Dobbin House Tavern

07/09/2026

WIN a Dobbin House T-Shirt! (Rules below). On July 9, 1776, exactly 250 years ago today, General George Washington, watching British war vessels gathering in the New York harbor and realizing that our Declaration of Independence now meant “the peace and safety of [the] country depends (under God) solely on the success of our arms”, ordered the brigades he held in New York City marched onto the Commons to hear the Declaration read aloud. Hearing the list of the king’s alleged crimes so angered the men, that a great mob of cheering, shouting soldiers and townspeople stormed down Broadway to Bowling Green, where, with ropes and bars, they pulled down the gilded lead statue of King George III. In their fury, the crowd hacked off the sovereign’s head, severed the nose, and mounted the head on a spike outside the Blue Ball Tavern. Much of the lead from the rest of the statue would later be melted down for Continental bullets- 42,088 of them.
The reading of the Declaration strengthened the morale of the soldiers at a critical moment. The British army, the world’s strongest military, soon launched their massive New York campaign. The Continental Army bravely fought back, as representatives of a new nation.
Painting of the “Pulling Down the Statue of George III”, by William W. Walcutt (1819-1882), emphasizes the fervor of the crowd and the historical significance of the act of rejection of British rule.
Contest Rules: To celebrate the semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of the 1776 United States and the 1776 Dobbin House, we have honored the year when the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and the Dobbin House was built with a monthly contest. Every month, 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). For this month, a fourth winner will receive a pendent holding a brass Liberty Bell. To enter the contest, simply respond within 48 hours with a short comment about this historical story. The Dobbin House staff will randomly choose 4 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!

07/08/2026

Love the Dobbin House sticker made by Dave at Gettysburg Images for our 250th birthday!

07/07/2026

The Dobbin House July 4th 250th birthday celebration attracted 150 people (despite the warm temperatures) to hear "Thomas Jefferson" read the Declaration of Independence and enjoy reenactors, fife & drums, colonial dressing up for photos, touring through the 1776 Dobbin House with a kids' scavenger hunt, colonial troubadour, meeting "Betsy Ross", raffle & prizes, history games for kids, and signing a copy of the Declaration.
Our sincere thanks to the Daughters of the Revolution, Sons of the Revolution, our colonial musicians and reenactors, and the many Dobbin House staff members for helping to present a spectacular 250th birthday party for the Dobbin House and the United States of America!
🎂We invite you to join us for another Birthday Celebration! The 1776 Dobbin House was consecrated by its builder, Rev. Alexander Dobbin, on August 26, 1776. On August 26th, 2026 (250 years to the day!), we will reenact that consecration and bless this house for another 250 years. Happy 250th Birthday, Dobbin House.
🎂Then, 3 days later, on August 29, 2026, you are again invited for a triple dedication ceremony. The first will open the "Dobbin House Square", a lovely public community park that is currently being constructed next to the historic Dobbin House. The second dedication will uncover a life-size semiquincentennial Liberty Bell from the state of Pennsylvania, and the third dedication will honor our Charters of Freedom, life-size replicas of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Civil Rights Amendments and President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. What an amazing day! You won't want to miss it! Happy 250th Birthday, United States of America!

07/06/2026

Tour inside a Gettysburg Landmark! An entertaining, guided hour-plus tour of the Dobbin House- the oldest house in Gettysburg, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and built in the same year that the United States of America was founded - 1776! This popular and highly rated presentation spans the 3 floors of the house built by the Rev. Alexander Dobbin. The story of his fieldstone home combines American history from the Revolutionary War, through the Civil War, to today. Interpreters use artifacts, some dating to the 18th century, to evoke the lifestyle of the colonists on the frontier of early America. Includes the secret slave hideout and a sneak peek of cooking in the Dobbin House kitchens.
Choose your tour date online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dobbin-house-1776-historic-house-tour-tickets-1978436102641?aff=ebdssbdestsearch A $7 gratuity per person is appreciated for our historian tour guides. Sign up online now for tours in July, August and September 2026 (Reserve later for tours from October through November). Read more about the tours on www.dobbinhouse.com/tours.htm.
We look forward to seeing you on a Dobbin House tour in celebration of our 250th birthday!

