Union Oyster House: A taste of American history in the country's oldest restaurant
Hub to revolutionary, royalty and representative, the Union Oyster House captures the essence of America within its 250-year old walls as the oldest continuously operated restaurant in the United States.
Founded in 1826 in the midst of the early country’s oyster craze, the Union Oyster House is also said to be home of the first toothpicks, not to mention the Massachusetts Spy, considered the country’s oldest newspaper. During the American Revolution, Boston women used the dry goods store as a home base for their efforts to sew bandages and clothing for the stalwart militiamen. And in 1796, exiled French Prince Louis Philippe, who would later become king of France, lived upstairs and taught French to elite Boston girls downstairs.
Historically speaking, before it became a seafood house in 1826, during the 1700s the building housed importer Hopestill Capen's fancy dress goods business, known colorfully as "At the Sign of the Cornfields." At this time, the Boston waterfront came up to the back door of the dry goods establishment, making it convenient for ships to deliver their cloth and goods from Europe. 1826 marked the end of Capen's Dry Goods Store and the beginning of the restaurant.
The building and the wood may be aged, but the crew and the crowd are not, and the chatter at the country’s oldest oyster bar is also usually quite lively and is open late into the evening.
While you’re sampling the restaurant’s signature clam chowder or broiled lobster, take a gander at the many historical markings throughout the restaurant, among them the featured dinner booth upstairs that used to be the hangout haunt of former President John F. Kennedy and clan (booth number 18). Steak and pork chops are also on the menu. Don’t miss the Native Corn, Red Bliss Potatoes, and Ginger Bread or Indian Pudding.
The Union Oyster House has an assortment of private function and dining rooms. From parties of 20 to 300, the Union Oyster House can cater to a variety of meeting needs. Check out the restaurant’s web site for details.
- by Jim Brown , Boston Reporter for HelloMetro
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Jim Brown Jim Brown is a longtime freelance aviation, travel and destination writer and communications professional. A former reporter for Aviation Daily, Air Safety Week and World Airline News, Jim served for more than 15 years as a senior public relations executive for American Airlines, TWA and AirTran Airways.
