The City Tavern, constructed in 1795-1796, is a rare surviving example of a federal period tavern building in Washington. From 1796 through the mid-19th century, the building provided a focus for community activity in Georgetown serving as a site of community meetings, business functions, and transportation. The City Tavern has undergone three major alterations including the filling in of the original carriage way after the Civil War, exposure of the basement portion of the building when M Street was lowered in the 1870s, and a major restoration of the property in 1961. Because the first two changes are common for Georgetown buildings and the latter was based on extensive documentation, none of the changes have affected the overall form and integrity of the building. - NRHP, 29 August 1991