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Gettysburg National Military Park

, Pennsylvania

NPCA REGION: Mid-Atlantic Regional Office

Acreage: 5,990.39

Category: National Military Park

Date Established: 02/11/1895

More Info: http://www.nps.gov/gett

In the summer of 1863, the farming community of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, became the site of the bloodiest battle in the Civil War. The fierce fighting left 51,000 casualties in its wake, turning farm fields into graveyards and churches into hospitals. The battlefield's first visitors were thousands of relatives searching for dead and wounded soldiers.

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.

Over the years, Gettysburg has continued to be a treasured and popular destination. As a result, the park has faced continuous threats from commercial development. At the end of the 19th century, developers built railroads and tourist facilities at the edge of sacred battlefield lands, but many of these inholdings were eventually sold to the government and removed.

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.

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Comments

I have visited many national sites and parks, and Gettysburg twice. It is an awe inspiring place. With all that is modern keeping as much of the park as it was on those fateful days in July is impressive. In both visits I stood at the start of Pickett;s famous charge, and where it ended and thought of the sacrifice on both sides. On my second visit I went there with a great grandson of a 20th Maine veteran (his great grandfather joined after Gettysburg). I can't wait to go back, there is so much to see.

Submitted by Russ at: November 19, 2009

I was 10 years old in 1964 when I visited Gettysburg for the first time - and it left a huge impression on me. There have been many improvements made since that time. However, the battlefield remains the same and I can now appreciate it through different eyes. My husband visited the battlefield for the first time this year and our only regret is that we did not have more time to spend here.

Submitted by bigskymt at: October 12, 2009

Gettysburg is the best NP in my view. I think it should be required that every American and every new citizen tour the park to see what happened there to keep our country united. I wonder how many of our elected officials and presidents have visted? I would guess not many.

Submitted by Kyle in Chicago at: September 20, 2009

We made a nice walking loop through the battlefield, but it seemed more set up for the auto tour. We encountered 2 other parties that were kind of lost between the peach orchard/ plum run/ and the VA monument area. Why not mark a walkers loop to cover the ground we negotiated: go from the Visitor's Center by Meade's statue, PA memorial, Little roundtop (not through horse's trail), ME monument, Devil's den, cut through Wheat field, peach orchard (avoid plum run), across emmitsburg road, to va monument, across pickett's charge to Angle, back to visitor's center (about 7 miles). Other suggesation: provide water at Devils Den fo walkers. Thanks!

Submitted by Mike13 at: September 9, 2009

I have visited the park every year since 1981 with friends and family. I love the way the battlefield is becoming more in line with "1863" and the new visitor center is really an improvement. One BIG LOSER - the displays are TERRIBLE - except for the wonderful improvement to the Cyclorama! I was at the Gettysburg Museum, right? The items on display in the old building were awesome. Put them out so people can fully understand Gettysburg, Adams County 1863. The 8 people I took along this year said the same thing - what poor displays and most of them aren't deep in Civil War knowledge! Well, I know I will be back again to tour the battlefield but won't waste 6 bucks again. Funny, the old place allowed you to see the displays for free and once you walked out, you would stuff the box with cash to help out. Now you charge $6.00 and the stuff on display is terrible!!

Submitted by Rob at: July 27, 2009

I was 11 years old in 1961 when the country celebrated the Civil War Centennial. I have been a Civil War enthusiast ever since. My wife and I visited the park on July 4,2009 and truly enjoyed the experience. The cyclorama and battlefield left me awe struck and my wife stated that I was "like a kid in a candy store" all day. We skipped lunch and still didn't see everything before we had to leave for Virginia. What a national treasure! We will definitely be back again to visit this truly hallowed ground.

Submitted by Jay at: July 8, 2009

nice visitor center, brand new and large with museum inside. the tour itself is a unique "self driving auto tour". download the map and explore on your convenience. drive, stop, walk around. takes around 3 hrs.

Submitted by chopstick1 at: June 20, 2009

I was there before the new visitor center and after. The new center is very impressive. But people need to be aware that this is one park that you have to be careful with as its in a town and commercial development can distroy history in no time.

Submitted by Anonymous at: May 26, 2009

Some sad news from Gettysburg today--one of the "witness trees" (a tree that was there during the battle) was damaged by a storm and will probably be cut down. The tree is a honey locust tree that has stood as a silent sentinel on Cemetery Hill as a witness to the battle and also Lincoln's famous speech (it is located only 150 feet from where he spoke). Each time one of these trees is lost, we lose another connection to the past.

Submitted by TraceyM at: August 11, 2008

Gettysburg has a new visitors center! I had a sneak peak in April 2007 and it is a HUGE improvement. The new visitors center offers more space, improved facilities, a vastly improved museum, and a new home for the fully restored Cyclorama. The new location was selected because no part of the battle was fought here, so it is not hollowed ground. It is also on a low spot, which means it is not visible from the main battlefield. And it is environmentally friendly building with a Silver LEEDS rating. A good thing since over two million visitors a year are expected. Even if you have been to the park, it is well worth a repeat visit. (The visitors center is now open, but note that the Cyclorama is not open to the public until the grand opening, set for September 26th, 2008.)

Submitted by Felicia at NPCA at: May 6, 2008