Exhibits.
Encounters.
Illuminations.
Start your Gettysburg journey at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center—your gateway to history.
As America commemorates its 250th anniversary this year, discover special exhibits, tours, programs and events that bring the nation’s story to life—on the battlefield, in the museum and beyond.
You are invited to include our special events on your itinerary to experience Gettysburg in new and memorable ways throughout the anniversary of the battle and America250 commemorations.
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Learn even more as you continue your journey through Gettysburg's history.
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You are invited to subscribe to our YouTube channel and view videos of select programming and events hosted by the National Park Service at Gettysburg and Gettysburg Foundation.
A Field of Remembrance
Sponsorships accepted now through Veterans Day
Carry Them Forward. Preserve the Ground.
Join us in remembrance now through Veterans Day and beyond.
Each flag sponsored is an act of remembrance, in memory of the more than 51,000 Americans killed, wounded, captured or missing during the Battle of Gettysburg, creating a field shaped entirely by the public choice to carry them forward and preserve the ground, one flag at a time.
Your gift supports the Gettysburg Foundation’s preservation and education work with the National Park Service, helping preserve the places where Americans continue to confront sacrifice, citizenship and what democracy still requires. This work can be seen in preservation of the David Wills House and stewardship of the Eternal Light Peace Memorial.
The Field opens at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial Nov. 12 - Nov. 23, 2026. Mark your calendar. Join us on the Field of Remembrance. Learn more.
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An Evening with the Painting
Museum & Visitor Center
Ford Education Center | Cyclorama Platform
Saturdays, Sept. 26, Oct. 10 & 24, 2026 | 5-7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 13, 2026 | 4-6 & 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026 | 4-6 p.m.
Explore the story behind the Gettysburg Cyclorama—from its origins as a powerful visual medium to the creation, symbolism and preservation of this renowned artwork. This immersive, after-hours program offers a behind-the-scenes, close-up look at one of the nation’s most significant works of 19th-century art, highlighting the careful conservation efforts that restored the Cyclorama to its original impact. Participants will enjoy exclusive platform access, an under-diorama perspective and an engaging, interactive discussion. Read more about this extraordinary program.
Friends of Gettysburg members receive special member rate. To inquire about program dates available in October, November and December, call our Guest Relations team at 877-874-2478 or 717-334-2436.
From the Battlefield to the Cyclorama: A Photographic Journey
Museum & Visitor Center | Gettysburg Battlefield
Ford Education Center | Double Decker Bus | Cyclorama Platform
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 | 3-6:15 p.m.
Step into the origins of the iconic Gettysburg Cyclorama in this new, immersive program. Begin with William Tipton’s 1882 photographs—created to guide the artists—then travel into the field by double decker bus to stand at the exact vantage point where they were taken.
From a recreated elevated perspective, photograph the landscape yourself and experience the view that shaped the painting. The program concludes on the Cyclorama platform, where you’ll compare your images to the finished work and see how the battlefield was interpreted into one of Gettysburg’s most powerful visual narratives.
Led by Licensed Battlefield Guide and Cyclorama expert Chris Brenneman.
Bring a camera. Space is limited. Call to make your reservation today. Online reservations to be available soon.
Friends of Gettysburg members receive special member rate.
Eisenhower Summer Home Tours
Eisenhower National Historic Site
250 Eisenhower Farm Lane, Gettysburg
Thursdays - Mondays, Through Oct. 26, 2026
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Free and open to the public
A visit to Gettysburg would not be complete without a visit to the home and farm of our 34th President Dwight D. and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. Enjoy a free tour of the home and grounds when you include Eisenhower National Historic Site on your Gettysburg itinerary.
- Home tours are first come, first served. Space may be limited depending on crowd sizes on the day of your visit.
- Visitors should check in at the on-site visitor contact station and reserve a spot before their home tour.
General visitor parking and accessible parking available. Grounds open sunrise to sunset. Groups of 10 or more should reserve tour times outside of regularly scheduled home tours.
Pajama Storytime Around the Campfire
An Adams County Library Event Co-sponsored by the Gettysburg Foundation
Children of Gettysburg 1863®
451 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026
6:30-7 p.m. | Side Yard | After-hours program
Storytime for all ages | Books geared for grades K-1
Free & open to the public
Join us for a relaxing storytime in your pajamas around the campfire. Stories will be read and campfire songs will be sung at these outdoor events. Your siblings and stuffed animals are welcome!
