The living history camp at sunrise at Eisenhower's 2022 World War II Weekend event.
NPS Photo
World War II Weekend: September 20-22, 2024
"1944: The Great Crusade"
Join the National Park Service in commemorating the events of 80 years ago for Eisenhower National Historic Site’s 2024 World War II Weekend event. This year’s event theme is “1944: The Great Crusade.”
80 years ago, the United States was engaged in a global struggle against fascism and tyranny. From General Eisenhower's "Great Crusade" in Western Europe, to the jungles of Saipan, and to the farm fields and factories of the United States, 1944 saw millions of Americans pull together in pursuit of a common goal, alongside their Allies in arms.
Eisenhower National Historic Site's annual World War II Weekend is a living history focused event that includes guest speakers, ranger guided tours, family activities, and more. This year's event will bring the stories of 1944 to life through three days of programming and interactive activities for visitors of all ages.
How to Attend World War II Weekend?
Weather permitting, free on-site parking for passenger vehicles only will be available at Eisenhower NHS in a farm field accessible from Emmitsburg Rd, Business Route 15. For GPS, use 250 Eisenhower Farm Rd. For directions to Eisenhower NHS, visit us here.
Shuttle buses depart every hour from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, located at 1195 Baltimore Pike, on both days of the event. A shuttle fee does apply. Visit the Gettysburg Foundation website or call 877-874-2478 to make reservations.
Bus groups should plan to use the shuttle system. Accessible parking is located at the MVC with access to the site via the shuttle. Limited accessible parking is available on-site.
The 2024 Event Schedule is posted below. Please note this schedule is subject to change. All programs and events are free of charge. Outdoor programs are weather dependent.
A park ranger leads a walking tour of WWII burial sites in Gettysburg National Cemetery
NPS Photo
Friday, September 20
Note: Eisenhower NHS is closed to public visitation on this day to allow for staff and participants to safely set-up the living history camp. Programming on this day will take place off-site.
5:00—Ranger-Guided Walk: 1944 in Gettysburg National Cemetery
Join a park ranger for a guided-walking tour of WWII burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery, focusing on stories from 1944. This program meets at the Taneytown Road entrance to the cemetery, Auto Tour stop #16, Gettysburg NMP.
6:30 PM—Remembering the Old Breed: A Conversation with Henry Sledge
Join Henry Sledge, son of famed WWII Marine Eugene Sledge, to talk about his father’s service. From his father’s best-selling memoir to depictions in film and television, Henry shares remembrances of the real Eugene Sledge. This program takes place at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center Theater. Free reservations are required. To reserve tickets, call 717-334-2436, or visit World War II Weekend | Gettysburg Foundation
7:30 PM—Book signing event with Henry Sledge, Dr. Jared Frederick, and Dr. John C. McManus This takes place at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center Bookstore
The Greatest Generation Living History Association display at 2023 World War II Weekend
NPS Photo
Saturday, September 21
1944 Living History Camp at Eisenhower National Historic Site, 9 am to 5 pm
Join hundreds of living history volunteers to visit the year 1944 and explore the fight for freedom over fascism 80 years ago.
Family Programming at Eisenhower National Historic Site, 9 am to 5 pm
World War II Weekend has fun for visitors of all ages. Kids ages 5 and up can pick up a Family Booklet at the Welcome Tent and complete special activities in the living history camp to earn their very own personalized WWII-style dog tag! In addition to the Family Booklet, there are lots of activities and programs at the Family Activity Tent.
10 AM—WWII Reading Adventure
Join a park ranger for story time, followed by a family focused walk to a living history display in camp.
11 AM-2PM—Mystery History Guests
Find special living history guests at the Family Tent, ask them questions, and explore their roles in WWII.
2 PM—WWII Reading Adventure
Join a park ranger for story time, followed by a family focused walk to a living history display in camp.
Eisenhower Home Tours, 9 am to 4:30 pm
Eisenhower home tours are offered in an “open-house” format. Meet the ranger in front of the Eisenhower home.
Eisenhower NHS Guest Speakers and Ranger Programming
9:30 AM—Ranger-Guided Walk: "The War in 1944”
From Saipan to Normandy, explore the events of 80 years ago in this ranger-guided walking tour. Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
10:00 AM—Dr. John C. McManus, “September Hope: The American Side of a Bridge Too Far”
Explore Operation Market Garden, one of the great Allied setbacks of the war in Western Europe 80 years ago. This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers' Tent. Click here for more on this program and speaker.
11:00 AM—Ranger-Guided Walk: "Our Brave Allies in Arms”
Meet the Allies who fought alongside the U.S. 80 years ago in this ranger-guided walking tour. Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
11:30 AM—Dr. Sarah Parry Myers--"I Was Happiest in the Sky": The Women Airforce Service Pilots, 1942-1944
Discover the stories of pioneering women who took to the skies to fight for their country in WWII. This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers' Tent. Click here for more on this program and speaker.
