Nestled in the hillsides of south-central Pennsylvania, discover the site of one of America’s most important events — the turning point of the American Civil War — the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. In partnership with the National Park Service, the Gettysburg Foundation operates the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center and helps preserve the 6,000-acre battlefield and educate visitors about the significance of Gettysburg.
Featuring more than 1,300 monuments, markers and memorials, as well as iconic landmarks and historic sites and experiences across Gettysburg’s hallowed grounds, Gettysburg National Military Park connects you with the lessons and stories of the battle, the men and boys who fought here, the medical caregivers for the wounded and the civilians who experienced the impact and the aftermath.
Explore Gettysburg beyond the history books and movies. You will gain insights and an understanding of what happened here and the impact the battle and its aftermath have on our lives today.
Begin your experience in Gettysburg with the official start to your visit at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. Your hub for activities and experiences during your visit, the Museum & Visitor Center provides exclusive resources and unique experiences to introduce you to the battle and prepares you for your tour of the battlefield. One ticket grants you admission to three distinct experiences in the multi- dimensional Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience. Gain a deeper understanding of the battle with the film presentation of A New Birth of Freedom, detailing the war’s first shots to President Abraham Lincoln’s monumental Gettysburg Address. Then, immerse yourself in the midst of battle when you experience the iconic Gettysburg Cyclorama, the 360-degree historic painting — taller than a four-story building and longer than a football field. Painted by French artist Paul Philippoteaux in 1884, the Cyclorama depicts the fire and fury of Pickett’s Charge during the decisive third day of the battle. Explore rare artifacts and interactive stories with the exhibits in the world- class Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War.
After gaining an overview of this pivotal period in our American history, you will go prepared in your adventure on the battlefield to stand in the very place where Union and Confederate soldiers charged into conflict, where cannons thundered, gunfire echoed and blood spilled. When you explore the Gettysburg battlefield with a Licensed Battlefield Guide, you will hear stories about the generals, soldiers and civilians who changed the course of history, as you see iconic landmarks that have been made famous in books and films and an array of state monuments. Choose from a guided bus tour, a personalized guided car tour, or even an active guided bicycle tour.
For additional ways to experience Civil War history, the Gettysburg Foundation and National Park Service host special events and programs throughout the year, from history tours and focused lectures to guided hikes and volunteer programs.
During your visit to the Museum & Visitor Center you will find convenient on-site opportunities to dine and shop. Enjoy convenient dining options offering meals, snacks, beverages and local favorites in the Refreshment Saloon and Battlegrounds Café & Grille. Consider hosting your next event with us to provide your guests with unique and extraordinary experiences. Take time during your visit to shop the Museum Book Store offering books for all ages, souvenirs, gifts and apparel.
Proceeds from your tickets and other purchases in the Museum & Visitor Center benefit Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site.
TOUR HISTORIC SITES & EXPERIENCES NEAR THE GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD
Continue your exploration of American history at Eisenhower National Historic Site, the former weekend home, farm and diplomatic destination of 34th President and General Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie. The grounds are open for self- guided tours during the winter season, and the National Park Service offers tours of the home in spring, summer and fall. For the schedule of home tours and special events, visit Eisenhower National Historic Site online at nps.gov/eise.
Then, see where President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in the Gettysburg National Cemetery located at 97 Taneytown Road. Walk the hallowed grounds and reflect on those who gave “the last full measure of devotion.” Access the cemetery through the Baltimore Street entrance or the Taneytown Road entrance across the street from the cemetery parking lot. Or enjoy a hike to the cemetery on the paved path from the Museum & Visitor Center.
During summer weekends, your ticket purchase at the Museum & Visitor Center provides you access and a complimentary shuttle/admission ticket to explore the historic George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, where a family farm was urgently converted into a field hospital for 1,900 wounded Union and Confederate soldiers in July 1863. Walk the grounds, hear the stories and feel the emotions of life — and death — at the best surviving example of a corps-level field hospital from the Battle of Gettysburg. Meticulously renovated, the historic site features restored, original buildings from the 1863 battle to inspire and explore. Docents and living historians provide insight and accounts of historic experiences during and after the 1863 battle. Special programs and events are offered on select dates throughout the year.
In downtown Gettysburg, get a glimpse into civilian life during the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of some of the children, teens and young adults of Gettysburg in 1863. Located at 451 Baltimore Street and presented by the Gettysburg Foundation, Children of Gettysburg 1863® offers guests an adventurous journey back to 1863 in Gettysburg’s most family-friendly children’s history museum. The interactive adventure for young historians is designed for families with children and youth in grades K-5. Your family will touch, lift, pull and learn your way through a fun and engaging adventure. Follow in the footsteps of six children who lived in and near the town at the time of the battle. Explore the Children of Gettysburg 1863® experience — from the children’s point of view before, during and after the battle. Living history, special programs and events are offered on select dates throughout the year.
The Gettysburg Foundation presents Ticket to the Past — Unforgettable Journeys, Gettysburg’s first virtual reality experience at the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad StationTM — where U.S. history was made. Located at 35 Carlisle Street, step inside this historic treasure for a journey back to 1863. Invited to say “a few appropriate remarks” at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, President Abraham Lincoln arrived at the Gettysburg station the evening before delivering the Gettysburg Address. Now, with the help of virtual reality technology, travel back in time and find yourself at the center of the bustling station when it served as a hospital, supply lifeline and presidential arrival platform. Visitors might even catch a glimpse of President Lincoln himself. During your experience at Ticket to the Past — Unforgettable Journeys, virtually meet some of the railroad station’s unlikely occupants. Hear their stories and discover the extraordinary impact the station made on their lives. Witness the journeys of real- life, historical figures. Discover their connections with the station in the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg. Feel the impact of President Lincoln’s iconic Gettysburg Address and consider how it influences us today. It is time to begin your virtual reality journey through history. All aboard!
Get even more ideas for planning your trip with these tips for visiting Gettysburg. Visit GettysburgFoundation.org or call our Guest Relations team at 877-874-2478 or 717-334-2436 for tickets, hours of operation and more information. We look forward to welcoming you to explore Gettysburg.