Union Oyster House, open to diners since 1826, is amongst the oldest operating restaurants in the United States, and the oldest known that has been continuously operating since being opened. The building was listed as a National Historic Landmark on May 27, 2003. History The building itself was built prior to 1714, most likely in 1704. Before it became a restaurant, Hopestill Capen's dress goods business occupied the property. In 1771 printer Isaiah Thomas published his newspaper, The Massachusetts Spy, from the second floor. The restaurant originally opened as the Atwood & Bacon Oyster House on August 3, 1826. The Union Oyster House has had a number of famous people in history as diners, including the Kennedy family and Daniel Webster. Webster was known for regularly consuming at least six plates of oysters. Perhaps most surprisingly, in 1796 Louis Philippe, King of the French from 1830 to 1848, lived in exile on the second floor. He earned his living by teaching French to young women. Labor economist and president of Haverford College John Royston Coleman worked here incognito as a "salad-and-sandwich man" for a time in the 1970s and documented the experience in his book The Blue Collar Journal. The menu is traditional New England fare, including seafoods such as oysters, clams, and lobsters, as well as poultry, baked beans, steak and chops. Image gallery See also List of the oldest restaurants in the United States Cuisine of New England List of National Historic Landmarks in Boston List of seafood restaurants National Register of Historic Places listings in northern Boston, Massachusetts References External links Official website Houses completed in 1704 National Historic Landmarks in Boston Oyster bars in the United States Restaurants in Boston Seafood restaurants in Massachusetts Restaurants on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts Houses in Boston 1826 establishments in Massachusetts American companies established in 1826 Restaurants established in 1826 Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Suffolk County, Massachusetts Historic district contributing properties in Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places in Boston Louis Philippe I