Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the site of one of the bloodiest battles during the Civil War. Today, visitors can relive the war and learn from the past.
Gettysburg makes a great destination for history buffs and students alike. The small Pennsylvania town was the site of a major battle during the Civil War when thousands of soldiers and one civilian were killed. Abraham Lincoln dedicated the Battlefield of Gettysburg to be consecrated grounds in his Gettysburg Address in 1863. Today, visitors can learn and be a part of the history as they explore the town, and lands, of Gettysburg.
Sightseeing & Attractions
After stopping by the National Park Visitor’s Center, first on the to-do list should be a tour of the battlefield. Tours can be taken several different ways: auto tour, walking tour, guided bus tour and even tours by horseback. The auto tour allows you to move at your own pace, stopping or driving at will with an audio presentation to be played on your CD or tape player in your own car. As you drive the course and listen to the narrator, scenes from the bloody battle come to life. The memorials and monuments built along the way are reminders of the past and can at times be emotional. Double-decker and luxury tour buses also provide tours within the battlefield, although the double-decker buses are seasonal and not offered during the winter months.
From the visitor’s center, tickets can also be purchased to tour the Eisenhower Farm, which served as a weekend retreat during Eisenhower's presidency. At the end of his term, he and Mamie retired here.
The Cyclorama is another not-to-miss attraction, but beginning in November 2005, it will be closed for two years while another building is being constructed. The current Cyclorama building is located on Battlefield grounds; the new building will be located approximately one half-mile away, off the Battlefield. Plans are to demolish the current building and reconstruct the battlefield to its war-time condition.
The Cyclorama is a 360-degree circular, 27-foot tall oil painting, depicting the battle at Pickett’s Charge during Battle of Gettysburg. This massive painting was completed in 1884 by French artist Paul Philippoteaux and is one of the last Cycloramas in existence.