Gettysburg: History, Museums and Trails

In Gettysburg, there’s a range of things to explore, from the history of the battle to outdoor activities and fresh local food. Museums, films and guided tours highlight different historical themes; trails and the seasonal farmers market add to the picture. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether exhibitions, historical perspectives or outdoor activities are your priority.

Museums and depictions of the battle

The Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War has 22,000 square feet of exhibition space. On display are artifacts from the Battle of Gettysburg and items related to Civil War figures. The museum also features interactive exhibits and multimedia presentations that cover the conflict from beginning to end. This combination of objects and different presentation formats provides a broad thematic framework if you’d like to explore more than just one event.

The Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center shows the 20-minute film “A New Birth of Freedom” about the Battle of Gettysburg. The same center also displays a Cyclorama painting of Pickett's Charge. The film and painting differ in both format and subject matter: the film covers the battle, while the painting focuses on a specific event within it. This means a short film presentation and a painting on display are offered side by side.

Perspectives on the aftermath of the Civil War

The Gettysburg Heritage Center Museum depicts the battle from the perspectives of civilians and soldiers. Its 20-minute animated film “Gettysburg: An Animated Map” helps visitors get their bearings regarding the battle. The different viewpoints and map format serve different purposes: the exhibitions present perspectives, while the film puts events in context.

At the Shriver House Museum, guided tours show how the battle affected the Shriver family and their neighbors. The David Wills House in historic downtown Gettysburg tells the story of Abraham Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address and the aftermath of the battle. Together, these sites offer different ways to explore the subject: from the experiences of a family and its community to Lincoln and a speech associated with Gettysburg.

Guided tours and outdoor trails

From the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center, licensed Battlefield Guides offer two-hour car and bus tours. Both options last two hours; you can choose between the tour formats listed. For planning your time, you can compare this duration with the shorter film presentation at the Visitor Center: the tour takes longer than the 20-minute film.

The trails also differ in their specifically stated features. Gettysburg Area Recreation Park has a one-mile paved trail for leisurely walks and jogging. The Biser Fitness Trail and Walking Path runs for one mile through Gettysburg Recreation Park and has ten fitness stations. Both trails are one mile long; the first is described as paved and suitable for walking and jogging, while the second has fitness stations. You can weigh these features based on the kind of exercise you’d like to include in your trip.

Seasonal food in Gettysburg

The Adams County Farmers Market is a seasonal gathering place for visitors and locals to enjoy fresh local food. If the market is one of your travel interests, take its seasonal nature into account when planning. This offering differs from the museums and trails: the market is a seasonal feature to include in your itinerary, while the other sections mainly describe different historical topics and activities.

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