Dobbin House Tavern

A juicy, delicious cheeseburger, with quality, hand-patted beef that's char-grilled over an open flame for your own order, served on a warmed brioche roll with crispy lettuce, sliced tomatoes, mayonnaise and a generous portion of melted American cheese, is always a winning choice on our Springhouse Tavern menu. Served with your choice of creamy potato salad, fresh cole slaw or chips with a spear of dill pickle on a Blue Willow plate (George Washington had a set of this china). Enjoy the thrill of the grill with history at the Dobbin House!

Sunny Drinks for Sunny Days!
🍹GOLD RUSH- "Livin’ is Easy" with Kentucky Bourbon, a dash of lemon juice, a dallop of honey syrup and a splash of club soda. Our servant Becky says this refreshing, golden "Gold Rush" looks and tastes like a sunny, summer day.
🍷WINDSOR COFFEE- Just like the classic, comfortable, colonial chair, this classic, comfortable, colonial drink of rich, coffee, Dark Rum and a sweet splash of Amaretto and Orange Liqueur is most satisfying. Order it in a Dobbin House mug that you can take home to remember your visit to the Dobbin House!
🧉 ADAMS COUNTY WINERY TEARS OF GETTYSBURG- A smooth union of Seyval, Vidal, and Niagara grapes, this award-winning sweet blend has been a local hallmark wine since 1988. The renowned winery grows its own grapes on 75 beautiful acres nestled in the close-by rolling hills of western Adams County. You’ll love how the pleasantly bold character of the Niagara grape gives way to subtle notes of pear and honeysuckle for a refreshing, summer drink delight.
🍺 STRAWBERRY WHEAT ALE- Locally brewed in nearby Pennsylvania Dutch country, this award winning, smooth and delicious craft beer delivers an amazingly crisp and refreshing flavor experience. It is brewed with white wheat, barley, caramel malt and a touch of strawberry for a fruity aroma and taste treat. Cheers!

Congratulations to Eric L. of Laval, Quebec, Canada, the winner of this month’s 250th anniversary of the 1776 United States and the 1776 Dobbin House Contest! He has won a Dobbin House T-Shirt. Second prize goes to Elane D. of Mount Wolf, PA, winning a porcelain ornament picturing the Dobbin House and third prize, a Dobbin House pen, will be sent to Pat H..
Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. Congratulations to all of you! The insights you grasp from the historical accounts of our nation's story are awesome and a delight for us to read. It is obvious that you appreciate the struggles of our ancestors to bring about our amazing country. And the most exciting stories are to come over the next 2 years!
Watch for next month’s history story and another chance to win. The contest runs every month through July 2026, the 250th anniversary of the 1776 Declaration of Independence and the 1776 Dobbin House, and each winner receives a Dobbin T-shirt, ornament or pen (totaling 50 shirts, ornaments and pens). To enter each contest, simply respond within 48 hours with a short comment about the history story. The Dobbin House staff will randomly choose three comments as the winners. Again, congratulations to Eric, Elane and Pat and thank you for your interest in our country's and our Dobbin House’s colonial history!
Pictured is Lillian N. of Curwensville, PA, our T-Shirt winner of April, 2024.

32 Baseball Clubs reenact the game this weekend in Gettysburg! The Gettysburg National 19th Century Base Ball Festival is the premier 19th century (vintage) baseball event in America. On July 20 and 21, 2024, hundreds of dedicated enthusiasts, who love to play baseball on the 5 historic Gettysburg fields and love to show the public the sporting event that soldiers played between fighting on the battlefields during the Civil War in the 1860's, will compete during 63 games. The "reenactor players" bring history alive by wearing period uniforms, using period equipment (no gloves!) and playing by the same rules and customs of baseball in its infancy and purest form.
The DOBBIN HOUSE will have a few players on our COURTYARD to speak about the vintage game on Saturday, July 20, about 6:30pm.
Tickets are FREE to attend these family-friendly games, located at 965 Pumping Station Road! Get your free tickets for the biggest weekend of baseball in the country at www.gettysburgbaseballfestival.com.

A wooden three-dimensional laser-cut Dobbin House was made for us!

