Rodgers Tavern

Rodgers Tavern stands on the east bank of the Susquehanna River in Perryville, Maryland. The tavern is a monument to our country's early history and a reminder of a past way of life in Cecil County. Built in the early eighteenth century, the tavern was known first as the Ferry House or Stevenson's Tavern and was located next to a ferry established in 1695. Here on the Post Road between Baltimore and Philadelphia, numerous travelers both foreign and American, crossed the river, lodged, and partook of food and drink. One traveler, James Kent, in describing the area surrounding the tavern, noted in 1791, "This River is one mile wide here; a view up the river as we cross the ferry is very romantic, an island is just above, and the banks are steep and rugged." The Rodgers family was actively involved in supporting the American cause during the Revolutionary War. In 1775, John Rodgers raised and commanded a company of militia for the defense of Maryland. Because of the Tavern's strategic location on the main thoroughfare and the owner's patriotic tendencies, it was a favorite stopping place for such Revolutionary figures as George Washington, Lafayette, and Rochambeau.