Reynolds Tavern

A three-room brick inn first constructed in 1747, Reynolds Tavern has served Annapolis visitors for over 275 years. The charming colonial building retains its 18th-century atmosphere along with a former proprietress who refuses to leave.

Reynolds Tavern stands at 7 Church Circle in Annapolis, one of the oldest operational taverns in America and among the most haunted locations in Maryland's capital city. Built in 1747 by William Reynolds, a hatter and dry goods merchant, the establishment was originally called "The Beaver and Lac'd Hat." Reynolds had endured tremendous tragedy before opening the tavern—his wife Deborah Harper died in 1746, and his two oldest sons, John and Thomas, drowned in a devastating accident in July 1747. Left a widower with three young sons to feed, Reynolds threw himself into building a business that would become a cornerstone of colonial Annapolis society.

The tavern quickly attracted prominent visitors including George Washington and served as a meeting place for the Corporation of the City of Annapolis and the Mayor's Court. Guests could eat, drink, leave messages, buy theater tickets, conduct business, stable horses, and enjoy games of cards, chess, or backgammon. After William's death in 1777, his third wife Mary Reynolds inherited and operated the tavern until her own death in 1785, maintaining its reputation as a vital community gathering place.

The building has seen remarkable transformations over nearly three centuries. In 1812, renowned Annapolis cabinetmaker John Shaw made significant alterations when Farmers National Bank purchased the property, adding the distinctive pedimented entrance porch and elegant Georgian "bowfat" cupboard. The tavern narrowly escaped demolition in 1935 when Standard Oil Company sought to raze it for a gas station, but preservation-minded citizens intervened. From 1936 to 1974, it served as the Annapolis Public Library before the National Trust for Historic Preservation took ownership. In 2000, Jill and Andrew Petit purchased the property for ,000 and spent ,000 restoring it to its colonial roots.

Mary Reynolds remains the tavern's most famous resident—even in death. Staff and guests have reported her protective presence watching over the establishment she once managed. This finicky phantom maintains strict standards: when tables aren't set to her satisfaction, silverware mysteriously stacks itself into curious piles. She has been known to expose dishonest employees—on one memorable occasion, an employee's backpack strap inexplicably snapped, sending stolen frozen filet mignons flying across the room. Drunk and disorderly patrons face her unique discipline, including finding themselves locked in the bathroom or discovering spilled drinks in their laps.

When the Petits began renovations in 2002, the paranormal activity intensified dramatically. A power drill moved on its own across a surface. Objects disappeared only to reappear days later in completely different locations. Food dishes floated off tables and crashed to the floor. Glassware exploded spontaneously with no one nearby. Most unsettling is the ghostly singing that emanates from the upstairs bedroom where Mary once slept—witnesses describe a woman's voice singing Christmas carols at all hours, regardless of the season. Human-shaped indentations have appeared in upstairs beds with no explanation.

A landmark 2004 investigation by the Maryland Ghost and Spirit Society, led by sensitive Beverly Litsinger, transformed understanding of the tavern's supernatural residents. Using monitoring equipment throughout the building, Litsinger uncovered evidence of not one but five distinct spirits inhabiting the red-bricked structure. During the overnight investigation, activity was detected on monitors in every area of the building, and a plate broke mysteriously in the kitchen—attributed to one of the spirits. The intensity of energy stirred up was so overwhelming that the owners made the difficult decision to discontinue further public paranormal investigations.

Today, Reynolds Tavern operates as a restaurant, pub, and inn, offering three overnight guest rooms for visitors seeking ghostly encounters. The 1747 Pub in the original basement kitchen displays the stone foundations, walk-in fireplace, and Rumford Broiler dating back to the 18th century. Whether Mary Reynolds is welcoming guests or keeping watch over her domain, the spirits of Reynolds Tavern continue to make their presence known within walls that have witnessed nearly 280 years of American history.