WIN a Dobbin House T-Shirt! (Rules below). To contain the growing protests in his majesty’s, King George III’s, colonies in America, the English government passed 5 punitive measures to punish the Massachusetts colony for their “Boston Tea Party”, while subjugating all the citizens in the 13 colonies. The first 4 Acts, enacted in 1774, exactly 250 years ago, had far reaching effects on Massachusetts- devastating their commerce, effectively taking over their government and revising their judicial courts, all enforced with additional British soldiers brought to America. These unpopular Acts became known throughout the colonies as the “Intolerable Acts”. The fifth, and last, of these measures, was the “Quebec Act”, passed in June 1774.
After winning the French and Indian War, England controlled the previously French province of Quebec. Fearing that the northern territory would rebel in the same manner as their 13 colonies to the south, the English Parliament provided accessions to the ‘Canadians’. The Quebec Act greatly expanded Quebec’s boundaries to include what is now Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and parts of Minnesota. It also voided any land claims in these regions that had been made by American colonists and extended freedom of worship to the Quebec residents, who were mostly French Catholics.
This Act, like the first 4, inflamed the fury of the Americans colonists. Having helped to fight and win the French and Indian War only 11 years earlier, they saw land given to their former enemy as an affront. It restricted western expansion and angered land speculators, such as George Washington. Also, the mainly Protestant American colonists did not look kindly on the ability of Catholics to worship freely on their borders. Although the “Intolerable Acts” were primarily intended to punish Boston for their rebellion against the British government, their impact stretched far beyond the Massachusetts colony.
Contest Rules: To celebrate the semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of the 1776 United States and the 1776 Dobbin House, we are counting down the 1 year, 11 months, and 20 days to the July 4, 1776 date when the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and the Dobbin House was built. Every month until our 250th, we have an online story contest, with 3 winners receiving Dobbin House prizes (a total of 50 stories and 50 (1st) T-shirts, (2nd) ornaments and (3rd) pens). To enter the contest, simply respond within 48 hours with a short comment about this historical story. The Dobbin House staff will randomly choose 3 comments as the winners, whose authors will be notified by private message and later announced on this page. Notice! Be cautious of fake links. We only notify winners by private message.
Thank you for your interest in our history and good luck!

Enjoy your rides, Bikers! What a wonderful way to enjoy the historic beauty of the countryside around Gettysburg and Adams County!

Cool drinks to refresh after a Bike ride!
🍹 BLUEBERRY LEMON DROP MARTINI- Celebrate Bike Week with a summer martini! Leslie K. of Gettysburg sips one of our summer specials, expertly made with Absolute Citron Vodka, sweet blueberry syrup and a touch of sour mix. Here’s to good times with good friends!
🍷 ADAMS COUNTY WINERY TEARS OF GETTYSBURG- Cool and refreshing, this award-winning local wine is made from the combination of Seyval, Vidal and Niagara grapes. This is the perfect wine for the carefree spirit of a laid-back day at Gettysburg Bike Week.
🧉 KENTUCKY BOURBON COFFEE- Enjoy a sensual coffee in a Souvenir Mug that will always remind you of your fun times at Bike Week in Gettysburg. You’ll love the rich, dark coffee spiked with Bourbon, Coffee Liqueur, brown sugar and a touch of vanilla and cream. Cheers to historic Gettysburg!
🍺 DOBBIN HOUSE COLONIAL ALE- The Dobbin House is rockin’ with a Craft Beer brewed exclusively for us! Michael H. of Lancaster, PA is enjoying this traditional English ale made with contemporary American malts for a luscious body and smooth flavor. Our most popular beer!

Bikers, welcome to Gettysburg and the Dobbin House! We look forward to the East Coast's premiere Motorcycle Rally, showcasing top music acts, historic rides and unmatched hospitality! Unwind at the Dobbin House Courtyard/Bar, the perfect spot for biker-watching while enjoying an ice-cold craft brew, a refreshing summer cocktail, a crisp salad, a hearty burger, a succulent steak, fresh seafood or homemade sweet dessert. The Courtyard/Bar welcomes you Friday from 4:00 to 9:00, Saturday from 11:30 to 9:00 and Sunday from 11:30 to 5:00, weather permitting. Our Springhouse Tavern and Dobbin Dining Rooms are open daily. To view our menus, visit www.dobbinhouse.com. For the complete Bike Week schedule of entertainment, events and ticket information, visit www.gettysburgbikeweek.com. Have a historic week in Gettysburg!

