At first glance, The Claremont House Bed and Breakfast stirs the imagination. Images evolve of women strolling across the front lawn, parasols in hand, as they discuss the latest society news. Gentlemen sit around the wide front porch, smoking cigars while talking business. Tucked away on a quiet street in downtown Rome, Ga., The Claremont House offers guests an escape into yesterday’s lifestyle without sacrificing today’s comforts.

Built over a four-year period and completed in 1882 by Col. Hamilton Yancey, The Claremont House welcomes visitors to explore its 17 rooms, 11 fireplaces and seven bathrooms. Rooms decorated with Victorian antiques, four-poster beds and private baths (most with claw foot tubs!) envelope guests in elegance.

The 14-foot ceilings with 12-inch deep crown molding complement the floor-to-ceiling windows. But these are not ordinary windows. During warm weather, these windows doubled as doors.

Another original fixture of the house demanding attention is the antique safe built into one of the home’s stairwells. Being involved in the insurance business, Yancey often handled large sums of money in the house. The nearest bank could only be reached by ferry, quite an inconvenience for a hardworking businessman. To resolve the issue of security, Yancey purchased his own safe, which he installed in the house. Today, guests can find an assortment of games stashed away in its shelves and compartments.

Another custom addition in the master suite’s bathroom incorporates a modern touch. A skylight fills the ceiling on one side of the room; however, it doesn’t stop there. Below the skylight, another window resides in the floor of the room, reaching through to the room below. That room, the ladies parlor, received additional illumination from this innovative skylight. Today, however, because the ladies parlor is part of the owners’ quarters, a rug has been placed over the window to protect privacy.

As with the master bedroom, all guest rooms feature their own private bathroom. In each one, quaint marble sideboards house modern plumbing. They are yet another original aspect of the house.

All guest rooms also include fireplaces, heart-of-pine wood floors, coffee makers and cable television. In addition, broadband wireless Internet access is available throughout the entire house.

To make guests feel like part of the family, they have access to a guest refrigerator and freezer, where they will find complimentary beverages and snacks. Both the front and back porches offer a cozy haven for enjoying a cup of coffee or conversation with fellow visitors.

A note of caution to all guests: The Claremont House is a non-smoking facility.

For guests searching for a getaway that transcends time, look no further than The Claremont House. It will make any visit history.

For more information, visit www.theclaremonthouse.com.