Formerly: Michie's Ordinary
Charlottesville, Virginia · Founded 1784 · Building: circa 1772–1784; moved 1927–1928
A relocated Albemarle County tavern whose eighteenth-century core was moved near Monticello in 1927–28 and reopened as a museum in 1928.
Michie Tavern began near Earlysville in northern Albemarle County, where William Michie built its oldest central section sometime around 1772–84 and operated an ordinary associated with the 1784 tradition. The tavern stopped operating by the mid-nineteenth century. Josephine Henderson bought, dismantled, and rebuilt the structure near Monticello between 1927 and 1928, opening it as a museum in 1928; today it operates as a museum and restaurant complex.
Virginia Department of Historic Resources dates the oldest central section of the original Michie Tavern building to a probable construction range of circa 1772–1784 by William Michie.
Source: Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Michie Tavern National Register nomination and register entry
Michie Tavern's historical tradition dates William Michie's ordinary/tavern operation near Earlysville to this year.
Source: Michie Tavern, "The Tavern History"; Visit Charlottesville, "Michie Tavern ca. 1784"
DHR and historical summaries place the end of the original tavern operation sometime between 1830 and 1850, after which the building served as a private residence.
Source: Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Michie Tavern register entry; Clio, "Michie Tavern & Museum"
The building leaves Michie-family ownership and enters a later ownership sequence before Josephine Henderson's purchase.
Source: Clio, "Michie Tavern & Museum"; historical property summaries
Josephine Henderson purchases the deteriorating Earlysville-area tavern building and begins its documented disassembly and move toward the Monticello area.
Source: Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Michie Tavern register entry; Michie Tavern, "The Tavern History"
The reconstructed tavern opens near Carter's Mountain and Monticello as a museum for Josephine Henderson's antique collection.
Source: Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Michie Tavern register entry; Michie Tavern, "The Tavern History"
According to local reporting, the McDonald family purchases Michie Tavern, beginning 58 years of family ownership.
Source: Information Charlottesville, "New owner for Michie Tavern," August 6, 2026
Shah Family Holdings purchases Michie Tavern and its 6.71-acre property from the McDonald family for a reported $3.3 million.
Source: Information Charlottesville, "New owner for Michie Tavern," August 6, 2026
Every claim gets rated. A business's own website can never earn "documented."
Virginia Department of Historic Resources documents that the structure was disassembled near Earlysville and rebuilt at its present location between 1927 and 1928. The move was undertaken by Josephine Henderson to house her antiques and benefit from nearby Monticello visitor traffic.
Distance accounts differ: the tavern says 17 miles, recent local reporting says 16 miles, and other summaries say 18 miles. DHR documents the 1927–28 move but the exact mileage and completion date are not resolved in the sources reviewed.
Virginia historic records say the original tavern ceased operating sometime between 1830 and 1850 and the building became a private residence. It was relocated and reopened as a museum in 1928, later developing its current restaurant function.
The oldest section was probably built by William Michie near Earlysville around 1772–84. Josephine Henderson moved it to the present Monticello-area site between 1927 and 1928; Thomas Jefferson did not build it.
The tavern traditionally uses 1784 as its founding date, while Virginia Department of Historic Resources dates the oldest central section more cautiously to circa 1772–84. The source conflict favors a hedged date range rather than an exact 1784 construction claim.
Michie Tavern's active official site and Charlottesville tourism listing identify current museum, shopping, pub, and lunch operations at 683 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, with lunch served daily.
Local reporting says Shah Family Holdings purchased the tavern and 6.71-acre property on July 2, 2026. This establishes a reported recent acquisition, but a deed, Virginia corporate filing, and operating agreement were not reviewed.
Michie Tavern was built in 1784 and moved 17 miles in 1927.
Virginia Department of Historic Resources dates the oldest central section to circa 1772–84 and documents disassembly/reconstruction between 1927 and 1928. The exact mileage is disputed among sources, which give 16, 17, or 18 miles.
Source: Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Michie Tavern register entry; Michie Tavern, "The Tavern History"; Information Charlottesville, August 6, 2026
Michie Tavern has remained continuously open as a tavern since 1784.
The original tavern ceased operating by the mid-nineteenth century and the building became a private residence. It reopened to the public as a museum in 1928 after relocation, with later restaurant service.
Source: Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Michie Tavern register entry; Clio, "Michie Tavern & Museum"
Thomas Jefferson built Michie Tavern next to Monticello.
William Michie built the oldest section near Earlysville, and Josephine Henderson moved the building to the Monticello area in 1927–28.
Source: Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Michie Tavern register entry; Michie Tavern, "The Tavern History"
The McDonald family still owns Michie Tavern.
Local reporting says Shah Family Holdings purchased the tavern and property on July 2, 2026 after 58 years of McDonald-family ownership.
Source: Information Charlottesville, "New owner for Michie Tavern," August 6, 2026
Michie Tavern survived because Josephine Henderson moved it from a deteriorating rural setting to the Monticello visitor corridor during the automobile-tourism era. The relocation made the building itself a preservation attraction, and later museum, craft-shop, and lunch operations gave it a new public role after its original tavern business had long ended.
Yes. Virginia Department of Historic Resources documents that Michie Tavern was disassembled near Earlysville and rebuilt near Monticello between 1927 and 1928 by Josephine Henderson. Sources disagree on the exact distance, giving 16, 17, or 18 miles.
Michie Tavern traditionally dates its origin to 1784, but Virginia Department of Historic Resources dates the oldest central section more cautiously to circa 1772–84. The building was moved from northern Albemarle County to its current Monticello-area site in 1927–28.
No. The historic building was probably constructed by William Michie near Earlysville, not by Thomas Jefferson. Josephine Henderson moved it near Monticello in 1927–28, long after Jefferson's lifetime.
Yes. Michie Tavern is open at 683 Thomas Jefferson Parkway near Monticello as a museum, restaurant, shop, and pub complex. Its official site lists lunch served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Information Charlottesville reported that Shah Family Holdings purchased Michie Tavern and its property on July 2, 2026 after 58 years of McDonald-family ownership. A deed and corporate filing would be needed to confirm the current legal ownership and operating structure.
No. Virginia historic records say the original tavern stopped operating sometime between 1830 and 1850 and the building became a private residence. It returned to public use as a museum after Josephine Henderson moved it and opened it in 1928.
683 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, Charlottesville, VA 22902
(434) 977-1234
The site is near Monticello and operates as a museum and lunch destination; confirm current tour, shop, pub, and buffet hours before visiting.