Joshua Chamberlain Room

Step into the Chamberlain Room and you'll immediately be welcomed by a sense of warmth and comfort. Located on the first floor of the Carriage House, this inviting retreat features a private terrace, a comfortable queen-size bed, a private bath with a walk-in shower, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a Roku TV. Whether you're unwinding after a day exploring Gettysburg or enjoying a quiet morning on the terrace, the Chamberlain Room offers a peaceful and relaxing stay.

The room's design draws inspiration from the Early Federal period, reflecting Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's distinguished life and legacy. Early Federal-style furnishings are complemented by nautical accents honoring his family's shipbuilding heritage and carefully selected books that celebrate his career as a professor and lifelong scholar. A stencil of one of Chamberlain's most inspiring quotations serves as a reminder of his unwavering devotion to the Union:

"I fear this war, so costly of blood and treasure, will not cease until men of the North are willing to leave good positions, and sacrifice the dearest personal interests, to rescue our country from desolation, and defend the national existence against treachery."

About Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (1828–1914) is celebrated as one of the Civil War's most admired Union officers. Descended from an English family whose roots stretched back to the 12th century, Chamberlain grew up in a family of shipbuilders before pursuing an academic career as a professor at Bowdoin College.

In 1862, he took what was officially a leave of absence to study Greek, but instead secretly enlisted in the Union Army without informing his family or the college. His courage and leadership reached legendary status during the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, when, after exhausting his regiment's ammunition while defending Little Round Top, he ordered a daring bayonet charge. The bold maneuver broke the Confederate assault and helped secure the Union's left flank, earning him the nickname "The Lion of Little Round Top." For his extraordinary heroism, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

At the formal surrender of the Confederate Army at Appomattox Court House in April 1865, Chamberlain presided over one of the war's most memorable moments. As Confederate soldiers marched forward to lay down their arms, he ordered his Union troops to present arms in a salute of respect. Confederate General John B. Gordon later described Chamberlain as "one of the knightliest soldiers of the Federal Army."

Following the war, Chamberlain served four one-year terms as Governor of Maine before becoming president of Bowdoin College. His varied career also included work as a surveyor and involvement with railroads, hotels, and educational institutions. In 1905, he became a founding member of what is now The Iris Network, inspired by his wife's visual impairment.

Throughout his life, Chamberlain frequently returned to Gettysburg to honor those who fought there and to speak at veterans' reunions. His final visit to the battlefield came in May 1913 while helping prepare for the 50th anniversary reunion, though declining health prevented him from attending the commemorative event itself.

The Chamberlain Room honors a man remembered not only for extraordinary bravery in battle, but also for his intellect, humility, and enduring respect for friend and foe.