With the spring season set to begin at Children of Gettysburg 1863® in April, the Gettysburg Foundation offers educational programming and adventurous activities paired with living history.
Families, area residents and visitors to Gettysburg can enjoy free programming throughout April 2023:
Pop Up History
Saturdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2023 | 10 a.m. to Noon and 1 to 3 p.m.
Experience the life of Gettysburg citizens during the Civil War era or train to be a soldier in the Union Army. Interact with local living historians as they discuss and/or demonstrate household crafts, school day activities and the daily life of children and families. Eileen Hoover portrays Caroline Rupp. Lori Francesconi portrays Sallie Myers. Patty Hawthorn portrays Catherine Garlach. Join the drill master with our Union soldier, “Sergeant” Tim Walker. Learn about Victorian era art forms, such as hair jewelry, hair flowers and palette work with local artisan Lucy Cadwallader. Try your hand and voice with Civil War era music with Tom Fontana. Living historians will present the free programming on a rotating schedule Saturdays, April 1 through Oct. 15, 2023.
Civil War Ceramic Paint & Take
Tuesdays, April 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2023 | 10 a.m. to Noon and 1 to 3 p.m.
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, local artist who has sculpted numerous Civil War monuments around the country. The event is available on Tuesdays, April 4 through June 13, 2023, while supplies last.
Living History Encampment & Candlelight Talks
Saturday, April 22, 2023 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 8 p.m. Talk
Sunday, April 23, 2023 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Interact with living historians from The Officers for the Union & The Ladies for the Union. Featuring first-person impressions of officers who commanded and fought in the Battle of Gettysburg, The Officers for the Union portray commanders in their Civil War encampment. Join Officers for the Union on Saturday evening for an informal talk in their candlelit encampment on their roles before, during and after the battle and the war. Audience participation and questions are encouraged. The Ladies for the Union demonstrate home craft skills of the era, including bobbin lace, pen wipes, hand sewing and band box making. They exhibit a medical display, with home remedies and medical practices of the time. The Ladies discuss the importance of the home front during the war, providing support and aid to soldiers, and the effects of the war on families and communities. The living historians return for presentations Saturdays and Sundays, May 13-14, June 17-18, July 1-3, Aug. 12-13 and Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2023.
Camp Side Used Book Sale
Saturday, April 29, 2023 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fill your bookshelf space with numerous Civil War titles available at this spring book sale. Used books covering all aspects of the American Civil War will be on sale at discounted prices for one day only in the side yard of the museum. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Gettysburg Foundation’s education mission.
Located at 451 Baltimore Street in downtown Gettysburg, Children of Gettysburg 1863® tells the engaging stories and experiences of children and teens who lived in and near Gettysburg during and after the Battle of Gettysburg. Designed for families and children, grades K-5, the interactive museum adventure takes families on a journey through galleries with interactive exhibits. Living history programming and activities are free and open to the public. Admission tickets for the museum are currently free for children/youth ages 12 and younger when accompanied by a ticketed adult. For information and tickets, visit GettysburgFoundation.org/Children-of-Gettysburg-1863 or call 877-874-2478 or 717-334-2436.