Description: My wife and I were extremely interested to see the famous Mermaid House, formerly a hotel (inn) in the 1800's. When we arrived in town, it was a surprise to see that the structure was so tiny. It is only about 20 feet by 30 feet in size. However, that does not negate the historical impact of this building. Every April,
Dickens Days celebrates Charles Dickens' stay at the Mermaid Inn in 1842. It was built in 1830 as a hotel and the House has been restored by the Lebanon Historical Society. While visiting the Looking Glass Prairie, Dicken's documented his visit in "American Notes." Many believe that Dickens' "Christmas Carol" was also based on his stay.
Another famous visitor to the inn was Abraham Lincoln. The story is told that Lincoln made his mark in Lebanon during his first Lebanon visit. Lincoln, known to be a slow eater, was very clever about arranging so that he had enough time and food to eat. While in Lebanon, he missed his departing stagecoach because he had not yet finished eating his dinner. After the stage left without him, Lincoln commented to the owner of the Mermaid House and local law-enforcement, Lyman Adams, that the silverware was missing from the dining room. He implied that someone on the stagecoach might have taken the silver, sending Adams in pursuit of the stagecoach. When Adams escorted the stagecoach back to town, Lincoln had finished his meal so he boarded the stage and told Adams that his silverware could be found in the coffeepot.
As you vist the site today, you can arrange a tour of the building. There is no cost to see the Mermaid House nor is there a major problem in arranging the visit. Do not expect to walk in without prior arrangements, though. We spent about 45 minutes walking around the building, noting the stories of famous people who had visited the location, and thinking of the location as it might have existed over 150 years ago. I know that you will enjoy seeing this wonderful site from our recent past.
Close