1859 National Hotel

Built in 1859 and proudly claiming to be one of California’s ten oldest hotels, the National Hotel is located on the main street of Jamestown, the gateway to the Gold Country. The first floor accommodates an acclaimed restaurant where an extravagant breakfast buffet and morning newspapers are set out for guests and where lunch, dinner, and a Sunday champagne brunch are available to guests and non-guests. The handsome old redwood bar in the Gold Rush Saloon offers refreshment, possible entertainment, and local gossip. A steep stairway just off the entry leads to the nine guestrooms on the second floor. Wonderful old brass-and-iron beds decked with regal comforters, handsome trunks, lovely old armoires, antique washbasins, and pull chain toilets in the bathroom dominate the decor, which is pleasing and reminiscent of the Gold Rush era—but with modern comforts including bathrobes. All guestrooms enjoy small private bathrooms and the hotel has a wonderful “soaking room” with an oversized claw-foot bathtub. This is available to all guests. The guestrooms are comfortable, air-conditioned, and all accessed off the one central hallway. The two front rooms overlook the balcony and the action of Main Street.