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Our House

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Gallipolis, Ohio was settled in 1790 by French noblemen, professionals, artisans and their families who were fleeing from the ravages of the French Revolution. Frontier life along the Ohio River was more than the French immigrants had bargained for. By 1807, only twenty of the original families remained. Settlers from Massachusetts and Virginia joined them and soon a stable and prosperous community was formed.

In 1819, Henry Cushing built the three-story tavern. The tavern got its name, "Our House," from Cushing's habit of meeting the boats as they docked and inviting everyone to, "Come over to our house." Built of brick in the Federal style, the tavern had a taproom, public and private dining rooms, ladies' parlor, three bedrooms and a divided ballroom. It quickly became the center of social activity in Gallipolis. On May 22, 1825, General Lafayette made an unscheduled visit and was entertained at Our House during his tour of America. The anniversary of this occasion is celebrated by an annual event.

Our House remained in the Cushing family until 1865. In 1933, a three-year restoration project began and it reopened as a museum. In 1944, the tavern was given to the State of Ohio, and is now operated by the Ohio Historical Society who did a complete restoration on the building and refurbished it with period pieces.