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Gettysburg National Military ParkTheme(s): Civil War | |
Description:
Located 50 miles northwest of Baltimore, the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the site of the largest Civil War battle ever waged in the Western Hemisphere. The Battle of Gettysburg opened on July 1, 1863 and closed two days later with the climactic "Pickett's Charge". It resulted in a Union victory for the Army of the Potomac and successfully turned back the second invasion of the North by General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Over 51,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or captured making it the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. It was also a major turning point in the war. Historians have referred to the Battle of Gettysburg as the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy." It was the last major effort by Lee to take the fighting out of Virginia and into northern states. The Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg contains more than 7,000 interments including over 3,500 from the Civil War. It was here that President Abraham Lincoln delivered his immortal Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863.
Post-battle preservation efforts saved small portions of the battlefield as a memorial to the Union victory. On February 11, 1895, congressional legislation was signed to establish Gettysburg National Military Park as a memorial dedicated to the armies that fought that great three day battle. Gettysburg National Military Park incorporates nearly 6,000 acres, with 26 miles of park roads and over 1,400 monuments, markers, and memorials.
Designations:
National Military Park (February 11, 1895)
Accessibility:
The Visitor Center and Cyclorama Center are wheelchair accessible with at least one wheelchair available per building. Handicapped designated parking is available at both buildings and on park avenues. An accessibility brochure for the park is available at the information desk. There is designated bus unloading area in the Visitor Center parking lot and a separate lot for bus parking. Visitor parking is available at both buildings.
Getting Around:
Self guided auto tour route maps are available at the Visitor Center and Cyclorama Center information desks. Commercial bus tours of the park are available through companies near the park. A wide variety of interpretive programs are offered April through October, but the core season for programs is mid-June through mid-August. Subjects include the three days of battle, the National Cemetery, the Gettysburg Address, and general Civil War related topics. There are walking tours, bicycle tours, campfire programs, and living history demonstrations. There are also programs designed specifically for student groups. Call (717) 334-1124 for further information.
Activites:
Auto_Touring | Biking | Educational Programs | And more.
Facilities:
Visitor_Centers | Picnic Areas | Comfort Stations | Museum Exhibits | Tours & Guided Activities | And more.
Directions to Gettysburg National Military Park
Plane:
The closest airport to Gettysburg is Harrisburg International Airport at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The second closest is Baltimore-Washington International near Baltimore, Maryland. Gettysburg has a small airfield for private aircraft.
Car:
Gettysburg National Military Park is located in Adams County, Pennsylvania. From North and South, follow US 15 to Gettysburg and watch for signs to direct you to the National Park Service Visitor Center. The visitor center is located between Taneytown Road (State Rt. 134) and Steinwehr Avenue (Bus. Rt. 15). From East and West, drive into Gettysburg on US Rt. 30, turn South on Baltimore Street (Rt. 97), and follow signs to Steinwehr Avenue (Bus. 15).
Public Transportation
There is no public transportation system into Gettysburg at this time.
Attractions:
Experience Pennsylvania
Nearby Parks:
Eisenhower National Historic Site
Monocacy National Battlefield
Antietam National Battlefield
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