Gray's Ferry Tavern
Coordinates: 39°56′31″N 75°12′25″W / 39.942°N 75.207°W
Gray's Ferry Tavern (also known as Lower Ferry House, Gray's Tavern, Gray's Inn, Gray's Ferry Inn, Gray's Garden, Sans Souci, and Kochersperger's Hotel) was a restaurant and inn that operated in the 18th and 19th centuries in present-day Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Set on the west bank of the Schuylkill River at the primary crossing for travel to and from points south of Philadelphia, the tavern hosted George Washington and many other famous people of its day.
The inn was established in the mid-1700s by a George Gray, who had purchased 199 acres of land on both sides of the river in what was then Blockley Township (present-day West Philadelphia) and Moyamensing (present-day South Philadelphia). The land lay near the "Lower Ferry", one of three across the Schuylkill and the primary link between Philadelphia and points south. Gray took over operation of the ferry, which came to be known as Gray's Ferry.
In 1740, Gray retired, leaving the business to his sons, George Gray (1725-1800), and Robert Gray. The sons expanded the operations; the inn became known as "Lower Ferry House" or "Gray's Tavern."
In June 1775, Washington was the guest of honor at a dinner at the tavern shortly after he was appointed commander-in-chief by Congress. He was joined by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Langdon, and Benjamin Rush.
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