A house constructed on the lot number fifty-one in Halifax around 1760 was converted to a tavern by 1774. At that time, the tavern, known as the “Sign of the Thistle,” was deemed “the best place of public entertainment in Halifax” by an English traveler. Records from the Provincial Congresses that met in Halifax often refer to delegates meeting in taverns.

By 1824 the complex of buildings was known as the Eagle Hotel. In February 1825 the Marquis de Lafayette stayed at the Eagle Hotel during his notable tour of America. The banquet in his honor was celebrated at the Eagle Tavern. In 1838 local Irish businessman Michael Ferrall 1811-1862 purchased three-fourths interest in the Eagle Hotel property and moved onto the premises, purchasing the remaining interest three years later. Ferrall had come to Halifax around 1820 as an employee of the local branch of a Petersburg, Virginia-based firm. He married Mary Elizabeth Williams Eppes, a member of a prominent Virginia family connected to Thomas Jefferson. Ferrell descendants willed it to the Catholic Church but it was later donated to the state. It has been moved and altered several times.

There is evidence that it could have been originally constructed as a tripartite building with an upper story added to the wings around 1845. It acquired the name, “Eagle Tavern” during the time of the American Revolution and delegates to the 4th and 5th Provincial Congresses stayed here. It also served as an early home to the Royal White Hart Masonic Lodge. George Washington is said to have stayed in the Eagle Tavern in 1791 and the Marquis the Lafayette was feted here in 1825.

The building today has a T-shaped plan with a modern honeycomb-lattice brick foundation and a decorative gable on the front. The interior follows an identical plan on both floors with three rooms opening off the large front stair hall. Both Federal and Greek Revival mantels and trim are found in the building. Exhibits in the tavern include colonial era taverns and games. (Source: StoppingPoints.com)