This outdoor, after-hours event is free and open to the public. Reservations or tickets are not required to attend the story time.
In the event of inclement weather, storytime will be canceled. The children's history museum is open prior to the events from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the final adventure of the day starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are required for the museum adventure.
Double Decker Battlefield Bus Tour
Departs the Museum & Visitor Center
Saturdays, Sept. 26, 2026 | 4 p.m.
Saturdays Oct. 3 & 10, 2026 | 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 | 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Sensational views and spectacular scenery await you on your battlefield tour aboard a double decker bus. With a 360-degree view of the Gettysburg battlefield, you will gain a new perspective of the battle as your expert Licensed Battlefield Guide provides the narrative for this insightful and visually stunning tour.
Your tour can be included as part of the Battlefield Value Package that includes the Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience and either a Battlefield Bus Tour or a Double Decker Battlefield Bus Tour.
Guided Tours
George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital
Fridays & Saturdays
Sept. 25-26 & Oct. 23-24, 2026
10 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Timed Shuttles Depart the Museum & Visitor Center
Step back in time and explore the history of the George Spangler Farm. During your guided tour of the historic site, hear stories of the individuals connected to the farm.
Timed shuttle/admission ticket required. Shuttles depart the nearby Museum & Visitor Center at 9:40 a.m. and 1:10 p.m. on tour dates.
Clara Barton & The Missing Soldiers Office
Presented by Madeleine Thompson
George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital
488 Blacksmith Shop Road, Gettysburg
Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 | 6-8 p.m.
Ticket reservations required
Explore one of the Civil War era's most remarkable figures, Clara Barton. She defied convention at every turn—bringing aid to soldiers in the field, advocating for those left behind and ultimately leading an unprecedented effort to account for the missing dead. Madeleine Thompson, Site Manager of the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum, will trace Barton's Civil War career, her work at the Missing Soldiers Office and the lasting legacy of her humanitarian career—including the museum that now preserves her story at the very Washington boardinghouse where she once lived and worked.
Ticket holders may drive to the property for this program where on-site parking will be available.
Fall Into History Weekends
Gettysburg National Military Park
Friday-Sunday, Oct. 9-11, & 23-25, 2026
Enjoy ranger-led and family-friendly campfire programs, dramatic storytelling and immersive battlefield walks, set against the vibrant backdrop of autumn in Pennsylvania.
The free programming explores key moments and locations on the Gettysburg battlefield.
All programs are free and open to the public. Schedule subject to change. Visit nps.gov/gett/things-to-do for more information.
Fall Family Day at Spangler
George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital
488 Blacksmith Shop Road, Gettysburg
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Free and open to the public
This fall, join us for a free day of history and family-friendly adventure. Enjoy living history, demonstrations, hands-on activities, a free scoop of ice cream from Gettysburg's own Cone Sweet Cone and historic barn preservation presentations from Historic Gettysburg Adams County.
Guests can drive directly to the property for this event where limited on-site parking will be available.
Adams County Day
Museum & Visitor Center
Monday, Oct. 12, 2026 | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Free admission for residents of Adams County, Pa.
Residents of Adams County, Pennsylvania, are invited to enjoy free admission and Adams County history, highlights and treasures on Columbus Day. The Adams County Day offer includes the:
- Film presentation of A New Birth of Freedom
- Sound and light show of the historic Gettysburg Cyclorama
- Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War with special exhibit, A Rough Coarse Life: The World of the Civil War Soldier
- Adams County Artifact Gallery Guide
Adams County residents, present proof of residency (driver's license) at the Ticket Counter to obtain free admission tickets.
S P O N S O R E D B Y
"The Fog of War at Gettysburg"
Leadership in a Time of Crisis
Presented by Rob Abbott
George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital
488 Blacksmith Shop Road, Gettysburg
Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 | 6-8 p.m.
Ticket reservations required
Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz articulated his concept of the Fog of War in his book On War in 1832. It was not translated into English until 1873, so American Civil War leaders may not have used the term, but they certainly understood the phenomena.
Join Gettysburg National Military Park's Licensed Battlefield Guide Rob Abbott as he delves into how this phenomena manifested during the Battle of Gettysburg and how the Union and Confederate Army commanders worked to overcome it. Abbott's presentation will focus on leadership styles, communications, military orders and the movement of the Army leaders.
