Rhodes' Tavern
a.k.a. Bank of the Metropolis;Corcoran & Riggs
601--603 15th St. and 1431 F St., NW., Washington, DCThe Joint Committee on Landmarks has designated Rhodes' Tavern a Category II Landmark of importance which contributes significantly to the cultural heritage and visual beauty of the District of Columbia. This 168-year-old building, the oldest extant commercial structure in Washington's Downtown Area, served as a polling place in the first municipal election of 1802, as one of the first banks in the District, and was the tavern from which the British command directed the burning of the White House and Treasury in 1814. It was also the first home of the banking institution which is now Riggs National Bank. The building has been in continuous commercial use since it was built and its site has been historically important as a hub of commerce and finance since the foundation of the city. Although the building has been partially demolished and the remainder is in a deteriorated condition, there are so few architectural remains of this early Federal period in the Downtown Area that every consideration should be given to its preservation and restoration.'
When the District of Columbia was created in 1790, the property on which Rhodes! Tavern stands were part of Beall's Levels owned by David Burnes. In the division of lots between the government and the landholders, Burnes retained this property (old lot 6) which he sold to Bennett Fenwick on August 17, 1797. In the summer of 1799, Fenwick procured a permit and by 1801 he had erected a building there which he leased as a hotel to William Rhodes. Early identified with the civic life of Washington, Rhodes' Tavern is mentioned as the meeting place for the Orphans' Court convened April 14, 1801, as an auction house, and as the polling place for the second ward in the first municipal election, June 7, 1802.
In the summer of 1804, Rhodes left the building, which was then leased to Joseph M. Semmes who operated a hotel under the sign of the Indian King from 1805 to 1807. From 1807 to 1814, it was run as a boarding house by Mrs. Barbara Suter, with F Street frontage converted to a store first operated by Edgar Patterson and then from 181l to September 1813 as a bookstore by Roger c. Weightman who later became the 8th Mayor of Washington (1824-26). The building was sold by Mrs. Fenwick, on April 12, 1810, and again by John C. Jackson on April 9, 1814, to the Bank of the Metropolis which opened for business three days later. General John Van Ness was the bank's first president; Andrew Jackson, was one of the original stockholders, The Bank of the Metropolis later became the National Well Metropolitan Bank which was recently merged with the American Security and Trust Company.
On August 24, 1814, the British Commanders General Ross and Admiral Cockburn made their headquarters here during the burning of the White House and the Treasury. Mrs. Suter has left an excellent account of the dinner that the British ate by the light of the burning buildings on that historic occasion.
The building served as the Bank of the Metropolis from 1814 to 1836. In 1839, W. W. Corcoran moved his exchange and brokerage office here and on April 15, 1840, the partnership of Corcoran & Riggs was formed and commenced business as a bank of deposit. During their occupancy, Corcoran & Riggs (now Riggs National Bank) financed the first telegraph line in the United States, from Washington to Baltimore.
From 1845 to 1850, the building was used mainly by claims agents for offices. It was probably during this period that the addition to the east was constructed. In April 1852, Charles St. J. Chubb bought the building from the Bank of the Metropolis and sold an undivided share to his brother Isaac. The Chubb brothers operated a private bank until July 1858 when they sold the property to Alfred V. Scott.
From 1860 to 1899 the building was used for offices, quarters for private bankers, and shops. Since 1900, commercial usage has continued with the National Press Club as 2nd and 3rd-floor occupants of 603 15th Street from 1909-1914. A bootblack rented the first-floor shop at 603 15th Street from 1916 to 1941. Since then, this shop has been occupied by a news agency. The 601 15th Street shop has housed a restaurant, cigar store, candy store, record shop, and now a souvenir shop. 1431 F Street is occupied by a fruit market.
Ownership of the property has gone through several hands since Scott's heirs sold it in the 1920s. About 1957 the north portion (lot 810) was torn down and the single-story American Savings and Loan Association now occupies that lot which was purchased by Riggs National Bank in 1959. The extant portion of Rhodes' Tavern is now owned by the American Security Corporation.
Local significance of the building:
When the District of Columbia was created in 1790, the property on which Rhodes! Tavern stands were part of Beall's Levels owned by David Burnes. In the division of lots between the government and the landholders, Burnes retained this property (old lot 6) which he sold to Bennett Fenwick on August 17, 1797. In the summer of 1799, Fenwick procured a permit and by 1801 he had erected a building there which he leased as a hotel to William Rhodes. Early identified with the civic life of Washington, Rhodes' Tavern is mentioned as the meeting place for the Orphans' Court convened April 14, 1801, as an auction house, and as the polling place for the second ward in the first municipal election, June 7, 1802.
In the summer of 1804, Rhodes left the building, which was then leased to Joseph M. Semmes who operated a hotel under the sign of the Indian King from 1805 to 1807. From 1807 to 1814, it was run as a boarding house by Mrs. Barbara Suter, with F Street frontage converted to a store first operated by Edgar Patterson and then from 181l to September 1813 as a bookstore by Roger c. Weightman who later became the 8th Mayor of Washington (1824-26). The building was sold by Mrs. Fenwick, on April 12, 1810, and again by John C. Jackson on April 9, 1814, to the Bank of the Metropolis which opened for business three days later. General John Van Ness was the bank's first president; Andrew Jackson, was one of the original stockholders, The Bank of the Metropolis later became the National Well Metropolitan Bank which was recently merged with the American Security and Trust Company.
On August 24, 1814, the British Commanders General Ross and Admiral Cockburn made their headquarters here during the burning of the White House and the Treasury. Mrs. Suter has left an excellent account of the dinner that the British ate by the light of the burning buildings on that historic occasion.
The building served as the Bank of the Metropolis from 1814 to 1836. In 1839, W. W. Corcoran moved his exchange and brokerage office here and on April 15, 1840, the partnership of Corcoran & Riggs was formed and commenced business as a bank of deposit. During their occupancy, Corcoran & Riggs (now Riggs National Bank) financed the first telegraph line in the United States, from Washington to Baltimore.
From 1845 to 1850, the building was used mainly by claims agents for offices. It was probably during this period that the addition to the east was constructed. In April 1852, Charles St. J. Chubb bought the building from the Bank of the Metropolis and sold an undivided share to his brother Isaac. The Chubb brothers operated a private bank until July 1858 when they sold the property to Alfred V. Scott.
From 1860 to 1899 the building was used for offices, quarters for private bankers, and shops. Since 1900, commercial usage has continued with the National Press Club as 2nd and 3rd-floor occupants of 603 15th Street from 1909-1914. A bootblack rented the first-floor shop at 603 15th Street from 1916 to 1941. Since then, this shop has been occupied by a news agency. The 601 15th Street shop has housed a restaurant, cigar store, candy store, record shop, and now a souvenir shop. 1431 F Street is occupied by a fruit market.
Ownership of the property has gone through several hands since Scott's heirs sold it in the 1920s. About 1957 the north portion (lot 810) was torn down and the single-story American Savings and Loan Association now occupies that lot which was purchased by Riggs National Bank in 1959. The extant portion of Rhodes' Tavern is now owned by the American Security Corporation.
Commerce; Military; Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1969.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The District was the site of the first U.S. public school for black students: The M Street School (later known as Dunbar High School) was founded in 1870 and was the first public school in the United States for black students. The school became known for its high academic standards and produced many notable alumni, including civil rights leader and educator Mary McLeod Bethune.