Along with such establishments as City Tavern, the George, Oellers, and the Black Horse, Philadelphia’s Indian Queen Tavern was both a place to eat and drink, and to find accommodation in upstairs rooms.

Throughout the Federal Convention during the summer of 1787, many delegates from the states caucused, caroused, conspired, and sought refuge from consciousness here.

A New York clergyman, Reverend Manasseh Cutler, took a room here hoping to influence the convention delegates to add a provision to the new governing document. Cutler wanted to insure that states would honor their contracts for western land sales.

According to Cutler’s diary, he met Hamilton and other important men in attendance at the federal convention, and sat with them until after 1 am here at the Indian Queen.

Hamilton probably had scores of additional occasions to visit the establishment between 1787 and 1799.