When visiting Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, site of one of the American Civil War's most famous battles, it's difficult to imagine that this peaceful countryside and quaint town was for several days in July 1863, the site of utter turmoil, destruction and death. However, dozens of museums, monuments, exhibits and parks serve to remind and teach millions of visitors each year about what was won, and what was lost, on this hallowed ground.
Visiting Gettysburg National Military Park
When visiting Gettysburg National Military Park, the best place to start is the National Park Service Museum and Visitor Center. Here visitors can learn about various ways to tour the battlefield, including walking trails, a self-guided auto tour, or a privately guided tour. Maps, park regulations and information, and tips for getting the most of a visit to Gettysburg National Military Park are all available at the Visitor Center.
The National Park Service Museum and Service Center also features the Gettysburg Museum of the Civil War, an introductory film, A New Birth of Freedom, the restored Gettysburg Cyclorama, created in 1883, the Museum Bookstore, and a dining area.
Admission to Gettysburg National Military Park is free, and the park is open daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 1 through October 31, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. November 1 through March 31.
The National Park Service Museum and Service Center is open daily (except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 1 through October 31, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. November 1 through March 31.
Admission for the museum exhibits, film and Gettysburg Cyclorama is $10.50 for adults, $9.50 for senior citizens and active military with proper ID, $6.50 for children ages 6 to 18, and free for children under 6.
Soldiers National Cemetery and Eisenhower National Historic Site
But the National Park Service Museum and Service Center is only the tip of the iceberg of what Gettysburg has to offer. Soldiers National Cemetery, located in the heart of Gettysburg National Military Park, marks the final resting place for many of the Union soldiers killed in the Battle of Gettysburg, and is also the site where President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, during the cemetery's dedication on November 19, 1863.
Adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park is Eisenhower National Historic Site, the summer retreat and retirement home of former President Dwight Eisenhower. Visitors can tour the home where Eisenhower and his family welcomed dignitaries and conducted business during his presidency, and learn more about America's 34th President through various exhibits detailing his military career, presidency and retirement.
Tickets for the Eisenhower National Historic Site can be purchased at the National Park Service Museum and Service Center. Admission is $7.50 for adults ages 13 and older, and $5 for youths ages 6 to 12. A shuttle runs from the National Park Service Museum and Service Center to the Eisenhower National Historic Site throughout the day.
Town of Gettysburg Offers More Opportunities for Exploring
Beyond the battlefield, the town of Gettysburg offers visitors further opportunities to explore the area's Civil War history and significance.
Museums are abundant throughout the town, including several located in homes or buildings that survived the battle. Visitors can see where Confederate General Robert E. Lee planned and prepared during the Battle of Gettysburg at General Lee's Headquarters Museum; where Abraham Lincoln put the finishing touches on the Gettysburg Address at the David Wills House, and where Jennie Wade became the only Gettysburg resident to be killed during the battle at the Jennie Wade House Museum.
The American Civil War Museum, Soldiers National Museum, the Shriver House Museum and National Civil War Museum also present more information about the Battle of Gettysburg, the entire American Civil War, and experiences of soldiers and civilians during the conflict.
Considered one of the most haunted places in the U.S., Gettysburg is home to a number of ghost tours specializing in the paranormal. Visitors can test their mettle by joining in tours like Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight Walking Tour or the Sleepy Hollow of Gettysburg Candlelight Ghost Tour, or visiting the International Museum of Spiritual Investigation.
Kristen Scatton - A secretary extraordinaire by day and aspiring playwright by night, Kristen M. Scatton earned her BA in Professional Writing from Kutztown ...
