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.

The Hall of Presidents allows visitors an up-close and personal view of each United States President. Life-size, wax figures of each President, and miniatures of the First Ladies, are presented with an interesting, story-telling audio, giving details of each Presidency.

The Lincoln Train Museum is a train-lovers’ dream. Miniature trains of all shapes and sizes delight the young and old alike. Then, climb aboard the Lincoln train and “ride” along as President Abraham Lincoln makes his way towards Gettysburg to dedicate the Gettysburg National Cemetery where he made the now famous “Gettysburg Address.”

There are a number of other museums to enhance your visit. The American Civil War Museum, the Soldier’s Museum, the Jennie Wade House and many others recreate the past in a variety of exciting displays.

Other attractions available to help transport visitors back in time include Gettysburg Train rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, ghost walking tours, and numerous Civil War artifact and clothing stores. Visitors will also want to view the battle in miniature at the Gettysburg Diorama.

Re-enactments are a thrilling and unique way to relive the past. Smaller reenactments take place many times at various campgrounds during the summer, allowing guests to get a closer, more personal experience. A large Reenactment is held each year during the first week of July, with hundreds of re-enactors, vendors and other participants re-creating the three day battle.

For fun that is not history-related, check out the Land of Little Horses or Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum. The Little Horses features performing miniature horses and a variety of daily events with the horses or other animals living on the farm. It will delight the young and young-at-heart.

Mr. Ed’s is a local icon, featuring one of the largest and most unique collections of elephants in the world. Displays in the museum include elephants of all shapes, sizes and uses – including a child’s potty training chair! Visitors are invited to shop in the gift shop and candy store and then visit Miss Ellie, a nine-foot tall talking elephant. The best part about this museum – it’s free!

Accommodations

Hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts and campgrounds provide an abundance of overnight accommodations for visitors to meet every budget and lifestyle. Conveniently, many of the tours and attractions provide services through these lodgings – guests can board tour buses from their hotel or campground; or purchase tickets for local attractions.

Many of the hotels and inns are located downtown, within walking distance of most restaurants and retail stores. The Gettysburg Hotel and the James Gettys Hotel are two such establishments located downtown. Other inns located around town offering “haunted” rooms, dining experiences and special events include the Cashtown Inn, Dobbin House and Herr Tavern.

Dining

Numerous Civil War period houses with dining rooms and taverns offer a variety of dining options. Experience the 1800s as you dine by candlelight and are served by wait staff in period costume. The specialty dish at Farnsworth House Inn is the Game Dish Pie, featuring turkey, pheasant and duck in a casserole; at the Dobbin House’s Springhouse Tavern, be sure to try the King’s Onion Soup.

Quality ethnic food can also be found around Gettysburg – the Mayflower Asian restaurant and Ping’s Café offer delectable Chinese and Japanese food while Mamma Ventura’s and La Bella Italia whet those Italian appetites.

The dining choices downtown are varied and surprisingly delectable. The Pub, The Plaza, McClellan’s and Centuries on the Square are all located in the center of town at the Lincoln Square with offerings from pub food to fine dining. The aforementioned Mamma Ventura’s and Ping’s Café are also located downtown.

Possibly because it is a college town, Gettysburg has an abundance of pizza houses. Tommy’s, Dino’s and Brother’s all compete for the best pizza in town, and Tommy’s has been rumored to be the best pizza in Pennsylvania.

Shopping

Shopping in Gettysburg is fun and can be an experience within itself. Many of the shops in the tourist districts offer Civil War relics, artifacts and replicas depicting the Battle. Many of the re-enactors purchase costuming at the local shops. Several talented artists have stores in the area, showcasing oil paintings, watercolors, sculptures and stained glass.

Should you tire of the “old shopping” head out to the Gettysburg Village factory outlet where over 100 stores are housed in a fun and sprawling outlet center.

Gettysburg is a great destination for all ages and budgets. Students of history will have a hands-on learning experience, and even those who avoid history will probably learn something too!