When was Kelly's Logan House established?

Kelly's Logan House claims a founding year of 1864, placing it in the Civil War & Reconstruction era.

Kelly's Logan House — Oldest Bar in Delaware (Est. 1864)

Q: What is the oldest bar in Delaware?

Kelly's Logan House in Wilmington is widely cited as the oldest bar in Delaware, with a claimed founding year of 1864. Verification status: Disputed. Kelly's own well-documented claim is narrower than the list suggests: it is the oldest Irish bar in Delaware and the oldest continuously family-owned Irish tavern in America (est. 1864, Kelly family since 1889). The Deer Park Tavern in Newark has operated since 1851 on a site with tavern history back to 1747, predating Kelly's, so the outright 'oldest bar in Delaware' title is contested and definition-dependent.

Q: Is Kelly's Logan House still open?

As of our July 2026 review: Open today. Open. Fifth-generation siblings Joanna Kelly and Michael Patrick Kelly Jr. took over in 2022 after their father's death; a September 2025 profile and current 2026 listings confirm active operation with regular hours and live entertainment. Confirm current hours with the establishment before visiting.

Since 1864

The Logan House was built in 1864 as a resort hotel meant to be the center of its neighborhood, drawing travelers from the nearby railroad station for a meal, a drink, and a night's stay. It is named for General John A. Logan, the Union Army general who instituted Memorial Day. John D. 'Whiskers' Kelly and his wife Hannah purchased it on September 4, 1889, and the Kelly family has run it ever since, making it the oldest continuously family-owned Irish tavern in America; it is now in its fifth generation of Kelly ownership. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and anchors Wilmington's Trolley Square, where it has been the hub of St. Patrick's Day celebrations for more than 160 years.

According to the bar's history, guests over the years have included Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hickok, boxer John L. Sullivan, and Al Capone, with more recent visitors including Joaquin Phoenix and Pete Best, the Beatles' original drummer.

What to order: Wilmington's St. Patrick's Day headquarters, serving as the hub of the city's celebrations for over 160 years, with regular live music.

How solid is the claim?

Disputed

Delaware’s oldest bar — the evidence

Kelly's Logan House in Wilmington is our featured pick for the oldest bar in Delaware, with a claimed founding year of 1864. Kelly's own well-documented claim is narrower than the list suggests: it is the oldest Irish bar in Delaware and the oldest continuously family-owned Irish tavern in America (est. 1864, Kelly family since 1889). The Deer Park Tavern in Newark has operated since 1851 on a site with tavern history back to 1747, predating Kelly's, so the outright 'oldest bar in Delaware' title is contested and definition-dependent.

Claimed Founding

1864

Operating Status

Open today — Open. Fifth-generation siblings Joanna Kelly and Michael Patrick Kelly Jr. took over in 2022 after their father's death; a September 2025 profile and current 2026 listings confirm active operation with regular hours and live entertainment.

Verification

Disputed

Last Reviewed

July 2026

Competing Claims

Other Delaware establishments with a stake in the title:

1851

Deer Park Tavern — Newark

Current building erected circa 1851 on the site of the 1747 St. Patrick's Inn; in operation since 1851 and on the National Register, predating Kelly's 1864 founding.

1674 (building)

Jessop's Tavern — New Castle

Occupies a building from 1674 but the tavern itself only opened in 1996; some 'oldest bar' lists pick it based on building age rather than continuous operation.

Kelly's Logan House

Since 1864

How solid is the claim?

Delaware’s oldest bar — the evidence

Competing Claims

Sources

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