The Dobbin House wins two 1st Place Awards! Our thanks to the readers of the "Celebrate Gettysburg" magazine for again voting us - 1st Place for "Greatest Gettysburg Restaurant" and 1st Place for "Gettysburg's Greatest Romantic Dinner Spot".
We are proud to have served our community and our visitors with quality, historic dining for 46 years and congratulate all the other "Greatest" winners. We love our town!

Listen to a Podcast about early Gettysburg and Adams County! The 30-minute recording features stories about the earliest Europeans to arrive on this frontier of America. This is part of a series of podcasts by the people of Pennsylvania as we begin to celebrate the 250th Birthday of America in 2026. We thank the Adams County Historical Society and the 250PA committee for including the story of Rev. Alexander Dobbin and the house he built in 1776, the same year as our Declaration of Independence!
www.america250pa.org/Podcasts

Student guests from around the country recently enjoyed a private tour of the historic Dobbin House. This is the second tour group from the American Exchange Project to discover the story of Rev. Alexander Dobbin, an early immigrant to America whose faith and resolve was instrumental in helping to forge our local community and the United States. The organization's mission is "stitching our country together: one student, one high school, one hometown at a time". They are enjoining our divided nation with free trips to young people who want to learn more about their country and their fellow citizens. This group of awesome youngsters came from Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vermont and Montana. The Dobbin House is proud to help educate and inspire the next generation of our youth!
Want to take your own guided tour of the 1776 Dobbin House? Tours are given every weekend with tickets available at dobbinhousetours.eventbrite.com.

Christmas time in Gettysburg- there are few more magical places than our own bustling small town during the holidays. Plan now to join us December 6-8, 2024 for this year's Christmas Festival! See our beautiful farmland sparkling in the snow, the old streetlights glistening around the giant Christmas tree in the town square and the picturesque and historic buildings decorated with Christmas decorations and lights. The annual Holiday Celebration is fun for the whole family, especially the kids, with (mostly free) carolers singing in their period clothing, horse-drawn wagons filled with visitors, chestnuts roasting over an open fire, music and entertainment, arts and crafts, hot chocolate and fresh-baked Christmas cookies, Christmas contests and shopping, games and history, Santa and elves, ice carvings and even live reindeer! Make this Christmas a Historic Event!

Cool Comfort on a hot day! Our ADAMS DELIGHT appetizer, found on our Springhouse Tavern menu, showcases the fresh, native fruits that Adams County is renowned for, including local apples and other seasonal produce, paired with an assortment of fine cheeses. Our delightful Sweet Honey Dipping Sauce, made with Cream Cheese, Honey and Orange Juice, adds a dreamy, creamy touch. This distinctive starter is often chosen for the accompanying home-baked, sweet Date Nut Bread and cream cheese- so delightful, in fact, many guests request an entire loaf to enjoy at home. Local yumminess!

Unique drinks for the Civil War Reenactors and Enthusiasts!
🍺 DOBBIN HOUSE COLONIAL ALE- A Local Craft Beer brewed exclusively for us! This smooth, thirst-quenching ale is modeled after an English Tavern Ale tweaked with a little American ingenuity. With the luscious body and bold flavor of early America, it is most worthy to hold the name of the 1776 Dobbin House!
🍷 ADAMS COUNTY WINERY TEARS OF GETTYSBURG- Perfect for a hot day, this refreshingly crisp wine, held by Dobbin House servant Hannah, comes from the oldest winery in our county. With a combination of Seyval, Vidal and Niagara grapes, this award-winning sweet blend delivers a lovely bouquet of pear and honeysuckle.
🍹SPRINGHOUSE SHRUB- Sara M. from Gettysburg is cooling off the heat with this bright and lively Sprinkling Champagne mixed with Raspberry Shrub and the lovely juniper flavor of Gin. The tart and sweet Raspberry Shrub adds complexity and zing to this elegant cocktail.
🧉DOBBIN’S COFFEE- Always reminisce about your memorable Gettysburg visit with a take-home Dobbin House mug, served with delicious, chocolatey sweetness from rich, dark coffee, sweet Amaretto liqueur and Dark Creme de Cacao.
Stay cooled!

HAPPY 248th BIRTHDAY to the 1776 Dobbin House and the 1776 United States of America! Both were created the same year and will be 250 years old in 2026. We can't wait to celebrate!
Today, the Dobbin House, listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, bids every traveler welcome with colonial hospitality for pampering the appetite and tippling spirits- all in the candle-lit glow of history.
Visit the official USA 250th birthday website at www,america250.org.