Ticket holders may drive to the property for this program where on-site parking will be available.
Veterans Appreciation Day
Museum & Visitor Center
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026 | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Gettysburg Foundation continues a long tradition of honoring our nation's veterans with a special appreciation day.
U.S. military veterans are invited to enjoy complimentary admission to the Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience. As always, active-duty U.S. military service members enjoy free admission to these experiences.
Proof of veteran or active duty status is required to obtain free admission tickets.
A Field of Remembrance
Commemorative Flag Installation & Display
Gettysburg National Military Park | Eternal Light Peace Memorial
Thursday, Nov. 12 - Monday, Nov. 23, 2026
Free & Open to the Public
Experience A Field of Remembrance as thousands of American flags surround the Eternal Light Peace Memorial in a moving display of memory.
Created by Gettysburg Foundation, the display commemorates the more than 51,000 Americans who were killed, wounded, captured or missing during the Battle of Gettysburg. Each sponsored flag represents remembrance of the fallen, supports our preservation and education work in partnership with the National Park Service and invites visitors to reflect on the human cost of the Civil War.
Walk among the flags, remember those affected by the battle and experience one of Gettysburg's most meaningful commemorations this year.
Flag sponsorships will be accepted through Veterans Day.
Remembrance Day Illumination
Gettysburg National Cemetery
97 Taneytown Road, Gettysburg
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026
5:30-9:30 p.m. | Free and open to the public
Join us for the 24th Annual Remembrance Day Illumination on Saturday, Nov. 21 to commemorate the Gettysburg National Cemetery dedication of 1863. This solemn event features a luminary candle on all of the 3,512 Civil War soldiers' graves. Names of the fallen soldiers are read throughout the evening.
Volunteer opportunities are available to be involved in helping set up, reading the names of the Civil War soldiers and cleaning up at the end of the evening. Volunteer opportunities are limited and will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Contact Gettysburg Foundation by emailing Friends@GettysburgFoundation.org or calling 717-339-2163 to inquire about volunteer assignments.
Entry is at both the Baltimore Street and Taneytown Road entrances to the Cemetery. The event is dependent on favorable weather conditions. Candle sponsorships will be available online soon. Check back to our website and follow us on social media for announcements about this annual commemorative event and the luminary candle sponsorships online.
Member Events
Mark Your Calendar | Make Your Reservations
Join us for Friends of Gettysburg 2026 events. Friends events are announced throughout the year.
- Fall Muster | Oct. 2-3 | Online reservations now available.
- Remembrance Day Illumination | Nov. 21 | Candle sponsorships now open. Contact Gettysburg Foundation by emailing Friends@GettysburgFoundation.org or calling 717-339-2163 to inquire about volunteer assignments.
The heart of the Gettysburg Foundation, our Friends' volunteer efforts and donations support the Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service at Gettysburg in maintaining our mission of preservation and education. Learn more about becoming a member of the Friends of Gettysburg. Help our mission, become part of history and enjoy exclusive benefits, invitations, rates and discounts.
Select events are open to the public. Visit GettysburgFoundation.org/Friends to learn how you can become a First Corps level member to enjoy exclusive benefits, programming and sneak peeks.
Special Exhibit
A Rough Coarse Life: The World of the Civil War Soldier
Museum & Visitor Center
Gilder Lehrman Institute Special Exhibits Gallery
Artifacts, documents and works of art from the collections of Gettysburg National Military Park and the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia, offer a window into the lives, experiences and memories of those who struggled, suffered and survived a century and a half ago.
The special exhibit includes some artifacts never-before-seen on display and is included with your Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience ticket.
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Highway of Heroes
A collaboration among national and state historic parks, the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor and Pennsylvania destination marketing organizations, this effort coincides with the Commonwealth’s commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Now Through March 26, 2027
Free | Sign up and mobile check-in at each location required
Follow Pennsylvania’s historic Lincoln Highway (U.S. Route 30) from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh on the Highway of Heroes trail, featuring six sites that honor the nation’s legacy of courage, sacrifice, and freedom—including Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site
Visit all six sites to receive the 2026 Highway of Heroes commemorative coin set with display case, shipped directly to your mailing address. A coins set is on display at the Friends Desk in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center for visitors to view only.
Sign up and check in at each site using your mobile phone.
