Viets' Tavern, building in Connecticut, United States of America
Viets' Tavern is a historic wooden structure built around 1760 in Connecticut, featuring thick walls, small windows, and a shingled roof that shows 18th-century craftsmanship. The building sits directly across from Old Newgate Prison and represents a straightforward colonial design built to serve travelers and local residents.
The building was constructed around 1760 and served for generations as lodging for travelers, miners, and those visiting the prison nearby. Captain John Viets, born in 1712, was a prominent local figure who managed mining operations, farmed, and later oversaw the adjacent prison.
The tavern served as a gathering place for travelers and local residents, reflecting how people moved through and lived in the region during colonial times. The Viets family's connection to mining, farming, and prison management shaped the area's character and made this building a center of their community influence.
The site is straightforward to visit as it sits on a main road across from Old Newgate Prison with clear views of the structure. The surrounding land is open and flat, making it easy to walk around and examine the building from different angles.
According to local tradition, Captain John Viets carried potato seeds in saddlebags from Rhode Island, helping farmers introduce this crop to the region for the first time. The graves of Captain Viets and his wife lie beside the tavern, marking the family's deep roots in the community.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