Enjoy fireworks on July 4th in Gettysburg!
Join the Gettysburg Rec Park for the Annual Gettysburg Fourth Independence Day Celebration! The party begins at 5:00pm at the amphitheater with dancing to live music from "Schizophonic". Grab some savory bites and sweet treats from one of the on-site food trucks. The dazzling display of fireworks blasts off at 9:20PM.
Park on site, Gettysburg Recreation Park, 545 Long Lane, $5.00.
Happy 4th of July!

Experience the Battle of Gettysburg reenactment this coming weekend, July 6 & 7!

Little Round Top Battlefield, after a 2-year extensive rehabilitation, is now open to visitors! Our "Little Round Top Farm" vacation rental is the perfect spot to stay and explore this most famous and beloved area of all the Gettysburg battlefields. Gorgeous during all seasons of the year, you can enjoy the farm's 12 acres playing in the fields, fishing in a stocked pond, climbing on the large boulders, roasting hot dogs in the fire pit, viewing/listening to the pleasant calls and songs of wildlife and walking the forested trails up to Little Round Top. It's a lovely spot of natural beauty in a peaceful, tranquil setting of yesteryear just outside the antique-filled, 5-bedroom, 1858 Civil War farmhouse that you call your own. View more pictures of the farm and house, plus make your reservation online at www.dobbinhouse.com/lrtf.htm.

Our red, white and blue pride is beaming in our Country Curiosity Store this July 4th holiday! It's just what you would expect from a house that was built in the same year as the founding of the United States of America-1776! Browse through patriotic jewelry, home and wall decorations, mugs, Christmas ornaments, candles, magnets and red, white and blue candy. Stop in while strolling along Steinwehr Ave or dining at the Dobbin House in the historic rooms and outside at the Courtyard/Bar during this holiday week. Store open daily 10-9.

Happy Birthday America! Enjoy our Special July 4th Cocktails in the Dobbin House and on our outdoor Courtyard/Bar!
🍺 DOBBIN HOUSE COLONIAL ALE- Made exclusively for the Dobbin House, this locally brewed, traditional English Tavern craft beer quenches your thirst with the luscious body and the smooth flavor of early America and the red, white and blue!
🍹 PEACH COBBLER MARTINI- Becky J. from Emmitsburg, MD looks beautiful with her peachy martini of Peach Crown Royal and Rumchata with a Cinnamon Sugar Rim. A pleasant, summery drink of local Adams County fruit and history.
🍷 BARONE FINI PINOT GRIGIO- Generations of harvesting only the finest grapes by hand has been the hallmark of this 500+ year old winery in Northern Italy, creating one of the best Pinot Grigio wines, perfect for a Dobbin House dinner. Our server Alex says the crisp, refreshing taste has hints of jasmine, gala apples and spices. “It’s pure summer in a glass”!
🍹 BOOZY ROOT BEER FLOAT- Perfect to satisfy and cool down after your battlefield exploration, this American classic of Hagen Daz Vanilla Ice Cream and our own Dobbin House Root Beer adds a kick of Vanilla Absolut Vodka for a taste of historic proportions. Order it in a Dobbin House souvenir pint glass to remember your holiday at the Dobbin House! Kids love this special treat/dessert (w/o the vodka).
Happy 4th of July!

For a list of the dozens of events occurring around the 161st anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg, visit this page presented by Destination Gettysburg- destinationgettysburg.com/events-for-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-gettysburg-2024/
Here are specific pages of events by other organizations:
ADAMS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY-
June 27 to July 7- See schedule in photo. More information- www.achs-pa.org/news-events/-calendar.html/calendar/2024/7
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE-
June 29, 30- www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/prepostanniversary.htm
July 1, 2, 3- www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/battle-anniversary.htm
July 4, 5- www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/calendar.htm (click date on calendar and scroll down)
July 6, 7- www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/prepostanniversary.htm
DANIEL LADY FARM-
June 29, 30- Civil War Collectors Show
https://gbpa.networkforgood.com/.../70944-51st-annual...
July 6, 7- Reenactment of Battle of Gettysburg- tickets, schedule of events, site map- https://danielladyfarm.com/events
Note: Outdoor programs may be subject to change in case of inclement or hot weather. Check with each organization for updates.

