The Golden Ball Tavern Museum invites visitors to explore a broader, more nuanced view of the American Revolution. Located in a preserved pre-Revolutionary home and tavern in Weston, Massachusetts, the museum highlights the often-overlooked perspective—that of Loyalists during the era.
As one of a small number of museums in the country focused on Loyalist experiences, the Golden Ball Tavern Museum encourages visitors to consider the complexity of the past and the diverse viewpoints that shaped it. The tavern was established in 1770 by class "hover: entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline" Isaac Jones, a Loyalist (sometimes called a Tory) who supported compromise with Great Britain, even when doing so carried significant personal risk. Over time, Jones’s views evolved, and he ultimately aligned with the Patriot cause, contributing to the emerging United States. His story reflects the difficult choices, shifting loyalties, and human experiences behind a pivotal moment in history.
The museum also shares the story of six generations of the Jones family—Isaac’s direct descendants—who lived in the house for nearly 200 years, through the 1960s. Built between 1765 and 1768, the original home and tavern have been preserved in a way that reveals how each generation adapted the space over time. By uncovering these structural layers, the museum brings to life the everyday experiences of the people who called it home.
More than 90 percent of the objects in the museum’s collection originally belonged to the Jones family, offering an unusually authentic connection to the past. Today, the Golden Ball Tavern Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and operates as a fully self-sustaining institution.
Tours of the museum are offered every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and every Second Sunday of the month.
