After our quick trip to view the fall gardens at Monticello, The Girl and I stopped at Michie Tavern for a bite to eat. We weren’t even really that hungry but the buildings were so cool that we decided to stop anyway.
Michie Tavern was originally built in 1784 by William Michie. Michie had been left the land by his deceased father, and chose to build a Tavern–which in its day served as a meeting place, bar, and hotel. The original location of the tavern was along a busy thoroughfare, so it stayed quite busy. As times began to change, the road became less traveled and Michie just used the tavern as his private residence.
In 1927 a woman named Josephine Henderson saw potential in the rundown and mostly unused building and set about acquiring it. She wanted to operate as a museum and sought to open it as a museum. By that time, Monticello had been open to the public, and was receiving steady traffic, so Ms. Henderson commissioned the building to be moved, board by board, to its present day location, only 17 miles from Monticello.
Obviously, she had vision, because it was an instant hit. Now, you can stop in, tour the building for a little taste of tavern life.
You can also sample their lunch, called the daily bill of fare:
- Southern Fried Chicken
- Marinated Baked Chicken
- Hand-pulled Pork Barbecue
- Black-eye Peas
- Stewed Tomatoes
- Mashed Potatoes with Gravy,
- Hot Green Beans
- Cole Slaw
- Whole Baby Beets
- Biscuits and Cornbread
Really doesn’t get more southern than that, huh? The servers are even dressed up in period attire.
The whole experience is super charming. You really can almost imagine what it would’ve been like in the 1800’s–a hotel room without a key card and forced mingling with fellow travelers.
There really is soooo much history here in Virginia. It’s awesome.
~Mavis
Michie Tavern & Gift Shop
683 Thomas Jefferson Parkway
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
DJQH says
“Is it wrong to want to live in an old tavern that was built in the late 1700’s? ” Where I live in Jersey in the Channel Islands (yes, we gave our name to ‘New’ Jersey, but we were the original) a little island near France, there are houses built from around the 1500s and way earlier that are still lived in! It seems so odd to me to read the Facebook comments saying ‘oh- I bet it’s haunted’ and the suchlike- that only occurs in horror movies haha! Just giving a little contrast, great blog too.
Lori says
One of my favorite places. Monticello being my first:)
kris says
Very nice pictures! I used to live 12 miles away from Monticello (on Lake Monticello). I always loved Monticello, as well! Something about the time period and the scenery. And I used to drive by the Michie Tavern while on my way in to Charlottesville. I never stopped to eat there…now living in WA state, makes me miss VA and wish that I had stopped into have some lunch, yum!
Kathy says
And yet another nearby place that I need to visit sometime! That fried chicken looks oh so yummy!