07/05/2026

Buy your ticket now for the PREMIER of the new movie "GETTYSBURG 1863"! It will first be shown at the Majestic Theater on November 11, 2026, and you can be one of the first to see it!
The new film, filmed locally around Gettysburg, including the Dobbin House, was written and directed by Bo Brinkman, known for his acting roles in "Gettysburg" and "Gods and Generals". The film's story is inspired by real events and figures from Gettysburg’s Civil War past, blending historical characters with fictional ones whose experiences reflect the truths lived by many during the war. The result is a narrative that is human and deeply rooted in history—one that explores love tested by war, moral courage in the face of injustice, and the simple truth that hope and joy can prevail even in the darkest of times.
Price includes movie and follow-up discussion. There is also a VIP ticket that includes special reception. Buy your ticket online here:
https://gettysburgmajestic.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=439&utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1den5ex2p8pl1&fbclid=IwY2xjawS1uldleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE0R0Y1anp3UnduR0pqeXUyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHq3JFQiR2WXksXWxiwOQ7Zj_h60LnGe2k05y6OMlZHHn3b8VvPVeOHBpypz__aem_MN5zT44LwfCCLBG3ZrsAvg

07/04/2026

On July 4, 1776, the world changed. As construction on Rev. Alexander Dobbin's new home was being completed on the Marsh Creek frontier, the delegates in Philadelphia adopted the Declaration of Independence. The vote to declare ourselves free from the "Kingdom of Great Britain" had already been cast on July 2, but on this day, they agreed on the words that would carry that decision across the colonies and the ocean, words declaring that we were free and independent states.
To the Dobbin family, July 1776 brought a new home and, a new nation. Happy 250th Birthday!
🎂We invite you to join us for another Birthday Celebration! The 1776 Dobbin House was consecrated by its builder, Rev. Alexander Dobbin, on August 26, 1776. On August 26th, 2026 (250 years to the day!), we will reenact that consecration and bless this house for another 250 years. Happy 250th Birthday, Dobbin House!
🎂Then, 3 days later, on August 29, 2026, you are again invited for a triple dedication ceremony. The first will open the "Dobbin House Square", a lovely public community park that is currently being constructed next to the historic Dobbin House. The second dedication will uncover a life-size semiquincentennial Liberty Bell from the state of Pennsylvania, and the third dedication will honor our Charters of Freedom, life-size replicas of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Civil Rights Amendments and President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. What an amazing day! You won't want to miss it! Happy 250th Birthday, USA!

07/04/2026

07/04/2026

The Declaration of Independence will be read, live, by "Thomas Jefferson" today, July 4, 2026, at 10:00am at the 1776 Dobbin House!
Along with the reading, this free, open to the public, family-friendly program will include:
🦅Sing-Along with troubadour John Durant
🦅Welcome prayer by "Rev. Alexander Dobbin"
🦅Reenactor Color Guard and Salute to the Flag
🦅Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem
🦅Bagpipe playing of "Amazing Grace"
After the program activities:
🎉Self-Guided Historic House Tours of the 1776 Dobbin House
🎉Colonial Music Performed by Troubadour John Durant with a Sing-Along
🎉Sign the Declaration of Independence
🎉Dress up in Colonial Clothes Photo Opportunity
🎉Revolutionary History Trivia Wheel with Prizes
🎉Children’s Scavenger Hunt with Prizes
🎉Colonial Coloring and Games
🎉Living History Reenactors
🎉Sign Our 250th Birthday Book
The Dobbin House is grateful to our supporting sponsors- DAR- Daughters of the American Revolution, Gettysburg Chapter, NSDAR and SAR- Sons of the American Revolution. Happy Birthday America!
The 10:00am program will be live streamed on the Dobbin House page.

07/03/2026

Become a part of Dobbin House history! Stop by the Dobbin House, step into our log cabin and sign our "Birthday Book" wishing the 1776 Dobbin House and the 1776 United States of America a special 250th Birthday. No purchase necessary.
Leave your enduring mark of celebration during this momentous 250th birthday of the oldest house in Gettysburg and the enduring spirit of America. The signed birthday books will be saved with the Dobbin House, to be seen by future generations, maybe on the 300th and beyond birthdays of the house and our nation. Stop in anytime during 2026. A book will always be available for you, your children and grandchildren to wish the Dobbin House and the United States a very Happy 250th Birthday.