ALERT: The Taneytown Road Entrance to the Museum & Visitor Center is closed for rehabilitation. Detour is in place to enter at the Baltimore Pike Entrance. Learn more. Temporary parking is now in effect. View new parking information and map. Allow additional time to navigate from parking lots to the building.
ALERT: Little Round Top is now closed to all visitation for rehabilitation. Learn more.
Revisit, Reimagine Gettysburg
Reimagine Gettysburg as a blend of a massive battle, a place of solemn remembrance and an emblem of democracy. Revisit Gettysburg for an opportunity to reflect and gain inspiration from the battle, from the soldiers, from the civilians and from the history.
Exhibits, Tours & Events
Plan Your Visit
From the signature Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience and Battlefield Tours to National Park Service Ranger programs and our historic sites & experiences, your Gettysburg visit officially starts here. Plan your visit, purchase tickets and get information on free events for a memorable—and historic—Gettysburg visit.
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Support the Gettysburg Foundation's mission of preservation and education through your gifts and your Friends of Gettysburg membership.
News
Leadership Development
Explore the challenges and timeless lessons learned through our storied past on the Gettysburg battlefield. Our engaging professional leadership curriculum, developed by historians, leadership development experts and business executives, is available for every level of your team.
NEW Temporary Exhibit in the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center
A Rough Coarse Life: The World of the Civil War Soldier
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Special events, unique opportunities and enlightening experiences await you at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, the Gettysburg battlefield and our historic sites and experiences.
Enhance your visit by adding our special events to your itinerary while you explore Gettysburg with us.
Additional Special Events
Begin your Gettysburg visit with the Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience, schedule your battlefield tour with a Licensed Battlefield Guide and purchase tickets to explore more of Gettysburg's historic sites and experiences—all through the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center.
Special Exhibit: A Rough Coarse Life
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 new exhibit includes some artifacts never-before-seen on display.
Join us on the Cyclorama platform for an exclusive after-hours, close-up look at the iconic Gettysburg Cyclorama painting. Enjoy additional time on the viewing platform to observe in full light the remarkable, close-up details and distant battle scenes of the painting. Journey under the diorama to see how the illusion comes to life. There will be time for a question and answer session.
Learn more and view the complete 2023 program schedule.
Sensational views and spectacular scenery await you on your afternoon battlefield tour aboard a double decker bus. Limited to one tour on select Saturdays, the Double Decker Bus Tour departs the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center at 4 p.m.
*Available to be combined with the Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience in the Value Package.
Visit the home and farm of our 34th President Dwight D. and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. New for 2023: Individuals, families and groups fewer than 20 no longer need advance reservations or tickets and may now drive directly to the farm for free tours. Groups of 20 or more, call Guest Relations, 877-874-2478 or 717-334-2436, to make group reservations.
Tours of the home are offered on a first come, first served basis to the first 40 visitors during each tour time. Due to tight turns and cattle guards, no oversized vehicles (RVs, campers, trailers, coach buses, etc.) permitted.
Interact with local living historians and experience the everyday life of Gettysburg citizens—children and families just like you—during the Civil War era. Or learn about the life of a Civil War soldier and train to be a soldier in the Union Army. Learn and participate in Civil War era activities such as:
Tickets are required to experience the children's history museum adventure before or after the presentations. Children/Youth (ages 0-12) are currently free with purchase of an adult (ages 13+) ticket.
Explore the best surviving example of a corps-level field hospital from the Battle of Gettysburg, featuring:
Walk the grounds, hear the stories and feel the emotions at this historic site forever changed by battle. Meticulously renovated, the site features restored, original buildings from the 1863 battle.
There is so much to see, do and explore at Children of Gettysburg 1863®. Summer is an excellent time to experience the adventure in Gettysburg’s most family-friendly children’s history museum.
Plan your visit for select holidays in June and July and enjoy adventurous family-friendly programming and activities, along with the interactive museum exhibits.
Most events and activities are free with your ticket to the museum adventure. Admission tickets are currently free for children/youth (ages 12 and younger) with a ticketed adult.
*June 10 and July 4 events are free and open to the public.
Join retired healthcare professionals and Licensed Battlefield Guides Rick Schroeder and Fran Feyock as they explore Civil War era medicine focused on diseases in the American Civil War. Featuring an in-depth discussion of the medical issues soldiers faced beyond the trauma of battle, as twice as many soldiers died of disease than of battlefield wounds. Rick and Fran will discuss diseases such as pneumonia, consumption, dysentery, measles, malaria and others that Civil War soldiers faced in the midst of the war.
The gate will open at 5:30 p.m. for ticket holders to explore the meticulously renovated and restored original buildings at the historic site. Parking is available on-site for ticket holders to drive to the event. Tickets are required in advance.
Join us throughout the summer for Ranger-led hikes, walks and talks to explore the battlefield and the people and places that made history at Gettysburg. Schedule subject to change without notice. Prepare for a variety of field conditions and wear clothing to match the forecast. Depending on your planned activities, have sunscreen, insect repellent, hiking boots and extra water with you. Park in designated locations only.
Interact with living historians of Officers for the Union & Ladies for the Union in their weekend encampments. Features first-person impressions of officers who commanded and fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. Learn about the importance of the home front, with demonstrations of unique home craft skills and medical displays, remedies and practices of the era.
Candlelight Talk: Join Officers for the Union in their candle lit encampment from 8-9 p.m. on select Saturdays for an informal talk on their role during and after the 1863 battle. From audience questions, each officer will discuss aspects of his role and his military and personal life.
