Dobbin House Tavern Gettysburg
A Home, School, Underground Railroad Stop, Civil War Hospital & Restaurant.
Past Lane Plus is an extension of Past Lane Travels, a history/travel blog. Past Lane Plus features extra photos of historical sites that didn’t make it into the regular posts.
The oldest building still standing in Gettysburg PA is now a beloved restaurant and bar that is popular with both visitors and locals.
Built in 1776 by the Rev. Alexander Dobbin, this beautiful stone building has been used for a variety of purposes during its long life.
The Dobbin House
Alexander Dobbin built a large house in 1776 on the outskirts of Gettysburg on 300 acres that he owned. It’s good that the house was so big because he had 10 children with his wife before she died.
And THEN Dobbin married a local widow who had nine children of her own!
To educate his own children and those in the community, Dobbin opened an educational academy that became well known and respected.
The house was reportedly used as a stop on the Underground Railroad to hide runaway slaves as they made their way North. During the Civil War, the Dobbin House was used as a field hospital despite being within firing distance of both armies.
Today, the Dobbin House is a local family-owned restaurant with lots of different dining opportunities. For fine dining, one option is “tester-bed dining” in the upstairs former bedroom of the house.
The Springhouse Tavern in the cellar at the Dobbin House is a popular place to grab a sandwich.
The Dobbin House also has a wonderful gift shop called the Curiosity Store with lots of old-fashioned gifts and necessities.
Don’t miss reading more about the beautiful and historic Dobbin House Tavern in Gettysburg.