This small town in Pennsylvania holds a significant place in American history. Today, visitors can delve into Gettysburg’s captivating past through guided tours, engaging museum exhibits, and eerie evening strolls through its historic 19th-century downtown.
Morning fog often envelops the rolling green hills and picturesque red-barned farms of Gettysburg. However, for three intense days in July 1863, this serene landscape was shrouded in cannon smoke and gunfire as the Battle of Gettysburg unfolded. This pivotal conflict resulted in an estimated 51,000 casualties, making it the bloodiest engagement of the American Civil War.
Today, travelers flock to Gettysburg’s revered battlefield and explore the town’s various 19th- and 20th-century historical attractions. Located a short drive from Washington, D.C. (75 miles to the south) and Philadelphia (120 miles to the east), Gettysburg is a prime destination for those wishing to uncover America’s intricate history, especially as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026. Here’s how to maximize your visit, from touring historic homes and battlefields to exploring the charming countryside.
Unraveling Gettysburg’s Rich History
The nearly 6,000-acre Gettysburg National Military Park commemorates the Battle of Gettysburg, which was a turning point in the Civil War and led to President Abraham Lincoln’s poignant Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. The park encompasses the town and features 150 historic buildings, 400 cannons, and 1,300 monuments and markers, all accessible to the public free of charge from dawn until dusk.
Start your exploration at the Museum and Visitor Center, a sprawling 139,000 square-foot facility showcasing exhibits, films about the battle, and the renowned Gettysburg Cyclorama. This restored 42-foot-tall, 377-foot-long circular painting, created in 1884, vividly depicts ‘Pickett’s Charge,’ a crucial maneuver during the battle’s climactic third day.
Visitors can traverse the Gettysburg National Military Park at their own pace by bike, foot, or car, but guided tours are also available to help pinpoint significant sites, such as a farm-turned-field hospital or the David Wills House, where Lincoln spent the night before delivering his famous address at the Gettysburg National Cemetery. This graveyard is the final resting place for approximately 6,000 U.S. soldiers, including 3,500 who lost their lives during the battle. Options for guided tours include bus excursions, Segway tours provided by Segways on the Square, or horse-riding and horse-drawn carriage rides with Horse Tours of Gettysburg. Visitors can also book a licensed battlefield guide to drive their car around the park, customizing the experience to their interests.
Within and around Gettysburg National Military Park, additional notable sites include the recently opened Beyond the Battle Museum. Here, artifacts are paired with interactive elements to illustrate what life was like for a local family caught behind enemy lines during the Civil War. Cutting-edge technology allows visitors to feel the ground shake, hear the sounds of gunfire, and gain insight into the experiences of civilians during the conflict.
Adjacent to the battlefield lies the Eisenhower National Historic Site, which features the farmhouse and grounds where U.S. President Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie, hosted Cold War diplomats and eventually retired in the 1960s. Free tours of the two-story clapboard and brick house—some parts dating back to the 1800s—showcase Ike’s paintings, Mamie’s pink floral china tea set, and various personal artifacts.
Explore the Historic Downtown
Gettysburg’s historic downtown area features the Shriver House Museum, where guides dressed in period attire narrate the story of how this pre-Civil War residence served as both a battle hospital and a vantage point for Confederate sharpshooters. A hoop-skirted historian leads Hidden Memories walking tours of the town, including a special focus on women’s experiences during the war. After sunset, guides from Civil War Ghosts and Gettysburg Ghost Tours lead spine-chilling walks that intertwine ghost stories with historical facts.
Travelers can also utilize the Black History Trail smartphone app to discover significant sites such as the St. Paul AME Zion Church, home to Gettysburg’s oldest African American congregation, founded around 1838; Lincoln Cemetery, the burial ground for Gettysburg’s African American citizens and Civil War veterans; and Thad’s Place, which provides insight into the life and work of influential congressman and abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens.
Gettysburg’s compact downtown radiates from Lincoln Square (which is actually a circle), with its most charming spots located along Chambersburg, Baltimore, and Carlisle streets. Amidst the antique storefronts, visitors will find a variety of dining options, including the vintage Gettysburg Chocolate Market for coffee, ice cream, and candy, and The Sign of the Buck, a French-American brasserie located in the historic Union Hotel.
Independent shops like Gettysburg Goods—featuring locally made crafts, gifts, and treats—and the Horse Soldier, a long-standing antiques store specializing in military memorabilia, are also worth exploring.
Discover the Picturesque Countryside
The scenic countryside surrounding Gettysburg is dotted with historic sites, wineries, and farm markets. Just a short drive from the town is Sachs Covered Bridge, built in 1852 and used by both Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War. Visitors can stroll across this pedestrian-only bridge spanning Marsh Creek, taking in the stunning landscape.
Adams County, situated just north and west of the Gettysburg battlefield, boasts over 20,000 acres of apple orchards home to more than 35 varieties of apples. Each April and May, the countryside is adorned with apple and peach blossoms. Visitors can sample the region’s agricultural offerings at Hollabaugh Bros. Fruit Farm and Market—a family-run farm selling local fruits, vegetables, meats, homemade baked goods, and ice cream—or at the Mason-Dixon Distillery, which produces vodka, aged rum, and corn whiskey made on-site.
Planning Your Trip
Daily international flights are available to Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Renting a car is the most convenient way to reach Gettysburg from any of these airports—Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are both less than two hours away by car, while Philadelphia is approximately a two-and-a-half-hour drive. Once in Gettysburg, visitors can take advantage of multiple rideshare services and the rabbittransit public bus system. For further information, visit Destination Gettysburg.
Whether you’re a history buff, an outdoor enthusiast, or someone simply seeking a meaningful travel experience, Gettysburg offers an enriching glimpse into America’s past that should not be missed. So, pack your bags and prepare for an unforgettable journey to this historic town, where the echoes of the past resonate through the rolling hills and preserved landscapes.
