The James Gettys Hotel, a historic and regal looking 200-year-old structure in Gettysburg, PA, has welcomed many guests during its existence.

From its birth as a tavern/roadhouse at the turn of the 19th century, through the mid 1860's as the Union Hotel serving as a hospital for the wounded soldiers of the Civil War, to its expansion of a third and fourth floor and on through to its current state, the James Gettys Hotel has come full circle. Today, the newly restored James Getty Hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, provides you with a taste of living history.

The hotel's elegant facade with its red awning-framed windows begs a closer look and then a more lengthy stay once inside. Stepping back in time, the warmth and ambience of the lobby is reminiscent of a quaint European hotel. The original chestnut staircase leading to the 11 unique suites has been carefully restored to its 19th-century beauty. Each of the guest suites is individually decorated, but all are designed to provide both an intimate setting for business or small meetings and a homelike atmosphere in which to enjoy those precious moments of relaxation. While experiencing history, it is also convenient to live in the present, so each suite includes private bath, a refrigerator, microwave, and all the other amenities.

A yawn and stretch is about all one has to do prior to eating, as a continental breakfast is most courteously served to you in your suite. Gettysburg has a variety of dining and drinking facilities including coffee houses and microbreweries, and two delectable spots on the premises are Thistlefields Tea Room and the Blue Parrot Bistro, originally established as the Blue Parrot Tearoom in 1920.

Civil War buffs will revel in their surroundings as they explore Gettysburg's National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site. A more pampered view of this historic city comes in the form of a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Excellent antique shopping abounds, as do local products such as wonderfully fresh fruit at orchards and markets and tasty beer and wine at the microbreweries and wineries. Now is your chance to finally hike the Appalachian Trail you've always wondered about, and, while you're embedded in nature, get a sense of how terrific the alpine and cross-country skiing might be.

The James Gettys Hotel welcomes you to a tiny preserved piece of its town's history, which will provide you with a memorable experience that will be looked back upon as another small part of your history.