America’s Best Historic Bed and Breakfasts

A typical bed and breakfast (B&B) generally offers bed and breakfast. The beauty of staying at a bed and breakfast is the personalized, homely touch that is like a home away from home. For a more private and quiet stay, some travelers prefer bed and breakfast places where, on average, there are only about six to twelve rooms.

There are many excellent B&B locations in America, and some of the best are restored mansions and private homes that have historical ties to the area. These restored houses are the product of two laws: the National Historic Conservation Law of 1966 and the Tax Reform Law of 1976. These laws made it possible to obtain tax discounts for the restoration and reuse of historic houses.

We’ve compiled a list of America’s best historic bed and breakfasts, where visitors can appreciate great architecture and experience interesting stories.

1. The twelve oaks

Located in Covington, Georgia, The Twelve Oaks evokes the legendary mansion from Margaret Mitchell’s novel Gone with the Wind. It has been voted one of the top ten B & Bs in the United States. The mansion was built in 1836 and features eight luxurious bedrooms with modern amenities and en-suite bathrooms. It is located near historic Covington Square and the city is full of pre-war mansions. It is also conveniently located just 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta.

2. Aaron Burr House

This B&B is located in the same place in the house where the third vice president of the United States hid after his infamous duel with Alexander Hamilton, which ended the life of Hamilton. Located in New Hope, Pennsylvania, the original stone foundation is the only thing left from Aaron Burr’s home. All accommodations are decorated with unique stencils and feature beautiful shiny hardwood floors. With the interest in Hamilton and Burr due to the Broadway musical success, this is sure to generate a lot of interest.

3. Chateau Tivoli

One of the best historic breads and breakfasts on the West Coast, Chateau Tivoli is located in San Francisco, California. The structure itself is very familiar because it is one of the famous “Painted Ladies” of Steiner Street, which figures prominently on postcards of San Francisco. Built in 1892, the structure was used for different purposes over the years. The bed and breakfast opened in 1989 and has nine luxuriously decorated rooms.

4. Bed and Breakfast in Battlefield

This one is located in Pennsylvania, right on the Gettysburg battlefield. This is one of the most exclusive bed and breakfasts in the country because it gives visitors the unique experience of living during the Civil War era. Originally built as a farmhouse in 1809, it has the original beamed ceiling, chestnut hardwood floors, and stone walls. Each room has a theme that honors the battlefield troops of the Southern Cavalry. There is a history lesson available of costumed characters from Civil War.

5. Sugar Hill Harlem Inn

Located right in the middle of New York, the area where the inn is located is right in the middle of the Harlem Renaissance of the early 20th century. This is the area that black families moved to. Jazz legend Duke Ellington, poet Langston Hughes, and former Deputy Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall lived in this area. The inn has 5 themed rooms, all named after a prominent African American.