Tickets are required to experience the children's history museum adventure before or after your encampment visit or before the Saturday talks. Children/Youth (ages 0-12) are currently free with purchase of an adult (ages 13+) ticket.
Local historians with Danza Antiqua present a series of historical art activities enjoyed by children and adults during the Civil War era. View demonstrations. Interact with the artists. Try some of the practical activities available each day. Learn the history of each fiber art and its traditional methods. Take information with you to continue the featured art forms at home.
Best for children/youth ages 8-12 along with their parent/guardian/caregiver. Space is limited during each session. Registration is not required.
Join us for a relaxing storytime in your pajamas around the campfire. Stories will be read and campfire songs will be sung at this outdoor event. Siblings and stuffed animals are welcome to attend. The outdoor event is free and open to the public. In the event of inclement weather, storytime will move indoors.
The children's history museum is open prior to the event. Tickets are currently free for children/youth ages 0-12 with a ticketed adult.
Create your own souvenir to take home and remember your visit to Gettysburg. Choose one of four different Civil War themed ceramic items* and paint it in your own unique way.
Each design was sculpted and donated by Gary Casteel, famous local artist who has sculpted numerous Civil War monuments around the country.
*Available while supplies last.
Mark your calendars and plan to attend the annual Sacred Trust Talks & Book Signings event commemorating the 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Kickoff: "Marching Still: A Musical Tribute to Civil War Poetry" performance Friday, June 30 in the Kinsley Theater
New this year: "A Sacerd Trust Evening: Provisions & Civil War History" featured Saturday, July 1 in the Refreshment Saloon - Now accepting dinner reservations (required in advance).
Check back to our website to obtain free public tickets mid-June for the evening talks.
The three-day Battle of Gettysburg marked a turning point not only in the course of the American Civil War, but also for the future of the United States of America. Join National Park Service Rangers and staff during the 160th Anniversary for a series of free guided hikes, walks and talks to explore, reflect on and commemorate this important chapter in our nation’s history.
Weather permitting. Vehicle parking is on the right side of the road, unless otherwise directed, with all wheels on the pavement.
Photo credit: NPS
Acclaimed stage and screen actor, playwright and author Stephen Lang will hold in-person book signings for his works "The Wheatfield," and "The Gettysburg Story: Battlefield Auto Tour" from 1-3 p.m. near the Group Lobby entrance of the Museum Book Store.
Lang's works will be available to purchase.
Enjoy the Carlisle Brass Band in concert performing brass band music and sharing a repertoire of marches and patriotic selections.
Directed by Bernie Pitkin, the 30-member ensemble plays all-brass music in the British tradition of brass bands. The band has been performing music since 1900.
Bring your lawn chairs and drive directly to the property and park on-site. The gate will open at 5:30 p.m. for visitors to explore the meticulously renovated and restored original buildings at the historic site.
Concert is weather permitting.
Join us to meet a few members of the Shining Stars Therapeutic Ministries herd of miniature horses. Learn about the role of Cavalry horses and their care during the Battle of Gettysburg. Guests can also learn modern day horse care of the miniature horses from Shining Stars Therapeutic Ministries.
Tickets are required for the interactive children’s history museum adventure. Children and youth (ages 0-12) receive free admission tickets with a ticketed adult.
Located near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Shining Stars Therapeutic Ministries (SSTM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving local communities. The mission of SSTM is to provide therapeutic horsemanship programs to children, adults and families with special needs in order to improve the physical, mental, emotional and social areas of their lives.
Join local authors of children's books at the children's history museum for a book signing event. Enjoy various titles and topics that will take you on countless adventures and meet the authors.
Shirl Knobloch | Leon Reed | Robert Jones | Alan Loewen | Linda Clark | Gina Giordano
Books will be available to purchase during the event.
The interactive children's history museum is open before, during and after the event. Tickets are currently free for children/youth (ages 0-12) with a ticketed adult (ages 13+).
The Carlisle Brass Band will perform brass band music in concert and share a repertoire of marches and patriotic selections.
Bring your lawn chairs and gather in the side yard of the children's history museum to enjoy the open-air concert.
In 1863, John Rupp owned and operated a tannery on this property—now home to the children's history museum in the historic Rupp House. Join Eric Mohney with Von Dettum and Company in the side yard and learn about the historical tanning industry and leather working.
History comes alive as you interact with living historians in their Civil War encampments.
Civil War Historical Impressions, Sept. 16-17: Living historians portray Union and Confederate soldiers, generals, surgeons and Gettysburg civilians.
Allegheny Volunteer Guard, Nov. 17-19: A company-sized unit of infantrymen, the common soldier, camp life and experiences on campaign or in combat.
Outdoor encampments with living history are subject to favorable weather conditions.
Tickets are required to experience the children's history museum adventure before or after your encampment visit. Children/Youth (ages 0-12) are currently free with purchase of an adult (ages 13+) ticket.
Join us for a marvelous evening of dining and inspiration with a special 15th Anniversary Celebration of the Museum & Visitor Center where we have welcomed more than 10 million visitors to Gettysburg.
Proceeds from the evening benefit the Gettysburg Foundation's mission of education and preservation in partnership with the National Park Service at Gettysburg.
Friends of Gettysburg Events
Join us for Friends of Gettysburg events* throughout 2023:
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 invitations, program rates and discounts.
*Select events are open to the public.
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