Gettysburg is located in the state of Pennsylvania and has a lot of culture to offer as well as great sights and interesting destinations. So if you’re planning a trip to Gettysburg, you’ve come to the right place!
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Vacation in Gettysburg
There are plenty of reasons to visit Gettysburg, a historic town in Pennsylvania that’s home to Gettysburg National Military Park. The town played a pivotal role in the Civil War and is a popular destination for history buffs and battlefield tourists. Beyond its war history, Gettysburg offers a charming smalltown atmosphere with plenty of shopping, dining, and outdoor activities to enjoy.
If you’re interested in visiting Gettysburg, the best time to go is in the fall when the leaves are changing color. However, the town is worth a visit any time of year. Here are some of the top things to do on a Gettysburg vacation.
Visit Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg National Military Park is the top reason to visit Gettysburg. The park commemorates the Battle of Gettysburg, which was fought from July 13, 1863. It was the largest battle of the Civil War and is considered a turning point in the conflict.
The park includes the Gettysburg Battlefield, which you can explore on your own or on a guided tour. There are also museums and exhibits about the battle and the Civil War, as well as a cemetery where many of the soldiers who died in the battle are buried.
Sights in Gettysburg
The Gettysburg National Military Park commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), which was fought in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and resulted in a decisive Union victory. The park includes not only the Gettysburg battlefield, but also the Gettysburg National Cemetery and Soldiers’ National Monument. Many of the late 19thcentury painted cycloramas of the battlefield were considerably damaged in a 1910 fire at the Masonic Temple in Gettysburg.
Today, Gettysburg National Military Park is open to the public yearround. The visitor center and Museum of the Civil War Soldier are the main places to start your visit. Here you can pick up a map of the park and learn about the Battle of Gettysburg and the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in the Lincoln Room. Costumed guides are available to answer your questions. The museum features artifacts, photographs, weapons, and personal items belonging to soldiers who fought in the battle, as well as a lifesize diorama of Pickett’s Charge.
Outside, the cyclorama building houses one of the world’s largest paintings, the Gettysburg Cyclorama. The 360degree painting, completed in 1884, depicts Pickett’s Charge, the Confederate army’s infantry assault on the Union’s defensive position on Cemetery Ridge. In addition to the Gettysburg Cyclorama, the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum Complex includes the David Wills House, where President Abraham Lincoln stayed the night before he delivered the Gettysburg Address, and the Gettysburg Train Station, which served as a Union army hospital during the battle.
The Gettysburg Battlefield is the area over which the threeday Gettysburg Campaign was fought in the American Civil War. The battlefield is home to the Gettysburg National Cemetery, established for the soldiers who were killed during the battle. The Cemetery Ridge portion of the battlefield is where Union troops made their stand on the third day of the battle, ultimately leading to the Confederate army’s retreat. The most famous part of the battlefield is probably Pickett’s Charge, the Confederate infantry assault on Cemetery Ridge on the third day of the battle.
In addition to the battlefield itself, there are a number of other Confederate and Union sites around Gettysburg that are worth visiting. The most famous of these is probably the Gettysburg Address National Historic Site, which is the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech. Other sites include the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital Site, the headquarters of General Robert E. Lee during the battle, and the John Burns House, which was occupied by a Union sharpshooter during the battle.
History of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. The battle resulted in a Union victory.
The town of Gettysburg was founded in 1786, named after Samual Gettys, who settled there. The town served as a stop on the stagecoach route between Philadelphia and Frederick, Maryland. By the time of the Civil War, Gettysburg had a population of about 2,400.
In June 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania in an attempt to defeat the Union army and capture the city of Philadelphia. The two armies first clashed at the town of Gettysburg on July 1. The Union army, commanded by General George Meade, was able to hold off the Confederate attack, and the battle eventually turned into a threeday slugfest.
On the morning of July 3, Lee ordered his troops to attack the center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. The Confederate assault, known as Pickett’s Charge, was unsuccessful, and the Union army was able to maintain its position. That evening, Lee began a retreat back to Virginia.
The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in over 51,000 casualties (killed, wounded, missing, or captured), making it the deadliest battle of the Civil War. The Union army suffered the most casualties, with over 23,000. The Confederate army Suffered over 28,000 casualties.
The Gettysburg Address, delivered by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, is one of the most famous speeches in American history. In the speech, Lincoln reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to the principles of liberty and equality.
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