Dobbin House Tavern Announces Reenactment of The 1776 Dobbin House Consecration And Dedications of “Dobbin House Square”, the Pennsylvania “Semiquincentennial Liberty Bell” and The “Charters of Freedom”
Gettysburg, PA – In celebration of the 250th birthday of one of Gettysburg’s cherished landmarks, the 1776 Dobbin House Tavern, and the 250th birthday of the United States of America, we invite the public to join us for two free once-in-a-lifetime events.
At 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 250 years to the day, a reenactment of Reverend Alexander Dobbin’s August 26, 1776 consecration of his newly built home will be held at his house at 89 Steinwehr Ave, Gettysburg, PA. Rev. Dobbin was one of the earliest settlers in this area; his 1776 home is the oldest building in Gettysburg. A recreation of Reverend Dobbin’s original blessing of his historic home will be held, along with a blessing of the house for another 250 years. There will be special guest speakers, colonial era music, self-guided tours of the Reverend’s house and a piece of celebratory birthday cake for everyone.
At 10:00 am on Saturday, August 29, 2026, a dedication ceremony will be held to open THREE new features to the Dobbin House and the town of Gettysburg. The ceremony will also take place at the Dobbin House, 89 Steinwehr Ave, Gettysburg, PA. After opening with an honor guard of our nation’s flag with the 1st PRVC Fife & Drum and Spencer’s Additional Continental Regiment, special guests will speak before a ribbon cutting to open “Dobbin House Square, a public welcoming space for education, reflection, and community gathering. This outdoor museum will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will be free for Gettysburg residents and visitors. With open space for public events, the park will ensure that this historic area continues to inspire future generations.
Local boy scouts and the America250PA commission will unveil a life-size semi quincentennial Liberty Bell, www.america250pa.org//PPE:_Semiquin_Bells.
The Forward Foundation will officially gift the “Charters of Freedom” settings, containing full-scale replicas of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Civil Rights Amendments and the Gettysburg Address to the people of Pennsylvania, www.chartersoffreedom.com. The ceremony will end with a 7-gun cannonade salute to the United States of America.
After the ceremony, an afternoon of living history presentations and programs will bring the Revolutionary era to life, while the public tours Reverend Dobbin’s house. The evening will include a music concert with the traditional Scotch-Irish Celtic band “Cormorant’s Fancy” with Irish Step Dancers and a Revolutionary Screening of colonial movie clips projected onto the façade of the Dobbin House with surround-sound music.
The Dobbin House Tavern, the Country Curiosity Store and the Gettystown Inn will be open at our usual hours for lunch and dinner dining during these festivities. For more information about the Dobbin House Tavern, now a popular dining,
lodging and shopping establishment, visit: https://www.dobbinhouse.com. For additional information about celebration events, contact Chris Charney at chrisc@dobbinhouse.com, 717-334-2100 x124
ABOUT THE DOBBIN HOUSE TAVERN
Opened as an authentic colonial tavern in 1978, the Dobbin House Tavern is a treasured local landmark, offering premier lodging, fine dining and unique gifts to guests from the local area and around the world. Built in 1776, it is the oldest building in Gettysburg, celebrating its 250 th birthday alongside the birthday of the United States of America in 2026. The Dobbin House, appearing virtually the same as it did over 200 years ago, stands as testament to the fortitude of the American spirit as well as the quality of genuine American craftsmanship. Its native stone walls, seven fireplaces, and hand carved woodwork have been painstakingly restored to their original beauty and character, with interior decor in the traditional eighteenth century manner. Many of the home’s antique furnishings are identical to those listed in the inventory of Rev. Dobbin’s estate. The china and flatware exactly match fragments which were unearthed during the re-excavation of the cellar. The servant’s period-clothing is authentic to the local area. The Dobbin House features the Springhouse Tavern; casual dining, the Alexander Dobbin Dining Rooms; fine dining, the Abigail Adams ballroom; banquet dining, the Gettystown Inn; a bed and breakfast in three historic buildings, the Country Curiosity Store; boutique shopping, and guided 4-century history tours of the house.
As an authentic colonial tavern, many visitors say the allure of Dobbin House stays with them long after their visit. More than a superior culinary delight, to step into the iconic house is an enchanting journey back to the charming quaintness and lively spirit of Gettysburg’s and America’s beginnings.