Parker Tavern, Historic tavern museum in Reading, Massachusetts
The Parker Tavern is a colonial-era building in Reading featuring the saltbox design typical of early New England, with steep rooflines and wooden-shingle exterior. The interior contains restored fireplaces, wall paneling, and exposed ceiling beams that were revealed during twentieth-century renovation work.
Built in 1694 by Abraham Bryant, the structure later became an important stopping point under Ephraim Parker's ownership during the colonial period. It served soldiers and travelers during the Revolutionary War years.
The building takes its name from Ephraim Parker, who operated it during the Revolutionary period and made it a central gathering place for travelers and local residents. The rooms show how such homes functioned in colonial daily life and the role they played in connecting communities.
The site is located in a residential area and is best explored on foot, with the rooms providing a clear view of colonial-era life. The organization maintaining the building offers guided visits where the architectural details and historical context are explained more thoroughly.
During the American Revolutionary War, British officer Archibald Campbell was held as a prisoner of war at the tavern following his capture in Boston Harbor. His confinement there lasted until his exchange for patriot Ethan Allen in 1778.
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