King George II Inn

King George II survives as one of the nation's oldest inns (although it is actually older than the U.S., hence the King George II name). The current structure opened in 1765, replacing a Ferry House (a small inn) built on the property upon Briston's founding in 1681. Despite its colonial origins, it served the newly formed U.S. as a Continental Army Headquarters and then hosted such Presidents as Washington, John Adams, Madison, Tyler, and Fillmore. The hotel history has, and continues to, reflect the broader cultural and historical story of Bristol and the U.S. 

Town founder, Samuel Clift, established a ferry service between Bristol and Burlington, New Jersey, in 1681. (Ferries existed as the only transportation mode between the two towns for nearly 250 years until the Burlington-Bristol Bridge opened.) The same year Clift opened the ferry service; he opened the Ferry House -- a small inn --- close by the boat landing. At the age of twenty-five, George Washington slept there on his way to see the governor of Connecticut about a militia commission.

In 1765, Charles Bessonett took over the Ferry House, who rebuilt the hotel on a much larger scale and named it King George II Inn. In addition to serving as an inn, many town hall meetings took place there. In 1776, during the Revolutionary War, the Inn served as headquarters for General Cadwalader. He, and 3,000 of his soldiers, stationed in Bristol to guard against British attacks along the river. While at the Inn, Cadwalader prepared to assist General George Washington with his Christmas night attack against the soldiers in Trenton, commonly referred to as Washington's crossing of the Delaware. Also, during the war (so legend has it), Continental Troops shot down the King George II pub sign. True or not, Bessonett did replace the King George II sign with a new sign and name: Fountain House. 

Following the Revolutionary War, Bristol gained a reputation as a spa destination, notably due to its proximity to the Bath Springs just outside of town. As a result, wealthy travelers crowded the Inn each summer. By 1892 the Inn was called the Delaware House, and then it reverted to its King George II name during the middle of the twentieth century. Though the U.S. has changed profoundly since the eighteenth century, the King George II building has remained. By looking at the Inn, one gets a glimpse into the broader historical story, including into the twenty-first century. The hotel even closed down for a time after 2010 due to the Great Recession that hit the service industry hard. And, in 2020 and 2021, its closures and partial openings speak to the global Covid-19 pandemic. 

"340 Years of Extraordiany History & Service." Historic King George II Inn. Accessed March 3, 2021. http://www.kginn.com/our-history/.

Hanson, Ashley. "John Cadwalader." George Washington's Mount Vernon. Accessed March 3, 2021. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/john-cadwalader/.

Feguson, Paul, Josepy Larrisey, Lois Gratz and Harold Mitchener. "The History of Bristol as told by our Residents." Bristol Cultural & Historical Foundation. Accessed March 3, 2021. https://bristolhistory.homestead.com/History.html.

"To George Washington from Colonel John Cadwalader." Founders Online, National Archives. December 26, 1776. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-07-02-0347. [Original source: Chase, Philander D., ed. "The Papers of George Washington." Revolutionary War Series, vol. 7, October 21, 1776 – January 5, 1777. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1997, pp. 442–444.]

Walters, Patrick. "Pre-Revolutionary War inn on block, fights for survival." Seattle Times (Seattle) June 18th 2010. , Real Estate sec.https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/pre-revolutionary-war-inn-on-block-fights-for-survival/.