Gettysburg National Military Park - Things To Do (U.S. National Park Service)

Ranger program in the National Cemetery.

(Katie Lawhon, National Park Service)

Ranger guided programs are offered seasonally at Gettysburg.

Once you have begun your visit to Gettysburg National Military Park at the National Park Service Museum and Visitor Center, we suggest you consider visiting the battlefield and touring the various significant sites of this dramatic event. Of course there are many other things to see and do including free ranger-guided programs, evening campfire programs, activities for kids, and specialized battle walks during the summer months. Check our schedule of Summer Ranger Programs for titles, descriptions and program times. Ranger guided programs will also run in the fall and spring, mostly limited to weekends.

Volunteer living history organizations offer programs in the park on weekends from spring to fall. A full schedule of living history weekends as well as other special events is posted on our Park Events page.

Special observances are held on Memorial Day and to commemorate the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery on November 19. There are other special events that occur throughout the year and are listed on our Park Events page.

Auto Tour Sign

TOURING THE PARK

Depending on personal choice, there are several ways to tour the battlefield including a self-guided auto tour, with a Licensed Battlefield Guide (fee), and pre-recorded audio tours.

The self-guided auto tour can be followed by using a park brochure that will direct you through the park. There are numbered stops at highpoints of the battlefield along the tour route and visitors can take their time stopping to view the monuments and field exhibits. Directional tour signs will take you through the park to visit the important highlights of the three day battle. This may be the best choice for those with limited time or time enough to spend several hours in the park and there is no charge for this activity.

(NPS)

A licensed guide tour.

For visitors wishing a personalized tour, the Licensed Battlefield Guide service will provide you with a guide who will drive your personal vehicle around the park for a two hour long visit. Guided tours are very informative and historical knowledge of the guides is superb. Guides are assigned to personal vehicles from the Visitor Center desk on a first come, first served basis beginning at 8:00 AM each day. Guides may be reserved in advance for organized bus groups by calling toll free 1-877-874-2478 or fax 1-717-338-1244. A guide may also be reserved for individuals in cars. This may be the best choice for those visitors who have limited time to visit the park.

Licensed Battlefield Guide Fees:
1-6 people= $55.00
7-15 people= $70.00
16-49 people= $105.00
50+ people= $140.00.

For visitors who prefer not to take their personal vehicle through the park, there is a battlefield bus tour with a guide on board available from March through September. These tours begin and end at the National Park Service Visitor Center:

Guided Bus Schedule:
March 25 to April 6- twice daily at 11:00 and 1:30.
April 7 to June 8- three times daily at 9:30, 12:00 and 2:30.
June 9 to August 26- six times daily at 9:30, 11:00, 12:00, 1:30, 2:30, and 4:00.
August 27 to October- three times daily at 9:30, 12:00, and 2:30.

Bus Tour Fee:
Adult (age 13+)= $25.95
Youth (ages 6-12)= $15.50
Child (ages 0-5)= free

Be sure to check at the information desk for schedule updates and changes.

(NPS)

Audio tours are available for purchase in the park book store in cassette or CD format. Narrated by authorities on the Battle of Gettysburg, these tours will provide the listener with detailed descriptions of significant areas of the battlefield park and bring to life the soldiers who fought this great battle. For further information on taped battlefield tours, call the park bookstore at (717) 334-2288.

Hikes and Bikes
For visitors who wish to hike the battlefield or bicycle during their visit, there are designated trails and pathways near the Museum and Visitor Center and elsewhere in the park. Look for designated trails on the park brochure or inquire at the park information desk during your visit. (Be aware that bicycles are not allowed on earthen trails or walkways and must remained on paved surfaces.)

For Scout Groups, there is the "Boy Scouts of America Gettysburg Heritage Trail Guide", which gives scouts a challenging course through the park. The guide booklet is available at the park bookstore.

THE DAVID WILLS HOUSE
Attorney David Wills' home in Gettysburg was not just the center of Gettysburg, it was the center of the immense clean-up process after the Battle of Gettysburg and where President Abraham Lincoln put the finishing touches on his Gettysburg Address. The speech transformed Gettysburg's community from a place of devastation to the symbol of our nation's new birth of freedom.

The Wills House opened to the public in February 2009 with a museum featuring six galleries, two of which include rooms that have been restored to their 1863 appearance: Will's office where he received letters from families looking for loved ones after the battle and undertook plans for a national cemetery and its dedication; and the bedroom where Lincoln stayed the night before he delivered the Gettysburg Address.

The Wills House is operated by Main Street Gettysburg as an official partner with Gettysburg National Military Park. The property is on the Register of National Historic Places.
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THINGS TO DO IN GETTYSBURG
The borough of Gettysburg has numerous commercial museums, gift shops, tour companies and businesses that offer services and evening activities. Call the Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau's community desk phone at (717) 334-9410, the information center phone at (717) 334-6274, or toll free at 1-800-337-5015 for information and to request brochures, or visit the Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau web site.