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Plan a Road Trip > Explore America > National Parks > Gettysburg National Military Park |
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97 Taneytown Rd, Gettysburg, PA 17325-2804
Phone: 717-334-1124
Fax: 717-334-1891
Open All Year
Overview. In the summer of 1863, Robert E. Lee began an invasion north of the Mason-Dixon line with the intention of destroying a major railroad bridge at Harrisburg, PA, thus disabling northern supply routes. At Gettysburg, a chance encounter with George Meade's Union forces led to a three-day battle that saturated the surrounding farmland with blood. Control changed hands several times during the course of the battle, but by the third day the Union was holding a strong strategic position. General Lee, in an attempt to penetrate the Union center, directed General James Longstreet to attack and break the federal line using 12,000 Confederate infantry, some of whom were under the command of Brig. General George E. Pickett. Less than an hour after "Pickett's Charge" began, over 5,000 Confederate soldiers lay dead or wounded, the courageous effort an utter failure.
Over 51,000 men became casualties at Gettysburg, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Lee retreated into Virginia and, although the conflict would drag on for two more years, the Confederates never fully recovered from the losses, both physical and psychological, that they suffered at Gettysburg. Only months after the battle, a national cemetery was dedicated at the site. The highlight of the ceremony was meant to be Edward Everett's two-hour oration. The most popular speaker of the era, Everett recounted the battle in painstaking detail. Then President Abraham Lincoln rose to deliver his brief address. He spoke for only two minutes, but his powerful words, now known as the Gettysburg Address, are remembered and cherished by all Americans.
Today, portions of the battlefield are preserved much as they were that fateful July. In addition, more than 1,300 monuments and 400 cannon are on view along 40 miles of scenic roadways. The adjoining Gettysburg National Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 6,000 soldiers, 1,632 of them unidentified. Of these, 3,512 are Civil War burials.
What to see and do. Begin your tour of the battlefield with a stop at the Visitor Center and Gettysburg Museum of the Civil War. There, you can learn more about the conflict through interpretive displays and a large electronic map with lights showing troop movements and the order of the battle. A schedule of park activities, including ranger-led tours and interpretive programs, is posted there. Nearby, the Cyclorama Center offers more exhibits, an informative film, and a sound and light program featuring Paul Philipoteaux's Gettysburg Cyclorama, a huge painting depicting Pickett's Charge.
Most visitors choose to drive through the battlefield. The auto tour, which starts outside the visitor center, includes all major battle sites. Informative markers along the route explain the significance of each numbered stop. Pick up a map of the self-guided tour at the visitor center; the route usually takes two to three hours. Anyone can make reservations for a bus tour of the battlefield led by a licensed guide. For reservation information call (717) 334-1124 ext. 439.
If you want to get closer to the action, several trails wind around the battlefield. The High Water Mark Trail originates near the Cyclorama Center and leads through the area where Union forces repulsed Pickett's Charge to General Meade's Headquarters. It is about a mile long. The Big Round Top Loop Trail is also a mile long and introduces hikers to the flora and fauna of the southern Pennsylvanian woodlands. Details about longer hikes, such as the Billy Yank Trail (nine miles) and the Johnny Reb Trail (three and a half miles) are available at the visitor center. The Park covers 6,000 acres/26 miles of park roads.
<p>A Youth Group Campground is located in the park and is only open to organized groups from mid-April to mid-October. For more information, contact the park at (717) 334-1124, extension 423. Other accommodations, including campgrounds, hotels, and restaurants, are located in the city of Gettysburg, adjacent to the park.
<p>The Visitor Center and Gettysburg Museum of the Civil War is open from 8 AM to 6 PM during the summer and to 5 PM the remainder of the year. The Cyclorama Center is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Both facilities are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. The park and surrounding community host a number of historic festivals, craft shows, and special interest programs throughout the year. Contact the park or the Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau for more details ((717) 334-6274).
The Eisenhower National Historic Site is adjacent to the park; tours of the Eisenhower home leave from the Gettysburg National Military Park visitor center. The city of Gettysburg plays host to a number of attractions, from more than two dozen museums to riding stables and miniature golf courses. Independent bus and historic trolley tours of the park can be arranged.
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