The Green Dragon Tavern holds a place of honor in American history as the unofficial headquarters of the American Revolution. Within these walls, the Sons of Liberty met in secret to plan their resistance against British rule, including the famous Boston Tea Party. But according to numerous witnesses over the centuries, the patriots who once gathered here never truly left. The Green Dragon Tavern is said to be one of Boston's most actively haunted locations, where the spirits of revolutionaries continue their eternal meeting, their whispered conspiracies still echoing through time.
Did you know?
- The Green Dragon Tavern was built in 1654 and became the primary meeting place of the Sons of Liberty in the 1760s.
- Daniel Webster famously called it the 'Headquarters of the Revolution' due to the pivotal planning meetings held there.
- The Boston Tea Party was planned in the Green Dragon's upstairs rooms, where patriots met in secret.
- Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and other founding fathers were regular patrons and held clandestine meetings here.
- The original tavern was demolished in 1828, but its legacy lives on at the modern reconstruction on Marshall Street.
Paranormal Activity at the Green Dragon Tavern
The Revolutionary Conspirators
The most frequently reported paranormal activity involves the sounds of hushed conversations and heated debates coming from empty rooms. Staff members working late at night have described hearing multiple male voices engaged in urgent, whispered discussion, as if planning something in secret. When they investigate, the rooms are always empty. Some witnesses claim to have heard the distinct clink of tankards being raised in toast, followed by the phrase 'Liberty or death!' echoing through the building.
The Shadow of Samuel Adams
Many believe that Samuel Adams himself still haunts the Green Dragon. Staff and patrons have reported seeing a tall, imposing figure in colonial dress standing near the bar or in the corners of the dining area. The figure is often described as having an air of authority and intensity, matching historical descriptions of Adams. When approached, the apparition vanishes. Some witnesses report feeling an overwhelming sense of patriotic fervor when the figure appears, as if his revolutionary passion still radiates from beyond the grave.
Phantom Footsteps on the Stairs
The staircase leading to the upper floors is a hotspot for paranormal activity. Countless witnesses have heard the sound of multiple footsteps climbing or descending the stairs, often accompanied by the rustle of clothing and the jingle of what sounds like sword belts or keys. These phantom footsteps are most commonly heard late at night, matching the historical accounts of patriots arriving after dark for their secret meetings. Some staff members refuse to go upstairs alone after closing time.
The Spectral Toast
Perhaps the most chilling phenomenon reported at the Green Dragon is what witnesses call 'the spectral toast.' On certain nights, particularly around significant Revolutionary War dates, staff and late-night visitors have reported seeing shadowy figures gathered around tables, raising what appear to be ghostly tankards. The figures are described as translucent and wearing colonial-era clothing. The scene lasts only moments before fading away, but those who witness it report feeling as though they've been granted a glimpse into the past, seeing the very moment when America's patriots sealed their commitment to independence.
Brief History of the Green Dragon Tavern
The Green Dragon Tavern was established in 1654 and quickly became one of Boston's most popular gathering places. By the 1760s, as tensions between the American colonies and Britain escalated, the tavern took on a more significant role in history.
The upstairs rooms of the Green Dragon became the primary meeting place for the Sons of Liberty, the secret organization led by Samuel Adams and including such luminaries as Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Joseph Warren. Here, in hushed tones and behind locked doors, these men planned acts of resistance that would change the course of history.
The most famous of these plans was the Boston Tea Party of 1773. The strategy for this bold act of defiance was conceived in the Green Dragon's private rooms. The tavern also served as the meeting place for the Masonic Lodge of St. Andrew, of which Paul Revere was a member, further cementing its place as a center of revolutionary activity.
Daniel Webster later immortalized the tavern's significance, calling it the 'Headquarters of the Revolution.' Indeed, virtually every major action taken by Boston's patriots during the revolutionary period can be traced back to meetings held within the Green Dragon's walls.
The original building was demolished in 1828, but the Green Dragon's legacy lived on in Boston's memory. In 1993, a reconstruction was opened on Marshall Street, near the original location. This modern incarnation honors the tavern's historic significance while serving as a popular restaurant and pub.
Many believe that the reconstruction awakened the spirits that had been dormant since the original building's demolition. Staff members report that paranormal activity increased dramatically after the new Green Dragon opened, as if the ghosts of the revolutionaries had been waiting for their headquarters to return so they could resume their eternal watch over American liberty.
Visitor Information
The Green Dragon Tavern is an active restaurant and pub, open to visitors daily. The establishment embraces its Revolutionary War history and haunted reputation.
Guests can enjoy traditional New England fare while surrounded by Revolutionary War memorabilia and historic decor. The tavern frequently hosts history-themed events and welcomes those interested in both its historical significance and paranormal activity.
Location
11 Marshall Street Boston, MA 02108
The historic tavern where revolutionary spirits still gather
Where phantom patriots are still heard raising toasts to liberty
