Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station^™

Site

Now Open!

More than a train station, this historic site witnessed President Lincoln’s arrival, wartime recovery, generations of travelers and unforgettable journeys.

With its distinctive cupola, arched windows and ornamental cornice, the historic depot is a classic example of the Italianate style popular in the United States in the 1850s. On the National Register of Historic Places, the station was restored to its stately appearance in 2006. The Gettysburg Foundation completed additional preservation work in 2014 and continues to maintain its integrity as one of the most iconic and historic buildings in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Now, the station has reopened for those who come not just to see Gettysburg, but to understand what happened here and why it matters still today.

Significance

Why visit the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station™?

Opened in 1859, this railroad station served Gettysburg as a train depot for 83 years. It welcomed both white and Black passengers and was a vital hub for freight, travel and communication.

During the American Civil War, the station became a lifeline—first as a hospital for Union and Confederate soldiers, and then as a center for receiving medical supplies and food and for transporting the wounded and dead.

President Abraham Lincoln arrived at this station on Nov. 18, 1863, the evening before the dedication of the new national cemetery. Lincoln was accompanied by several cabinet members, other officials and his personal valet William Johnson, a free Black man, who died of smallpox just two months later.

President Lincoln was escorted to the home of David and Catherine Wills that Wednesday evening, where he spent the night and finished revising his iconic speech—and what would become known as the Gettysburg Address. The address Lincoln gave in Gettysburg became one of the most famous speeches in American history.

In late 1863 and early 1864, Black laborers retrieved coffins delivered to the station and transported them to the battlefield, where they were used for the reinterment of Union dead to Gettysburg National Cemetery. These same laborers are believed to have brought soldiers’ remains back to the depot for transport home—offering grieving families a final act of closure.

Long after the war, the station continued to serve as a passenger depot, welcoming visitors—both Black and white—who came to reflect, remember and connect with the legacy of Gettysburg. The final passenger train departed in 1942, closing a significant chapter in the town’s history.

A Living Landmark

Today, the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station^TM has reopened with a renewed purpose, welcoming visitors to a new history and visitor information stop. You'll have access to receiving maps, brochures, visitor guidance, tickets and updates on National Park Service Ranger programs and events, and Gettysburg Foundation exhibits, tours, experiences and special events.

Explore exhibits that highlight the station’s wartime role and its broader significance to the town of Gettysburg and surrounding area. Displays feature interpretive banners, historic artifacts and a brief orientation film. Docents are on-site, welcoming visitors to Gettysburg, interacting with guests and sharing stories, accounts and connections of the station in Gettysburg's history.

Whether starting your Gettysburg journey or returning to reflect, the Gettysburg Foundation invites you to step into history at the station where U.S. history was made – and become part of its next chapter.

Story

A field hospital during battle.

A presidential passenger.

A railway to recovery.

Public Transportation

Passenger trains no longer service Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. However, if like Lincoln, you prefer to travel by train, there are Amtrak terminals in Harrisburg and Baltimore to get you closer to your Gettysburg destination.

Bus service to Gettysburg via RabbitTransit is available from Harrisburg.

While visiting Gettysburg, take advantage of RabbitTransit's convenient public transportation service. RabbitTransit serves Gettysburg in Adams County through four routes:

• Lincoln Line 1 and Lincoln Line 2
• Blue Line
• Gray Line
• Gold Line - Provides service Friday, Saturday and Sunday, circulating between the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, parking lots and National Park Service landmarks.

All lines help to connect local residents and Gettyburg visitors to major destinations throughout the community. View the Gettysburg Summer/Fall 2025 Ride Guide.