National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service:  U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
Gettysburg National Military Park McPherson's Ridge and farm at Gettysburg.
view map
text size: largest larger normal
printer friendly
Gettysburg National Military Park
The David Wills House
 
The Wills House in Gettysburg.
(Main Street Gettysburg)
The David Wills House in Gettysburg
 

The home of Gettysburg attorney David Wills was the center of the immense clean-up process after the Battle of Gettysburg and where President Lincoln put the finishing touches on his Gettysburg Address, the speech that transformed Gettysburg from a place of death and devastation to the symbol of our nation's "new birth of freedom."

In honor of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday on February 12, 2009, the David Wills House opened to the public, offering visitors a world-class museum experience that tells the story of Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. The museum features six galleries, including two rooms that have been restored to their 1863 appearance: Wills' office, where he received letters from families looking for loved ones after the battle and began planning for a cemetery and its dedication; and the bedroom where Lincoln stayed and prepared the Gettysburg Address.

The Wills House Museum Galleries (pdf)

The Wills House museum is managed by the Gettysburg Foundation, the official partner of the National Park Service and Gettysburg National Military Park. The property is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Admission Fees: See our Fees and Reservations page.

YEARLY HOURS OF OPERATION

The Wills House is open throughout the year with a reduced daily schedule during the fall, winter and spring months. The Wills House is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Winter Hours, December-February: 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Friday to Sunday.
Spring Hours, March: 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Thursday through Monday.
April: 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Wednesday through Monday.
Summer Hours, May through August: 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., Daily.
Fall Hours, September through November: 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Wednesday through Monday.

Location: 8 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, Pa.

Parking: Park at the Gettysburg Municipal Parking Garage on Race Horse Alley or take the Freedom Transit Shuttle from the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center.

Phone: 866-486-5735
           717-334-2499 (local calls)
FAX: 717-334-5796 

Web sitewww.davidwillshouse.org

Museum and Visitor Center
Where To Start?
Begin your visit to Gettysburg at the Museum and Visitor Center!
more...
The Wills House on Facebook
Wills House on Facebook
Stay up to date with news from the Wills House on Facebook!
more...

You are exiting the National Park Service website

Thank you for visiting our site.

You will now be redirected to:

We hope your visit was informative and enjoyable.

The Leister House in 1863. (Library of Congress)

Did You Know?
This simple farm house, the home of widow Lydia Leister, was used as a headquarters by Union General George G. Meade during the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. The house still stands today and you can see it during your visit to Gettysburg National Military Park.

Last Updated: January 12, 2012 at 10:01 MST