The Dobbin House is offering special tour dates for the oldest house in Gettysburg during the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The Dobbin House was built in the same year that the United States of America was founded - 1776! (That's "Four Score and Seven Years" before the Gettysburg Address.) Daily from Friday, June 28 through Sunday, July 7, this popular and highly rated 60-minute presentation takes visitors through all the historic rooms to highlight the story of pioneer Rev. Alexander Dobbin and the house he built. His stone home spans four centuries of American history, from the 18th century Revolutionary War, through the 19th century Civil War, through the 20th century Museum, to the 21st century Tavern. Interpreters use artifacts, some dating to the 18th century, to evoke the lifestyle of the colonists on the frontier of early America. Tours will continue every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through November 17.
>More information- http://www.dobbinhouse.com/freetours.htm
>Reserve your ticket at www.eventbrite.com/e/dobbin-house-tavern-historic-house-tour-tickets-835959295757?aff=oddtdtcreator
Have a historic 4th of July!

While in Gettysburg for the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, stop by the Dobbin House to see our newly restored "museum room". The room, added to the house in 1810, combines the large stone chimney wall from Mrs. Dobbin's 1776 kitchen, a half-timber brick wall made with bricks from the Dobbin's 18th century brickyard, and a wood cabinetry wall, all in one cozy room. See artifacts discovered while digging out the basement to create the "Springhouse Tavern" and pictures of the house's restoration in 1977. On your way up the curved staircase to the room, notice the secret slave-hideout that Matthew Dobbin is said to have built for a "station" to hide fugitives fleeing to freedom on the Underground Railroad. The Museum Room is now a dining room for our Alexander Dobbin Dining Room's menu- http://www.dobbinhouse.com/menu2.htm.

The Battle of Gettysburg's 161st anniversary takes place over 11 days and many special programs include living history encampments and reenactments, ranger guided walks on the battlefields and National Cemetery, family programs for children, history lectures and talks, battle book and relic sales and even a live Civil War Game Show! Here are links to some highlights:
ADAMS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY-
June 27 to July 7- See schedule in photo. More information- www.achs-pa.org/news-events/-calendar.html/calendar/2024/7
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE-
June 29, 30- www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/prepostanniversary.htm
July 1, 2, 3- www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/battle-anniversary.htm
July 4, 5- www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/calendar.htm (click date on calendar and scroll down)
July 6, 7- www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/prepostanniversary.htm
DANIEL LADY FARM-
June 29, 30- Civil War Collectors Show
https://gbpa.networkforgood.com/events/70944-51st-annual-civil-war-relic-show
July 6, 7- Reenactment of Battle of Gettysburg- tickets, schedule of events, site map- https://danielladyfarm.com/events
Note: Outdoor programs may be subject to change in case of inclement or hot weather. Check with each organization for updates.

GREAT NEWS! Little Round Top opens this afternoon, Monday, June 24th! While at our Little Round Top Rental Farm, we heard drums up the hill and walked up to check. The park rangers are there preparing for the grand reveal. We can't wait to see that gorgeous view again!

Dobbin House front photo from about 1880 and a back photo from a 1906 postcard.

I don't often venture into the town with the photos, but these were too cool not to share.

Front and back views of the historic Dobbin School House on Steinwehr Avenue.

Actor Bo Brinkman first came to the Dobbin House in 1993 while acting in the movie "Gettysburg" (first picture, behind Tom Berenger at a dinner in the Dobbin House Ballroom). His love of filmmaking and Gettysburg brought him back in 2023 to film his production of "A Gettysburg Christmas", a feature-length movie which will be released this coming holiday season (second picture, showing Bo directing stars Kelley Jakle and Sean Faris while filming a scene at the Dobbin House). Want to be one of the first to see this new movie? The Gettysburg Foundation is presenting a FREE showing at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center on Friday, July 26. The event will feature Bo with a Q&A and t-shirt signings.
Tickets for the July showing are required in advance and will be available beginning this Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at 8am by calling the Gettysburg Foundation Guest Relations team at 717-334-2436 or visiting the Gettysburg Foundation website. Tickets may also be obtained in advance at the Ticket Counter inside the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Learn more: https://gettysburgfoundation.org/news/2024/a-gettysburg-christmas-in-july?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3CtZUqc8OKtgUqGJ8lax1jP3XTavmDT50qxRqC_jvfFJelOAXpX1DAMe4_aem_ANkXGJqwDgrSIBUg1-FfTQ.