History

Tavern

Since 1933, Martin’s Tavern has come to be one of the most celebrated taverns in Washington history, a home away from home. Georgetowners, Washington’s movers and shakers, Hollywood stars, Broadway legends and just plain “G.I. Joes” all say, “Meet me at Martin’s.”

In the late 19th century, William S. Martin crossed the Atlantic from Galway, Ireland to pursue the American Dream. In 1933, he and son William G. Martin opened Martin’s Tavern on the corner of Wisconsin and N Street. The tavern was an immediate success thanks to great food, good drinks and excellent service. So successful in fact, that in the 1940’s four star generals preferred to sit on milk crates at Martin’s than take a table at another restaurant.

A Hall of Fame athlete at Georgetown University, William G. Martin graduated and went on to play three professional sports – basketball, football and baseball. He played with Jim Thorpe on the 1914 Boston “Miracle Braves” and for the NY Giants and Cleveland Indians.

In 1949, his son, William A. Martin, started behind the bar, having served in the Navy during World War II, attended Georgetown University Medical School, attained Golden Gloves status as a boxer and played Pro-Am golf. During the 1950s, Billy remembers the Dugout room as the scene of many meetings between Speaker Sam Rayburn, LBJ and other Congressmen and Senators as they swapped stories and molded American legislation (also cited in Robert Caro’s LBJ biography, Master of the Senate). Over the years, many regulars have staked out their favorite booths in the tavern – including JFK & Jackie, Richard Nixon, Harry Truman, political cartoonist Herb Block, CBS commentator Eric Sevareid, political hostess and fundraiser Pamela Harriman and Mickey Mantle.

In 1982, current owner, William A. (Billy) Martin, Jr. moved back to Washington and, as his father had done in 1949, started behind the bar. In 2001, he and wife Gina became the fourth generation to own and operate the Tavern. The menu has remained consistent through many culinary trends and fads. People continue to return to the classic American fare of great steaks, chops, seafood, fresh pasta and the good old-fashioned comfort food that is the hallmark of the Tavern.

Martin’s Tavern has had the honor of serving every president from Harry Truman to George W. Bush. It has survived the Great Depression, World War II and Korea, Camelot and the Great Society, Vietnam and Watergate, the Cold War and the Gulf War.

Billy and Gina Martin welcome you to their tavern – a Georgetown landmark for more than 70 years. We hope you enjoy your meal and continue the tradition of telling your friends,

Georgetown

Georgetown was officially formed in 1751 when the Maryland Assembly authorized the foundation of a town bordering the Potomac River. It was named George Town in honor of King George II, and very soon it prospered. In the beginning, tobacco was the lifeblood of the fledging community, which soon expanded into a profitable shipping community. Because of its access to the Potomac, Georgetown soon had a commercial and industrial hub around the waterfront where flour mills and wharves were constructed. As a result of its prosperity, Georgetown gained a reputation as the fashionable quarter of the capital and was visited by important people from all over the world.

Founded in 1789, Georgetown University is one of the primere Business and Law schools in the country and the most predominant institution in Georgetown. As you will read later, my Gradfather and my Father both graduated from Georgetown University.

Probably as a result of the popularity of this village, Georgetown was annexed to Washington City in 1871 by Congress. This little plot of land on the Potomac had evolved from a dirt patch to a part of a nation's capital.

After the Civil War, large numbers of freed slaves migrated to Georgetown. These African Americans flourished, becoming increasingly self-reliant. However, all this changed when in 1890 the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was severely damaged by a Potomac River flood, and the Canal Company was forced into bankruptcy. The area went into an economic depression, and in the period after the First World War, the area gained a reputation as one of the worst slums in Washington. However, this trend started to reverse itself, when in the 1930s, New Deal government officials discovered Georgetown's beauty and convenience. Georgetown once again became the hip enclave for the affluent and politically inclined.

Today, Georgetown still boasts many attractions. One of these is the C&O Canal. The C & O Canal is scenic park area covered with camping sites, and over 180 miles of biking and hiking trails. Another attraction is the Old Stone House, which is the oldest intact house in the area. It was originally built in 1765 for Christopher Lehman and now is owned by the National Park Service, which opens it to the public.

Georgetown also sports a quiet, darker side. That side is evidenced in its cemeteries. Designed by George de la Roche, Oak Hill Cemetery was a gift to the town from philanthropist William Wilson Corcoran. Its Gothic chapel and gates were the work of the artistic genius of James Renwick, the architect responsible for the Smithsonian Castle and the Renwick Gallery. Among those buried here are Abraham Lincoln's young son Willie and his secretary of war, Edwin M. Stanton; Benjamin Harrison's secretary of state, James G. Blaine; and John Howard Payne, author of “Home, Sweet Home.” The graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers attest to Georgetown's divided loyalties during the Civil War. The Van Ness Mausoleum, also part of the cemetery, was built in 1833 by George Hadfield and eventually was moved to the cemetery in 1872. Another graveyard in Georgetown is the Mount Zion Cemetery. It was established by the Female Union Band Society, a benevolent association that provided free burial for blacks. Even with its darkness, Georgetown is truly a beautiful place.

Washington

Demographic Information

Washington Area Statistics

• 5th largest metropolitan population in the U.S.

• Highest average family income and education attainment of any MSA in the U.S.

• Median household income - $56,000, second in the U.S. behind San Jose, CA.

• Highest number of millionaires per capita in the U.S.

• Highest number of executive/professional occupations in the U.S. - 40%.

• Rated in the top five metro areas to live in and #1 place to start a career in U.S.

• Home to 169 embassies and headquarters to 171 foreign-owned businesses.

• Among the top five international and domestic travel markets with 3 major airports.

• World's highest number of connections to the Internet per capita

• One of largest concentrations of tech firms in the U.S. with over 12,000 firms.

Georgetown Statistics

Daytime Office Population

• Approximately 13,325 daytime office workers in over 60 buildings in Georgetown
• Approximately 27,050 daytime office workers across Key Bridge in Rosslyn

Student Population

• Approximately 31,500 students nearby at Georgetown University and George Washington University

Hotel Population

• 1,300 hotel rooms in 7 hotels in Georgetown
• 2,300 hotel rooms in 7 hotels across Key Bridge in Rosslyn
• 2,100 hotel rooms in 8 hotels in nearby West End

Tourist Population

• 17 million tourists visit Georgetown annually

Retail Stores

• Over 350 storefronts on Wisconsin Avenue and M Street
• Georgetown Park Mall with over 262,000 s.f. of retail space and 575 parking spaces
• 13-screen, 2,800-seat Loews Cinema complex with another 600 parking spaces under construction

*Trade Area (within walking distance) is defined as 27th to 37th Streets and K to S Streets.

Attractions

March 17 --St Patricks Day
We have had Guinness and Harp on tap since we opened in 1933. We'll be celebrating all week long!