The TUNNICLIFF INN
The TUNNICLIFF INN

Rooms & Rates

Underground Restaurant & Tavern
 
James Fenimore Cooper Dining Room
 
Banquets
 
Things To Do
 
Location
 
Tunnicliff History
 
Gallery
 
Directions & Weather


Tunnicliff Inn
34-36 Pioneer Street
Cooperstown, NY 13326
(607) 547-9611
Reservation Requests
Rehearsal Dinner
Banquet Questions
tunnicliffinn@verizon.net


The TUNNICLIFF INN Est. 1802                        498 Feet From the Baseball Hall of Fame
Downtown Cooperstown, New York

Tunnicliff Inn History
 

1802 - Lawrence McNamee builds the General Store that would later become the Tunnicliff Inn.  It is one of the oldest brick structures in the Village of Cooperstown.

Lawrence McNamee's General Store
1804 Map
 






1848 -
After 36 years as a General Store the building re-opened as the American Hotel.


1885 - The American Hotel was sold by D.M. Hunter to Albert Palmer.

1916 -  The American Hotel is purchased by Lester Tunnicliff, decendant of early Exeter settler John Tunnicliff, and renamed the Tunnicliff Inn.

1925 - The Tunnicliff Inn is purchased by John J. Frank and his sister Magdalene.

1890 Map
The American Hotel
The American Hotel







1933 - John J. Frank
, owner of the Tunnicliff Inn, was issued the first Liquor License in the Village of Cooperstown following the recent repeal of the Prohibition Act.


1938 -  The Tap Room level is excavated.

1939 - The Home Plate opens along with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.  Later, because of its underground local, The Home Plate would become known by locals as "The Pit."  It is one of the oldest establishments in town, and still features its original bar.
The Tunnicliff Inn
Tap Room 1943

1961 - On November 11th the office building that stood where Pioneer Park is today burns down.

1975 - Over 300 people attended an open house at the Tunnicliff Inn given by Miss Magdalene Frank to mark her 50th  Anniversary as owner of the popular Cooperstown Hotel on Pioneer Street.
Tunnicliff Inn after fire



1986
- Refurbished


1998 - Thoroughly renovated in 1998, in keeping with the Federal Townhouse
architectural style of the original building




Last Updated: 5/26/09