Gettysburg National Military Park
As the premier classroom on the Civil War, Gettysburg National Military Park (NMP) tells the story of the largest battle of the American Civil War. Fought from July 1-3 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg resulted in a victory for the Union Army, ending the second invasion of the North by General Robert E. Lee's Army. Often referred to as the turning point of the Civil War, it was the bloodiest battle of the war, with over 51,000 soldiers killed, wounded, captured, or missing.
The preservation of the battlefield and the establishment of Gettysburg National Cemetery are a testament to the resolve of Gettysburg residents to not only rebuild their town, but also to honor the fallen. Today, visitors who come to learn more about the battle can tour the battlefield and see more than 1,400 monuments and markers, or choose to walk with a ranger through Gettysburg National Cemetery.
NPS is currently engaged in an ambitious program to restore the battlefield grounds to the way they looked in 1863. This will allow visitors to understand how small features of the landscape, such as fences and orchards, played a large role in both the battle's outcome and the life and death of individual soldiers.
Unfortunately, this national treasure faces many threats including inappropriate development, invasive species and funding shortfalls.
