The Amber Room

The Amber Room comes alive with an amber-tinted, crest-adorned wallpaper that demands attention. The wallpaper replicates that in a Victorian mansion in Walla Walla, Washington. A curved wall and two tall windows add character to this stately chamber. The room is decorated appropriately with amber-tinted lights and a wall hanging imported from Russia that features genuine amber.

This room is named for the original Amber Room in St. Petersburg, Russia, which was dismantled before the German invasion during World War II. Dr. Henry Smyser, after serving as a surgeon in the Russian military during the Crimea war, was decorated by Czar Alexander II in the famous Amber Room. The original Amber Room has not been revealed since it was dismantled—some believe it was taken by the Nazis, some believe it is in hiding, and others believe the bits and pieces have been disbanded and lost forever. But whatever the original room's fate, you can visit this Amber Room, once enjoyed by a man who set foot in the original.

The Groff Room

The Groff Room is named for Mrs. Groff of nearby Lancaster, the mother of Robert C. Bair. The room features an antique oak bed, painstakingly converted to a modern-sized queen, an amazing marble mantle. It also features a built-in book shelf, an antique light fixture, lithographs and pictures of nature and hunting scenes, and private access to the second-floor balcony. The exquisite boarder is a hand-made silkscreen print. With its green walls and handsome decorations, this room has a bit of a hunter’s lodge motif and is perfect for the adventurous visitor.

The Reiman Room

The Reiman Room features a beautiful marble mantle, an antique Gasolier of brass and etched glass from the 1800s that has been carefully converted to an electric light, and a Gothic-style, built-in Pier mirror with detailed carvings that nearly touch the ceiling. The room is named after Dr. Smyser’s wife, Emma Reiman. Reiman was also the middle name of their son, John. Three tall windows look out the front and side, offset by a built-in bookshelf. The rich, red walls add to the stately feel of this comfortable room.

The Lanius Room

The Lanius Room features a unique curved wall, and the beautiful, inlaid floors include a design that curves right along with it. The room also features a built-in Pier mirror. The room is named for Henry Smyser’s mother, Ms. Lanius, which was his middle name as well. This room, with its floral wallpaper, antique sewing machine, and beautiful white trim is a tribute to mothers everywhere.

The Parlor

The formal parlor is the crown jewel of the The Historic York Inn / Smyser-Bair House. The most striking feature of the rich, blue room is the one-of-a-kind set of hand-crafted, gold leaf Pier mirrors.

An appraiser sponsored by HGTV said that the set of mirrors is literally one-of-a-kind. There is no other known set like this one in the world. Even antique Pier mirrors on display in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Russia’s Hermitage, and Paris’s Louvre pale in comparison to this unique set.

The mirrors were commissioned by owner Henry Smyser in the mid 1800s and hand crafted in Italy. He then had them transported by ship to the United States. According to the story, gold from Henry's own California Gold Rush expedition was used to guild the mirrors. The mirrors also serve as drape covers and plant stands.

The parlor features two stunning marble mantles, an antique crystal chandelier that was once a candle chandelier, enormous double doors of heavy walnut with ornate hinges and door knobs, and a collection of art and antique furniture that is beautiful to look at and comfortable to relax in. In fact, it's easy to imagine Dr. Smyser and his family relaxing in the parlor, the candlelight of the crystal chandelier reflecting off the gold mirrors.

The Parlor was recently described in a front-page story in The York Dispatch as “a soaring room with sky-blue walls, flowing drapes over the windows and hand-carved mirrors leafed in gold Smyser brought back from his Gold Rush adventures.” The story went on to say that “The parlor could be the perfect venue for receptions.”

Come and see for yourself at The Historic York Inn / Smyser-Bair House Bed & Breakfast. For more information, email us at YorkInn@gmail.com or call 410-980-6746.

Talke a Virtual Tour (and Schedule a Real One)

Come inside and let us show you around. Not only is The Historic York Inn / Smyser Bair House decorated in the Victorian style with antique furnishings and original fixtures, but each guest room is named for a person or place important to the history of the home.

In the days and weeks to come, come back to http://www.yorkinn.blogspot.com/ as we take you on a tour and history of each and every room in the historic Smyser Bair house. It’s the next best thing to being here in person — which you may also experience. To schedule a live tour in real time, email us at YorkInn@gmail.com and we'll be happy to show you around.

Next up ... the Parlor ...