Black Horse Tavern
Also known as: Bream's Tavern
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built of stone in 1812 beside Marsh Creek, the Black Horse Tavern is a two-story house with a two-story wing at the rear, three chimneys and gable roofs. Its walls, with their color and pattern of stone, are the main decoration. The tavern was owned by the McClellan family before Francis Bream bought it in 1845, when it had already operated for about 33 years. Located on the Hagerstown Road, it housed drovers moving cattle to New York City and stagecoach passengers, and travelers carved their names and dates into its walls. Its painted wooden horse gave the tavern its name. Confederate General Lee used it as his headquarters the day before the Battle of Gettysburg. Afterward its buildings served as hospitals for wounded soldiers. The tavern was an important part of the area's transportation system and a center for local news. Today it remains a private residence and has been little altered from its earlier appearance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tavern is significant for its role on the Hagerstown Road, a drover and stagecoach route, where it served travelers and as a center for community news. It also served as a Confederate headquarters before the Battle of Gettysburg and as a hospital afterward, and it is noted for its little-altered appearance.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78002331, listed March 30, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of Gettysburg on PA 116, Gettysburg |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Listed | March 30, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002331 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1812-1865 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used today as a private residence and has been little altered from its earlier appearance. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Gettysburg Battlefield Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.81888, -77.28359 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78002331.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4921011
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.