Touring the Battlefield

As soon as the guns fell silent, the Gettysburg Battlefield began drawing visitors. Today, this land serves as 6,000 acres of inspiration. Close to 1,400 monuments and markers dot the Battlefield’s landscape. By touring this hallowed ground and learning the significance of each area, generations have gained new insight into the Civil War and our country as a whole.

 

Before you visit the Battlefield

You wlll want to begin your Gettysburg experience with A New Birth of Freedom, a feature film, narrated by Morgan Freeman, that will help you understand the Battle of Gettysburg and its important role in our nation's history. Shown exclusively at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Shows daily, every 15 minutes. Please allow 30 minutes for this program.

Purchase tickets.

Be sure to make plans to return to Gettysburg in September 2008 to celebrate the official grand opening of the new Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park. A New Birth of Freedom, the feature film, will be joined by the Gettysburg Cyclorama experience.

Please allow 45 minutes for the feature film and Cyclorama experience.

Click here for ticket information.

 

Touring the Battlefield

There are a number of ways to tour the actual Gettysburg Battlefield:

One way is by reserving a Licensed Battlefield Guide Car Tour. On this tour, a Licensed Battlefield Guide will drive your personal car for a detailed two-hour tour of the battlefield. Allow 2.5 hours. Guides are available daily.

To reserve a Guide, please contact our reservations department at least three days before your planned visit. 877-874-2478.

Or you can join a Licensed Battlefield Guided Bus Tour. Relax as you hear about the largest battle ever fought on the continent. Stops will be made at key battlefield locations such as the Eternal Peace Light Memorial and Little Round Top, so don’t forget your camera. Tours are available daily. Please allow 2.5 hours.

Purchase tickets.

Other options for exploring the Battlefield include audio tours with a cassette or CD, which may be purchased in the Museum Bookstore upon arrival. Self-guided park maps are available at the park information desk, or via the National Park Service’s web site. Please allow a minimum of 2 hours for these tour options.

 

National Park Service Ranger Programs

If you visit in the summer, you can take part in one of National Park Service Summer Ranger Programs. Gettysburg National Military Park rangers offer a variety of seasonal programs that are designed to enhance your Gettysburg visit. These programs are offered daily and are free of charge.
Click here for a complete schedule. Tickets are not necessary.

Program lengths vary.

 

Soldiers' National Cemetery

The Soldiers’ National Cemetery is an important part of any Gettysburg visit. Abraham Lincoln came to dedicate this national cemetery in 1863 just months after the battle, delivering his famous Gettysburg Address. Today, the cemetery is the final resting place for American veterans from the country’s major wars and conflicts, from the Civil War through Vietnam. Tickets are not necessary.

Please allow a minimum of 30 minutes to visit the Cemetery.

 

Eisenhower National Historic Site

You should also include the Eisenhower National Historic Site on your itinerary. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife Mamie owned only one home, and it was here at Gettysburg. Today, you can take a step back in time and visit the iconic home of one of our nation’s most celebrated public servants. Click here for ticket information.

Please allow a minmum of 90 minutes to visit the Eisenhower Site.