The Union Hotel was established on this site in 1854. Little did the owner, Zephaniah Herbert know that in just a few years this country would be at war. In July 1863, 75,000 confederate soldiers and 97,000 Union soldiers converged on this sleepy little town of Gettysburg. What happened during those three short days changed the course of the war, our nation's history and the town of Gettysburg forever.

After the first days fighting on July 1, the confederate troops took control of the town. All public buildings were flooded with wounded soldiers from both the north and south. The Union Hotel, Christ Lutheran Church located across the street and many private homes were occupied with soldiers. This building was used as a hospital, with the basement serving as an operating room.

Gettysburg, a community of 2,400 was overrun with 51,000 wounded and dead soldiers. In addition thousands of family members swarmed upon the town to see the battlefields, search for fallen loved ones and to offer help. Gettysburg ran out of fresh water, as it was easier to throw amputated limbs into a well than it was to bury them. It took months to get the community back on its feet and Gettysburg was never the same. The hotels were never the same and literally on July 4, 1863 Gettysburg added a new industry in town and that was the tourism business. Many town hotes and taverns began to expand their businesses to accommodate those travelers coming to see our famous battlefield.