Dunlap's Tavern
Richmond Road, built 1819
The quaint-looking brick house here, retaining its near century-and-a-quarter old air of dignity despite the encroaching tourist cabins, service station, night club and constant traffic of U.S. Highway No. 25 that present a grating raucity to its serenity, in one day captured enough glory to last until the millennium.
Compared with similar celebrations today, this small house would be considered inadequate to play any part whatever in the proceedings, yet in 1819 President James Monroe--he whose doctrine is now the most discussed document world-wide in history--and his party here "attended the Fourth of July festival at Dunlap's."
The President's visit was one of the outstanding events in the colorful life of "Athens of the West," naturally. It was not a "station stop" of a few minutes, as many visits of modern-day Presidents are, but nearly four full days of royal entertainment garnished with the inimitable brand of Kentucky hospitality.
The Fourth of July came on Sunday that year, and no place of public entertainment was open, even to the reception of the President of the United States. All local celebrations, therefore, were staged on Saturday, July 3. Then as now taverns, and their successors the night-clubs, advertised their "parties."
George Dunlap, although new at the business, was thoroughly aware of the fact that Kentuckians never could resist the delectable lure of a "barbeque," so he inserted the following ad in the Kentucky Reporter on June 16:
BARBECUE 3rd JULY
GEORGE DUNLAP will prepare a BARBEQUE for Ladies and Gentlemen on the 3rd of July at his new house, and will use every exertion to accommodate as large a party as may choose to unite on that day (the 4th being Sunday) in celebration of this glorious anniversary. His new building is now completed, and the best music shall be engaged for the occasion. 3 1/3 miles from Lexington, June 1.
The distinguished visitors arrived in Lexington on Friday, July 2, and there must have been an atmosphere of solemnity and sadness throughout the town regardless of the momentous national occasion. The following obituary was public in the Reporter:
"DIED--In this town on Thursday last (July 1) at a very advanced age Mr. JOHN MAXWELL, a very respectable citizen and one of the first settlers of Kentucky."
The fact that the President and entourage already were here probably accounted for the extremely brief account of the passing of one of Lexington's best known and beloved founders as it was not unusual for the local newspapers to publish a column and [ ] interviews with the old pioneer about the "Indian-fighting" days of the struggling frontier "in the West." His death notice was published after the President left--as was all the news about the Chief Executive's visit. Newspapers then were weeklies or semi-weeklies and never thought it necessary to carry an "advance" on an approaching event. Believe-it-or-not, John Bradford's "Kentucky Gazette" of Saturday, June 2, 1792, did not carry a line about the induction of Kentucky Statehood the following Monday, June 4, with the inauguration of Governor Isaac Shelby and the meeting of the first General Assembly of the 15th state in the Union.
The President's entertainment was described as follows in the Kentucky Reporter Wednesday, July 7, 1819:
THE PRESIDENT
Arrived at this place on Friday last. He was met near the town
and escorted to his lodgings by the volunteer companies of militia and a party
of citizens. On Saturday he visited the University, where he received an address
from the president of that institution to which he made a suitable reply in the
presence of a numerous and respectable audience. A discourse in Latin on the
occasion and several other pieces were also pronounced by some of the senior
students. On the same day he attended the celebration of our Independence at Mr.
Dunlap's, a few miles in the country.
On Monday he received an address from the committee on arrangements on behalf of
the citizens and gave them an answer. On that day also a public dinner was given
him at Mrs. Keen's tavern; and on the following morning he set out for
Washington, where he expects to arrive on the 25th inst. He was accompanied by
General Jackson and their respective suites through these occurrences. Governor
Shelby and several other distinguished citizens of our own State were also
present. Every respect and attention which were due from the citizens
individually to the chief magistrate of the nation and to the commander in chief
of the southern division of the army were shown them on this occasion.
The newspaper failed to mention the dinner to President Monroe, General Jackson and Governor Shelby and their suites by Major William S. Dallam (see "Senator Pope House"). but that was private. It did mention the President's departure, however:
Mr. Monroe set out yesterday morning on his way to Washington City by way of Harrodsburg Springs at which place he will remain a few days for the benefit of his health. We understand he intended to return by way of Cincinnati, Chillicothe, Wheeling and the national Turnpike, but the state of his health and a desire to return speedily have induced him to take the southern route.
Source: Dunn, C. Frank. Old Houses of Lexington. Lexington Public Library, 1976.
Transcribed by P. Brinegar, October 2004.
Updated January 1, 2026.