)here.

1789 Bottle of Madeira***

Thomas Jefferson once said “No man on the Atlantic coast can bring out a better bottle of Madeira or Sherry than old Suter.”**

D.C. was
built (t)here.

Ellicott’s 1792 Revision of L’Enfant’s 1791 original plan of the City of Washington****

In the same diary entry from George Washington on March 28, 1791, he also noted that he “examined the surveys of Mr. Ellicot - who had been sent to lay out the district of ten square miles for the federal seat; and also the works of Major L’Enfant …”*

The Fountain Inn also hosted the debate between Thomas Jefferson & John Adams during the controversial and pivotal election of 1800 and may well have been “the room where it happened.”

 Now, a lot has changed in the last 235+ years and yet, a lot has remained the same.

Our vision for the 21st century Fountain Inn is to rekindle, restore but also rewrite its legacy, spirit and history in the form of a rare spirits tasting room and bar that welcomes all through its doors.

SOURCES

  • Suter's Tavern

    Author(s): Allen C. Clark

    Source: Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. , 1940/1941, Vol. 42/43, [The 36th separately bound book] (1940/1941), pp. 83-117

    Published by: Historical Society of Washington, D.C. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.com/stable/40067573

    photo: https://www.loc.gov/item/2016712978/

  • Paperback, by John DeFerrari and James M. Goode
    https://www.amazon.com/s?k=9781614233206&i=stripbooks&linkCode=qs

  • https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/1-bottle-1789-cama-de-lobos-madeira-matured-in-a--4013-c-f5a42ffa6c

  • https://www.loc.gov/item/88694159/