Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation have announced a special Veterans Appreciation Day at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020.
The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center is currently open Thursday – Monday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Since the Museum & Visitor Center is closed on the Veterans Day holiday (Wednesday, Nov. 11) this year, Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation invite U.S. military veterans to the special Veterans Appreciation Day Thursday, Nov. 12.
Veterans can enjoy free admission to the Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience at the Museum & Visitor Center. Guests have the unique opportunity to see the Gettysburg Cyclorama painting in a different light.
Different from the traditional experience of the light and sound show in which visitors feel the fury of Pickett’s Charge depicted in the Cyclorama painting, the special “lights up” program will feature a talk while in full light of the painting. Visitors can see a very different view of the historic painting with the lights up and gain an understanding of the history and scenes depicted in the painting with the opportunity for questions and answers.
“Our U.S. military is very important to us, and we thank them for their service to our country. We are pleased to hold Veterans Appreciation Day for all U.S. military veterans,” said David Malgee, interim president of the Gettysburg Foundation. “While U.S. military active duty personnel receive free admission to the Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience on a daily basis, we are pleased to offer free admission to the experience for our veterans to enjoy as well on this special day,” added Malgee.
U.S. military veterans should be prepared to show proof of veteran status to obtain tickets. Veterans are encouraged to arrive early.
Guests will start with a film presentation of A New Birth of Freedom, immediately followed by the ‘lights up’ show on the Cyclorama painting of Pickett’s Charge completed in 1884. Visitors can then explore the 12-gallery Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War at their leisure throughout the day.
The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center is located at 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Veterans Appreciation Day Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.―the last film and cyclorama show will begin at 3 p.m.