City: Gettysburg, PA

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (717) 334-8838

Address: 401 Baltimore Street

Description: The Farnsworth House, which was built in 1810, has three locations for dining: the main dining room, where you can dine by candlelight and be served by period-dressed waitstaff; the open-air garden, where you choose from the same fine-dining menu as you relax beside a spring-fed stream that served as a water source for both the Confederate and Union armies; or the Killer Angel Tavern, which serves light fare with a touch of Pennsylvania Dutch cooking thrown in. The tavern also houses South Street Pizza (717-334-4419), which has sandwiches, hoagies, and, of course, pizza. (For more on the tavern, see the Nightlife chapter.) The Civil War is the topic of conversation at all the dining locations, which isn’t surprising given the house’s history during the Battle of Gettysburg. The house sheltered Confederate sharpshooters during the battle, and one of them is believed to have fired the wayward shot that killed Jennie Wade, the only civilian to perish in the three-day battle. More than 100 bullet holes can still be seen in the south wall of the building. The Farnsworth House has been owned by the Loring Schultz family since 1972, and they are responsible for restoring the house to its 1863 appearance, complete with its original walls, flooring, and rafters. The house serves as a bed-and-breakfast, and many news stories have been written about the ghosts that supposedly reside here. (See the Bed-and-Breakfasts and Guesthouses chapter for more on the eerier side of the Farnsworth House.) The main dining room is smoke-free, as is the tavern, which houses a unique display of Gettysburg movie props and uniforms. Lunch and dinner are served here, and Civil War–period fare figures prominently on the menu. You’ll be able to try game pie, peanut soup, spoon bread, and pumpkin fritters. For those with less adventuresome palates, steaks, chicken, and fish are also available. A good selection of beer, wine, and cocktails accent your dining pleasure. The food at the Farnsworth House has many admirers—Bon Appétit magazine has described it as “History never tasted so good.” A children’s menu, with entrees for less than $10, is available, and reservations are required for the main dining room. Plenty of parking is available behind the Farnsworth House, and Civil War buffs will definitely want to check out the Farnsworth House Military Impressions bookshop and the Gettysburg Quartermaster (see the Shopping and the Gettysburg National Military Park chapters), which are also on the grounds. During the summer there’s entertainment here on Friday and Saturday nights.