Old Boston Taverns and Tavern Clubs

The book surveys the social and cultural history of public houses in Boston, tracing their emergence in early settlements, operation as ordinaries, role during revolutionary-era events, and eventual decline; it discusses signage and tavern humor, presents illustrated accounts of notable inns (including separate essays on Cole’s Inn, the Bakers’ Arms, the Golden Ball, and the Hancock Tavern), and supplies an appendix listing taverns and owners, maps, and historical illustrations. It balances institutional analysis, anecdote, and archival evidence to show how these establishments functioned as centers of hospitality, political discourse, and urban life.