"The Apollo Room. The room used for public meetings is in the rear building of the old Raleigh tavern at Williamsburg, and up to the day of my visit it had remained unaltered. Carpenters were then at work remodeling its style, for the purpose of making it a ball-room; and now, I suppose, that apartment, hallowed by so many associations connected with our war for independence, has scarcely an original feature left. Had my visit been deferred a day longer, the style of the room could never have been portrayed. Neat wainscoting of Virginia pine ornamented the sides below and partly between the windows, and over the fire-place, which was spacious. This view is from the entrance door from the front portion of the building. On the left were two large windows; on the right were two windows and a door; and on each side of the fire-place was a door opening into small passage ways, from the exterior. Through the door on the left is seen a flight of stairs leading to the dormitory. The walls were whitewashed, and the wood-work painted a lead color. In this room the leading patriots of Virginia, including Washington, held many secret caucuses, and planned many schemes for the overthrow of royal rule in the colonies. The sound of the hammer and saw engaged in the work of change seemed to me like actual desecration; for the Raleigh tavern, and the Apollo room are to Virginia, relatively, what Faneuil Hall is to Massachusetts."—Lossing, 1851

Apollo Room

"The Apollo Room. The room used for public meetings is in the rear building of the old Raleigh tavern…

A house of burgesses in Williamsburg, Virginia.

House of Burgesses

A house of burgesses in Williamsburg, Virginia.

"Raleigh Tavern. When I visited Williamsburg in December, 1848, the front part of the old Raleigh tavern had been torn down, and a building in modern style was erected in its place. The old tavern was in the form of an L, one portion fronting the street, the other extending at right angles, in the rear. Both parts were precisely alike in external appearance, and as the rear building was yet standing and unaltered. I am able to give a restored view of the Raleigh, as it appeared during the Revolution. The wooden bust of Sir Walter Raleigh, which graved the front of the old inn, now ornaments the new building."—Lossing, 1851

Raleigh Tavern

"Raleigh Tavern. When I visited Williamsburg in December, 1848, the front part of the old Raleigh tavern…