2025 News

The Gettysburg Foundation invites Friends, visitors and members of the community to “An Evening with the Painting” Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, from 4 to 6 p.m. This behind-the-scenes experience with the historic Gettysburg Cyclorama combines history, art and preservation in an unforgettable evening.

Painted in the 1880s by French artist Paul Philippoteaux and a team of assistants, the Cyclorama is an awe-inspiring 42-foot-high, 377-foot-long work of art. Depicting “Pickett’s Charge” on the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the painting is one of the largest oil-on-canvas works in North America. Suspended in-the-round, it creates a 360-degree, three-dimensional effect, immersing viewers in the intensity of the battle.

“An Evening with the Painting” explores the history of cycloramas, the creation and symbolism of this extraordinary artwork, and the extensive restoration that brought the painting back to life. The program provides attendees with an extended viewing experience, including:

• Close-up access to observe fine details and distant battle scenes on the Cyclorama platform.
• An under-diorama view to see how the three-dimensional effect is created.
• Interactive Q&A to engage directly with program experts.

The evening begins in the Ford Education Center and continues on the Cyclorama platform, offering approximately two hours of programming. Tickets are limited to 40 participants per session, ensuring an intimate and enriching experience.

"An Evening with the Painting" will be offered on select dates in 2026. The Gettysburg Foundation plans to announce the 2026 program schedule in December.

Ticket reservations for “An Evening with the Painting” are available by calling the Gettysburg Foundation Guest Relations team at 717-334-2436 or by visiting GettysburgFoundation.org. Tickets can also be purchased in advance at the Ticket Counter inside the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, Pa. Friends of Gettysburg receive a member rate when purchasing tickets for this program.

The Gettysburg Foundation is the official non-profit partner of the National Park Service at Gettysburg. Proceeds from ticket purchases benefit Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site.