Pictured above is the largest and only single room in the 1784 Salem Tavern. It, back in the day, was referred to as the "Gentlemen's Room" or "The Best Room".
The prices of accommodations and services of the tavern were set by the county. That is another way of saying that the prices were fixed. All were - except - this room. This bedroom required the wealthy person or family seeking this space to negotiate with the tavern keeper.
This room was on the ground floor of the Salem tavern. Upstairs were the common rooms with multiple beds, two men to each bed. This Gentlemen's room, for the "Better Sorts" was beyond the reach or imagination of the shop keepers, the "The Middling Sorts", that slept in the common rooms upstairs.
Because of the location and esthetics of the room many visitors to the tavern today wonder if this was the room in which President Washington slept during his 1791 two day stay. The disappointing reality is that there is no record of the room in which he stayed. We simply do not know. Reasonable arguments may be made for and against this room housing him.
Note may be taken of the green cover on the bed. This is a "bed rug". This, and several others, were made in Colonial Williamsburg and are gifts to Old Salem.
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