McCrady's Tavern and Long Room

McCrady's Tavern and Long Room is a historic tavern complex located in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Constructed in several phases in the second half of the 18th century, the tavern was a hub of social life in Charleston in the years following the American Revolution. The tavern's Long Room, completed in 1788, was used for theatrical performances and banquets for the city's elite, and is the last of its kind in Charleston. McCrady's was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 for its architectural and political significance.Edward McCrady (d. 1801), a Charleston barber and Revolutionary War veteran, purchased the tavern in 1778, and over the next decade expanded the tavern and constructed the Long Room. In 1791, the Society of the Cincinnati hosted a banquet in the Long Room for President George Washington, who was visiting the city. The building continued to function as a tavern and banquet hall throughout much of the first half of the 19th century, and later served as a warehouse and print shop. The building was restored to its late-18th century appearance in the 1980s, and currently houses McCrady's Restaurant.DesignThe McCrady's Tavern complex consists of two main structures— the main tavern building, which faces East Bay Street, and the Long Room, which faces Unity Alley. The main tavern building is a rectangular three-story brick structure with a flat roof. The building is four bays wide, with its front (east) facade facing East Bay Street. The north facade is flush with an adjacent building, and the south facade faces a very narrow corridor. The rear facade faces a courtyard which connects it to the Long Room. The main tavern building is oriented east-to-west, while the Long Room is oriented north-to-south, giving the complex a "T" shape.