Gettysburg

The battlefield of Gettysburg, the turning point of the Civil War, where Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address; the battlefield park, museums and ghost tours are all clustered around the small town.

Gettysburg lies in Adams County in southern Pennsylvania, just north of the Maryland line. It was the site of the decisive Civil War battle of July 1–3, 1863, and that November Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address here. The town has fewer than 10,000 residents and is almost entirely surrounded by the fields, ridges and more than 1,300 monuments of Gettysburg National Military Park. A visit breaks down into three parts. First, the battlefield itself: start at the Museum and Visitor Center with the film and the Cyclorama, then follow the roughly 38 km (24-mile) official auto tour through Day 1's Seminary Ridge and Oak Ridge, Day 2's Little Round Top, Devil's Den, the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard, and Day 3's Pickett's Charge and the High Water Mark. Booking a Licensed Battlefield Guide to ride along in your car is highly recommended. Second, the historic downtown: Lincoln Square, the David Wills House, old buildings still marked by bullet holes and evening ghost tours are all within walking distance. Third, the surrounding area: the Eisenhower farm, Sachs Covered Bridge, Adams County orchards and, in winter, Liberty Mountain Resort for skiing. The area has four distinct seasons; April–June and September–October are best for touring the battlefield, and fall adds apple picking and foliage. Early July brings anniversary events and reenactments, but it's hot and lodging is tight; winter is quiet, and some museums have shorter hours. There is no passenger rail service, so you'll need to drive: about 1.5 hours from Washington, D.C., 1 hour from Baltimore and 2.5 hours from Philadelphia. A day trip from D.C. or Philadelphia is possible, but 1–2 nights are recommended: one day for the battlefield, another for the town and surroundings. Battlefield roads are free; the museum, guides and private attractions charge separately.

Top sights

• Gettysburg National Military Park – The battlefield of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, where more than 1,300 monuments are scattered across roughly 24 square kilometers of fiel…
• Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center & Cyclorama – The starting point for battlefield tours, with the film A New Birth of Freedom, a 360-degree cyclorama painting, and a Civil War museum.
• Little Round Top – A rocky height held by Union forces to the death on the second day of the battle, where the 20th Maine bravely defended, with a view over t…
• Soldiers' National Cemetery – The site where Lincoln delivered the 272-word Gettysburg Address, and the final resting place of more than 3,500 Union soldiers.
• High Water Mark & The Angle (Pickett's Charge) – The endpoint of Pickett's Charge, where the Confederate offensive reached its peak before being thrown back. It is regarded as the Confeder…
• Devil's Den – A hill of huge granite boulders, the site of fierce fighting on the second day and a famous battlefield photograph location with a reputati…
• Eisenhower National Historic Site – The farm of President Eisenhower and his 'Weekend White House', with original furnishings preserved and a living room where he received wor…
• Seminary Ridge Museum – Housed in the old seminary building, which served as an observation post and field hospital during the first day of the battle. The museum…
• David Wills House – The house where Lincoln stayed the night before delivering his address and where he reportedly revised his speech. It is on Lincoln Square…
• Pennsylvania State Memorial – The largest memorial on the battlefield, surrounded by bronze statues. Visitors can climb to the observation platform at the top for views…
• The Wheatfield & Peach Orchard – The fields and orchard where fighting raged on the second day of the battle. The wheatfield changed hands six times, earning it the name 'B…
• Culp's Hill – A wooded height on the right flank of the Union line, with an observation tower and well-preserved breastworks. It is quiet, with few visit…
• Eternal Light Peace Memorial – A peace memorial at the north end of Oak Ridge, unveiled by President Roosevelt in 1938 for the last reunion of Northern and Southern veter…
• Oak Ridge Observation Tower – A steel observation tower on the battlefield from the first day, overlooking McPherson's Ridge and the northern part of town, where the fir…
• Virginia Memorial – An equestrian bronze statue of Confederate commander General Robert E. Lee on Seminary Ridge, where Pickett's Charge began.
• Lincoln Square & Downtown Gettysburg – A circular square at the centre of town, surrounded by 19th-century brick buildings, cafés, souvenir shops and antiquarian bookshops.
• Gettysburg Railroad Station – The railway station where Lincoln arrived in Gettysburg in 1863. It was used as a hospital during the battle and now serves as a visitor in…
• Shriver House Museum – A restored house that tells the story of the battle from a civilian perspective. Bullet holes left by a Confederate sharpshooter in the att…
• Jennie Wade House – Where Jennie Wade, the only civilian killed directly by gunfire during the battle, died. Bullet holes are still visible in the walls.
• Farnsworth House Inn & Ghost Tours – A historic inn whose exterior walls still bear more than a hundred bullet holes. Its cellar storytelling and nighttime ghost tours are very…
• Dobbin House Tavern – The oldest building in town, built in 1776. Its candlelit restaurant serves colonial-era dishes, and it also has a hidden room from the Und…
• Sachs Covered Bridge – A red wooden covered bridge built in 1854. Confederate troops crossed it during their retreat, and today it is a footbridge and a popular p…
• Land of Little Horses Farm Park – A family farm park focused on miniature horse shows and animal encounters, a good choice for children who want a change of pace.
• Mister Ed's Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium – A quirky little museum with tens of thousands of elephant-themed objects, attached to an old-fashioned candy shop. It is a classic photo st…
• Liberty Mountain Resort – A ski resort southwest of Gettysburg with night skiing in winter, and one of the popular ski areas for visitors from the Washington and Bal…

Where to eat

• Dobbin House Tavern – The oldest building in town, a colonial-style tavern in a 1776 stone house, ranked No. 1 among Gettysburg restaurants o…
• Farnsworth House Inn – A Civil War-era house with more than a hundred bullet holes in its walls, serving Pennsylvania Dutch and period-style d…
• Garryowen Irish Pub – A small pub run by Irish owners, with Guinness beef stew and more than 20 Irish whiskeys. Live music plays on weekends.
• Hunt's Battlefield Fries – An affordable spot opened in 2001, famous for hand-cut Idaho fries and Philly cheesesteaks.
• Lincoln Diner – A classic American diner with more than 60 years of history, where students and visitors love the breakfast, milkshakes…

Itineraries

• US & Canada East Grand Loop – A cross-border long-haul route from New York via Washington, D.C., Niagara Falls to Toronto, Ottawa, and Quebec City.
• Pennsylvania Cross-State: Philadelphia to Pittsburgh – Head west from Philadelphia through Amish Country, Hershey, and Gettysburg to Fallingwater and Pittsburgh.
• Washington, D.C. to Shenandoah & Colonial Triangle – Head north from Washington, D.C. to historic battlefields, drive along the Skyline Drive on the Blue Ridge, and visit C…