Indian King Tavern
New Jersey’s First State Historic Site — Colonial Tavern Where the NJ Legislature Met 1777, Adopted the Great Seal of New Jersey, Recorded the Declaration of Independence, Changed “Colony” to “State,” Haddonfield Camden County New Jersey
Indian King Tavern is a state historic site in Haddonfield, Camden County, New Jersey — the first property officially designated as a New Jersey State Historic Site when the state acquired it in 1903. During the American Revolution, the New Jersey Legislature convened on the tavern’s second floor from January to September 1777, conducting critical wartime government business. The site features the room where the NJ Legislature adopted the Great Seal of the State of New Jersey (May 1777), exhibits on the formal recording of the Declaration of Independence into NJ Assembly minutes, interpretation of colonial tavern culture, connections to the Council of Safety that investigated Loyalists, and the legislation that officially changed NJ from a “colony” to a “state”.
Birthplace of New Jersey Statehood
In 1777, British and Hessian forces occupying northern New Jersey forced the state legislature to seek a safer meeting place. They chose the Indian King Tavern in Haddonfield, where they conducted some of the most consequential legislative acts in New Jersey history. On the second floor of this colonial tavern, the legislature adopted the Great Seal of New Jersey in May 1777, formally recorded the Declaration of Independence into the minutes of the New Jersey Assembly, enacted laws that officially transitioned New Jersey from a “colony” to a sovereign “state”, and organized the Council of Safety to investigate suspected Loyalists.
Colonial Tavern Life
Beyond its governmental role, the Indian King Tavern illustrates the central place taverns held in 18th-century American life. Taverns served as meeting halls, post offices, courtrooms, and community centers. The tavern’s exhibits explore colonial food and drink culture, the role of tavern keepers in local society, and daily life in Revolutionary-era southern New Jersey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the Continental Congress meet here?
No, the New Jersey State Legislature met here — the Continental Congress was meeting in nearby Philadelphia. This distinction is important.
Why is this New Jersey’s first historic site?
The state acquired the property in 1903, making it the first officially designated State Historic Site in New Jersey.
