Burnham Tavern

The Burnham Tavern is a historic tavern at 14 Colonial Way in Machias, Maine, United States. Built in 1770, it is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the Machias area, and is known for its locally significant role in the American Revolutionary War. The tavern is operated as the Burnham Tavern Museum by the Hannah Weston Chapter, NSDAR. Featuring late 18th period furnishings, the house includes artifacts from the 1775 Battle of Machias, the first naval battle of the Revolution. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Patrick O’Brien, a descendant of the O’Brien family and an award-winning maritime artist, donated this painting of the Battle of the Margaretta to our chapter during Margaretta Days in 2017. It hangs in a place of honor in Burnham Tavern.

English settlers first arrived in the Machias area in 1763, and the tavern was built in 1770 by Job Burnham. It is the only building in the Machias area with a documented connection to the American Revolutionary War, as it was used as a meeting place by the local militia, particularly during the events that led to the 1775 Battle of Machias, one of the first naval encounters of the war. It was also used as a hospital for treating the wounded of both sides in the battle, and artifacts related to the capture of the Margaretta during this battle are on display.