Discover Reading’s History at the Parker Tavern

A Witness House

Built in 1694 by blacksmith and farmer Abraham Bryant Jr., Parker Tavern is the oldest surviving structure in Reading, Mass. This unassuming saltbox-style home later became a resting spot for weary travelers when Ephraim Parker, great-grandson of Reading's founder, obtained a license (held from 1770 to 1785) to take in travelers and serve them food and drink. During the Revolutionary War, Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, a Scottish Highlander, was a prisoner of war within these walls between June of 1776 and January of 1777. Parker himself answered the call to arms on April 19, 1775, embedding the tavern deeply in the nation's early history. ​

An Historic Treasure

Throughout most of the 19th century until the late 1800s, the property was farmed and maintained by the Sweetser family. After changing hands several times, it was acquired by the town in 1916 and sold to the Reading Antiquarian Society (RAS). RAS restored the tavern and opened it to the public in 1930 as a historic house museum. It has remained in RAS’s ownership and care ever since.

Today, visitors can explore this testament to colonial resilience and Revolutionary fervor and view exhibits that trace the region’s social evolution through the late 1800s.

Visit & Explore

  • Open May through October on Sundays from 2-5 PM.

  • Enjoy guided tours of the house, grounds, and gardens.

Parker Tavern Historical Timeline

1694- The original structure is built by Abraham Bryant, Jr., a farmer and blacksmith. in the “saltbox” style typical of 17th century houses.

1724- Abraham Bryant III sells the house and property to his brother-in-law, Nathanial Stow, also a blacksmith.

1739- Ebenezer Nichols, a tanner, selectman, legislature representative, and creator of the 1765 map of Reading, becomes the new owner of the house.

1760- Ephraim Parker, a great-grandson of Thomas Parker, a founder of Reading, acquires the house and 45 acres of land, and operates a licensed inn from 1770 to 1785.

1775- Ephraim and his son answered the call to arms on April 19, 1775. Along with the rest of the Reading Minuteman and Militia, they met the retreating British troops at Meriam’s Corner in Concord. They continue to skirmish with the British as they fled back to Boston.

1776- Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell, of the 71st Scottish Regiment, and his five ships are captured in Boston Harbor. He and other officers are sent to Reading as prisoners. Campbell is quartered at Parker Tavern.

1806- Thomas Sweetser acquires the property and, with his family, maintains it as a working farm for nearly 100 years.

1923- After the Tavern changed hands several times in the early 1900s, the Reading Antiquarian Society is established and purchases the Tavern and some land. The RAS restores the building and opens it to the public as a historic house museum in 1930.