Stay Where Presidents Slept: A Night at the Golden Lamb Hotel in Lebanon, Ohio

There’s something special about turning onto Broadway Street in charming Lebanon, Ohio, and seeing the stately brick façade of the Golden Lamb Hotel. Established in 1803, it’s the oldest operating hotel in the Buckeye State. This isn’t just a place to stay—it’s a living piece of American history.

The Golden Lamb: A Hotel Older Than Ohio 

The Golden Lamb opened its doors the same year Ohio became a state. In the 19th century, Lebanon was a key stagecoach stop on the route between Cincinnati and Columbus. The Golden Lamb became the social and political heart of Warren County—where deals were made, speeches were delivered, and weary travelers found rest.

It has hosted 12 U.S. presidents, including Ulysses S. Grant, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, Benjamin Harrison, Ronald Reagan, and Ohio native James Garfield. 

Over the years, famous guests have included literary icons like Charles Dickens, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and beloved author Mark Twain. Walking the hallways, you can almost hear echoes of political debates and post-Civil War conversations.

We stayed at the Golden Lamb on a cold and dreary early spring weekend. We were on an extended weekend, checking out the sites around Cincinnati and Dayton, so this was the perfect place for history lovers like my wife and me to rest our heads for a night. 

Staying in the Ulysses S. Grant Room

One of the highlights of our visit was staying in the Ulysses S. Grant Room. Each guest room at the Golden Lamb is uniquely decorated and themed after notable visitors, and this one pays tribute to Grant, the Civil War general-turned-president.

Walking up the stairs, the room was clearly marked with his name on the door. Inside, the décor leans into mid-19th-century style with a touch of modern comforts. The bed was new and very comfortable, there were beautiful wood furnishings, a comfortable leather couch, historic artwork, and old photos lined the walls. 

The room itself was great, but there’s something surreal about staying in a place with so much history under one roof. 

For us, it was not just a hotel room—it was an experience.

Touring the Other Historic Rooms

Even if you don’t stay in them, you can still see many of the other historic rooms.  The Golden Lamb proudly showcases rooms dedicated to presidents, statesmen, and literary figures.

If no one is staying in the room or hasn’t checked in yet, the hotel keeps the doors open so you can peek in and check them out. You can’t walk around; there is a small chain across the entrance, but it was still very cool checking them out. 

Each one tells a story through its décor—period furnishings, portraits, framed documents, and interpretive plaques. It feels part museum, part inn. For anyone building a presidential road trip list (and if you are reading this, we know we are), this place checks multiple boxes in one stop.

It’s a reminder that you don’t always have to visit a monument in Washington, D.C., to connect with presidential history—sometimes you can sleep in it.

The Haunted Sarah Stubbs Room

The Golden Lamb offers more than history; it’s also haunted. The ghost of Sarah Stubbs is said to haunt her room.  Sarah lived with relatives in a hotel when she was young. But she was not happy about it. She desperately missed the peaceful countryside she had previously resided.  She first stayed in what is known as the Harriet Beecher Stowe room on the fourth floor. This kept her as far away as possible from the hustle and bustle of the lower floors and outside.  Despite this, she still missed her home.  

For reasons unknown, she was forced to move to a much smaller room on a lower floor. Already not in great spirits, this was awful for the five-year-old. 

Today… you can’t stay in her room, and you would not want to. It is tiny. However, you see it. The chair and nightstand in the room belonged to Sarah. 

It’s said… on certain nights, Sarah keeps returning to her old room again and again, to make sure everyone can see her silent, but clearly visible displeasure with her current living arrangements. 

It’s said that pictures in the glassed-off room will suddenly hang crooked, or that the inside of the glass will be covered with fingerprints. When that happens, the spirit of an angry child has once again protested her new room. We did not notice anything suspicious during our stay, but it was certainly fun to entertain the idea.

Dinner at the Golden Lamb Restaurant

A stay here isn’t complete without dinner downstairs in the Golden Lamb Restaurant. We walked in without reservations and were immediately seated in the Dickens Room.

The Dickens room is one of the main dining rooms and is named after author Charles Dickens, who spent the night here on April 20, 1842, while touring the United States.  The dining room walls feature portraits of the famed English author, and the bookcases are filled with volumes of his works. 

Bootleg Books 

As I walked around for a short bit, something interesting caught my eye. During Dickens time, there was no international copyright law. Meaning, as a non-citizen, he was not entitled to copyright protection. This meant many of his works were being pirated by American publishers. These “Bootleg Books” were sold at a discount without paying him any royalties. 

The same was true of American authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Henry David Thoreau, whose works were pirated and sold in Britain. 

A large part of Dickens’s trip to the United States was to close this loophole and establish international copyright law. 

On the walls of the Golden Tavern, you see, but do not touch, a set of “bootleg” versions of famous Dickens ’ works. 

Dinner at the Golden Lamb

After that good dose of literary history, we ordered. The menu leans into classic American comfort food with refined touches. Think meat and potatoes, fresh fish, seasonal vegetables, and house-made desserts.

Fresh rolls with butter were served with our piled high salads to start.  For our entrees, I had the fried chicken with fresh veggies, mashed potatoes, and skillet gravy. My wife had the roasted turkey, like Thanksgiving in the spring. Both were incredible!

Then came dessert.  That’s when, for us, it really felt like participating in a 200-year-old tradition. We asked our waitress what she recommended, Sister Lizze’s Shaker Sugar Cream Pie.  “Did you see that giant armoire when you walked in earlier?” She asked. “Yea it was packed with farm animal figurines, right?” I responded. “Yea that’s the one. Well, the recipe for pie was found tucked away in a drawer of that piece of furniture, which had spent decades here in storage.” She went on. 

Needless to say, we ordered a piece of history, which was amazing as well! The perfect way to finish a wonderful night out. 

Why the Golden Lamb Belongs on Your Travel List

Whether you’re chasing presidential history, exploring southwest Ohio, or simply looking for a unique weekend getaway, the Golden Lamb delivers something rare: authenticity.

It’s not themed. It’s not recreated. It’s real.

For travelers who believe history is meant to be experienced, this is the kind of place that makes a trip unforgettable. I know ours was!