Tunnicliff History

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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.

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.

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.


1961 - On November 11^th 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.

1986 - Refurbished

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