12:30 PM—Ranger-Guided Walk: D-Day and the “The Great Crusade”
Discover the stories of those who invaded Europe 80 years ago in this ranger-guided walking tour. Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
1:00 PM—Kevin Hymel—“George Patton and the Battle of the Bulge”
Explore the story of General George S. Patton in the largest and costliest battle of WWII for American forces—the Battle of the Bulge. This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers' Tent. Click here for more on this program and speaker.
2:00 PM—Ranger-Guided Walk: "The War in 1944”
From Saipan to Normandy, explore the events of 80 years ago in this ranger-guided walking tour. Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
2:30 PM—April Cheek-Messier--Service and Sacrifice: The Story of the Bedford Boys and the Making of the National D-Day Memorial
How does one town in Virginia serve as a national shrine to D-Day? Explore the fascinating story of the Bedford Boys. This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers' Tent. Click here for more on this program and speaker.
3:30 PM— Ranger-Guided Walk: D-Day and “The Great Crusade”
Discover the stories of those who invaded Europe 80 years ago in this ranger-guided walking tour. Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
5:00—Ranger-Guided Walk: 1944 in Gettysburg National Cemetery
Join a park ranger for a guided-walking tour of WWII burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery, focusing on stories from 1944. This program meets at the Taneytown Road entrance to the cemetery, Auto Tour stop #16, Gettysburg NMP.
Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center
Special Exhibits, 9am-5pm: Visit special exhibits by the Museum of the U.S. Navy, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and Eisenhower NHS at the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center.
3:00 PM—Book Signing event: Dr. John C. McManus, Dr. Sarah Parry Myers, and Kevin Hymel. This takes place at the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center Bookstore.
A young visitor poses with a living history volunteer at the Family Activity Tent
NPS Photo
Sunday, September 22
1944 Living History Camp at Eisenhower NHS, 9 am to 3 pm
Join hundreds of living history volunteers to visit the year 1944 and explore the fight for freedom over fascism 80 years ago.
Family Programming at Eisenhower NHS, 9 am to 3 pm
World War II Weekend has fun for visitors of all ages. Kids ages 5 and up can pick up a Family Booklet at the Welcome Tent and complete special activities in the living history camp to earn their very own personalized WWII dog tag!
In addition to the Family Booklet, there are lots of activities and programs at the Family Activity Tent.
10 AM—WWII Reading Adventure
Join a park ranger for story time, followed by a family focused walk to a living history display in camp.
11 AM-1PM—Mystery History Guests
Find special living history guests at the Family Tent, ask them questions, and explore their roles in WWII.
Eisenhower Home Tours, 9 am to 3 pm
Eisenhower home tours are offered in an “open-house” format. Meet the ranger in front of the Eisenhower home.
Eisenhower NHS Guest Speakers and Ranger Programming
10:00 AM—Dr. Tyler Bamford--"Thank God for the US Navy": American Sailors and the Allied Triumph at D-Day
The U.S. Navy was instrumental to the Allied success on D-Day in June 1944. Explore their oft-forgotten role in this climactic battle. This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers' Tent. Click here for more on this program and speaker.
10:30 AM— Ranger-Guided Walk: D-Day and “The Great Crusade”
Discover the stories of those who invaded Europe 80 years ago in this ranger-guided walking tour. Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
11:30 AM—Dr. Jared Frederick--"Into the Cold Blue"
Learn the story of WWII pilot John Homan with Dr. Jared Frederick, who co-authored a memoir of Homan’s service.This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers' Tent. Click here for more on this program and speaker.
12:00 PM— Ranger-Guided Walk: "Our Brave Allies in Arms”
Meet the Allies who fought alongside the U.S. 80 years ago in this ranger-guided walking tour. Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
1:00 PM—"Masters of the Air": A Conversation with John Orloff
Discover the stories of the hit Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air with co-executive producer and writer John Orloff. This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers' Tent. Click here for more on this program and speaker.
2:00 PM—Ranger-Guided Walk: "The War in 1944”
From Saipan to Normandy, explore the events of 80 years ago in this ranger-guided walking tour. Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
5:00—Ranger-Guided Walk: 1944 in Gettysburg National Cemetery
Join a park ranger for a guided-walking tour of WWII burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery, focusing on stories from 1944. This program meets at the Taneytown Road entrance to the cemetery, Auto Tour stop #16, Gettysburg NMP.
Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center
Special Exhibits, 9am-3pm
Visit special exhibits by the Museum of the U.S. Navy, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and Eisenhower NHS at the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center.
Community Events
On Saturday, September 21, the World War II American Experience museum is hosting a U.S.O. style evening dance. For more information, visit here.
Visitors interact with volunteers from the British Women's Land Army group at the 2019 WWII Weekend event.
NPS Photo
Living History Participants
Contact Us:
Planning is currently underway for our 2025 WWII Weekend. Living history groups or individuals who have questions or are are interested in participating in this event or other events in the future can contact us here.
Living History Guidelines:
Living history groups and individuals must agree to NPS guidelines and policies and be approved by the NPS to participate in this event.
Eisenhower National Historic Site's World War II Weekend is not a World War II reenactment. For the National Park Service policy on reenactments, click here.
