251st USMC Birthday Tun Tavern Vintage Sign T-Shirt

It Started in a Tavern. 251 Years Later, It’s Still Going.

On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the formation of two battalions of Marines in Philadelphia. The recruiting began that same day — at Tun Tavern, a public house on Water Street run by Robert Mullan, one of the first Marine recruiters. Men signed up over ale and the promise of something worth fighting for. That tavern is gone now, but what started inside it is still standing 251 years later. The 251st USMC Birthday Tun Tavern Vintage Sign T-Shirt commemorates November 10, 2026 with a design rendered in the style of period tavern signage — aged, distressed, and built to look like it belongs on the wall of the place where the Corps was born. This is the birthday tee for the Marine who knows the story behind the date.

Why This Birthday Commemorative Tee Stands Apart:

• 251st USMC Birthday Tun Tavern Vintage Sign Graphic – A commemorative design marking the 251st anniversary of the Marine Corps, rendered in the style of period tavern signage — distressed, aged, and historically grounded in the Philadelphia public house where Marine Corps recruiting began on November 10, 1775
• Vintage Sign Design Format – The graphic is styled after the hand-lettered, weathered tavern signs of the colonial era — the kind that would have hung outside Tun Tavern itself. It wears 251 years of history the way a well-worn piece of kit wears its service: with character, not flash
• The Origin Story, Not Just the Date – Every Marine knows November 10th. This design goes one layer deeper — to the tavern, the recruiter, and the moment the Corps actually began. For the Marine who knows the history, this is the tee that shows it
• Limited to 2026 – This is a year-specific commemorative tee. The 251st only happens once. Order before November 10th to guarantee delivery in time for the celebration
• Custom-Made in the USA – Each tee is printed to order using direct-to-garment (DTG) technology — please allow 3–5 business days prior to shipping
• Premium 4.5 oz Combed & Ring-Spun Cotton – Mid-weight American cotton with reactive dyes for longer-lasting color, shoulder-to-shoulder taping for durability, and a fit that’s tailored through the chest and arms without being boxy
• 8 Colors Available – Black, Navy, OD Green, Charcoal Heather, Royal, Red, Heather Grey, and Gold — a color for every Marine and every occasion
• Extended Size Range – Small through 4XL so every Marine and supporter can represent
• Versatile Unisex Fit – Classic cut that looks sharp at the Birthday Ball, the mess night, the barracks, or anywhere a Marine shows up on November 10th

The Story Behind Tun Tavern: Tun Tavern stood on Water Street in Philadelphia, near the Delaware River waterfront. In 1775, it was one of the most well-known public houses in the city — a gathering place for merchants, sailors, and colonists. When the Continental Congress authorized the Marine Corps on November 10, 1775, Samuel Nicholas — widely recognized as the first Commandant of the Marine Corps — and Robert Mullan, the tavern’s proprietor, began recruiting the first Marines from among the tavern’s patrons. The building burned down in the 19th century, but its place in Marine Corps history is permanent. Every Marine who has ever raised a glass on November 10th is, in some way, continuing a tradition that started at that bar. 251 years of it.

Perfect For: Marines and veterans who know the history behind the birthday and want a tee that reflects it, active-duty Marines celebrating the 251st Birthday Ball and mess night with something historically grounded, military history enthusiasts and USMC collectors who appreciate the Tun Tavern origin story, military families marking November 10, 2026 with a Marine who takes the Corps’ history seriously, and anyone who knows that the Marine Corps didn’t start on a parade ground — it started in a tavern.

CUSTOM-MADE IN THE USA — ALLOW 3–5 BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE SHIPPING

Note: Solid colors are 100% cotton. Heather colors feature a 50/50 cotton/poly blend. Size up if you prefer a looser fit.

Size Chart

Size	Chest (inches)	Width (inches)	Length (inches)
Small	34-37	18	28
Medium	38-41	20	29
Large	42-45	22	30
X-Large	46-49	24	31
2X-Large	50-53	26	32
3X-Large	54-57	28	33
4X-Large	58-61	30	34

Tun Tavern. Philadelphia. November 10, 1775. The drink that started it all. 251 years later, the Corps is still standing. Semper Fi.