(music playing) Hi everyone welcome to the online home of Gettysburg National Military Park.
This video is designed to help you plan your visit to the park and make the most
of your time here in Gettysburg. If you are planning on spending time in both
the museum and visitor center and on the battlefield
make sure you plan for at least 4 to 6 hours here in Gettysburg.
A great place to begin your visit is by stopping by the Museum and Visitor
Center and picking up a park map and one of our Today in the Park guidebooks for
the spring, summer, or fall. The map will help you navigate the battlefield and
our guidebook will let you know all the events going on in the park. Start your
visit by getting a ticket to see our orientation film, the Cyclorama painting,
and the museum. The orientation film provides an excellent overview of the
Battle of Gettysburg and places it in the larger context of the Civil War. The
Cyclorama is the largest painting in North America and tells the story of
Pickett's Charge. The museum tells the story of the American Civil War from its
deep roots to its lasting legacy focusing in on the Battle of Gettysburg.
There are a variety of ways that you can tour the battlefield here at Gettysburg.
Tours with licensed battlefield guides can be arranged in advance or as
available on the day of your visit through the Gettysburg Foundation for
both personal tours and bus tours. You can also do a self-guided driving tour
with our park map. There's information on the front and back of the map and on
informational markers out on the battlefield and signs to direct you
around the park. You can also purchase an audio tour in the bookstore if you would
like a narrated tour of the battlefield. When you conclude your battlefield tour
make sure you visit the National Cemetery to honor those who fell here
and see where President Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. You can also
visit the David Wills house where Lincoln completed the speech and stayed
during his time here in Gettysburg. We also have a number of free park ranger
programs that we offer in the spring, summer, and fall. For a full schedule of
our program offerings check out the ranger programs page
online or look at the schedule printed in the Today in the Park guide books.
Finally don't forget to visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site. This
farm was the only home that President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife Mamie
ever owned. We hope this video has been helpful as you plan your visit and we
hope that you enjoy your time here at Gettysburg National Military Park.