Last updated: September 15, 2023
Thing to Do
Daily Ranger Programs at Gettysburg
NPS Photo
Ranger Programs - August 14 to September 17, 2023
Explore the Battlefield
These special Ranger-guided walks are perfect for those looking to better understand the battle and its aftermath.
Gettysburg History Hike (90 minutes)
Hike from the Visitor Center to Cemetery Ridge, where fighting raged on July 2 and 3, 1863. Get an overview of the battle, visit the site of Pickett’s Charge, explore the Bloody Angle, and walk in the footsteps of the men who struggled there.
Meet at Ranger Program Site 1, Museum and Visitor Center
Daily at 10 a.m.
The First Day of Battle (45 minutes)
Why did the battle begin at Gettysburg and how did the results of July 1, 1863, affect the rest of the battle? Join a National Park Service Ranger and explore where the largest battle fought in the western hemisphere began.
Meet at Auto Tour Stop 1, McPherson Ridge
Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m.
The Second Day of Battle (45 Minutes)
July 2, 1863, saw the heaviest fighting of the entire three-day battle. Understand the key decisions that shaped the day and the actions that resulted.
Meet at Auto Tour Stop 10, the Peach Orchard
Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Care of the Wounded (60 Minutes)
Civil War medicine was more than just bone saws and amputations. Visit an actual field hospital used during the first day of the battle. Learn how the wounded were evacuated and treated and discover the story of the doctors and nurses who struggled to keep them alive.
Meet at Ranger Program Site 1, Museum & Visitor Center
Daily, 3 p.m.
Four Score and Seven Years Ago: Lincoln and the Soldiers’ National Cemetery (45 minutes)
Visit the site of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and explore the Soldiers’ National Cemetery where over 3,500 Union soldiers killed in the battle were laid to rest.
Meet inside the Taneytown Gate, Gettysburg National Cemetery
Daily at 1:30 & 3:00 p.m.
Battle Walks (2 hours, Schedule Varies)
Want to experience the battlefield from the same vantage point as the men who fought there? Walk the fields and woods that men struggled for over 160 years ago, and get a closer look at the places and people that had an impact on the battle’s result.
Check at the information desk inside the Museum & Visitor Center for a complete schedule of topics and where to meet the Park Ranger.
100 Nights of Taps
The notes of “Taps” will once more fill the air every evening as the famous 24-note call is sounded in Gettysburg National Cemetery from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania and Gettysburg National Military Park will co-sponsor the seventh year of One Hundred Nights of Taps, in partnership with Taps for Veterans and Gettysburg’s Licensed Battlefield Guides.
Licensed Battlefield Guide Tour of Gettysburg National Cemetery (90 minutes)
Meet a member of Gettysburg’s Licensed Battlefield Guides at the Cemetery Rostrum for a free guided walk exploring the history of Gettysburg National Cemetery. This program will conclude at the Soldiers’ National Monument prior to the performance of Taps.
Meet inside the Taneytown Gate, Gettysburg National Cemetery
Daily at 5:30 p.m.
100 Nights of Taps Program (30 minutes)
Gather at the Soldiers’ National Monument in Gettysburg National Cemetery for a brief program exploring the history of those buried there, as well as a performance of Taps over the graves of the fallen.
Meet at the Soldiers’ National Monument, Gettysburg National Cemetery
Nightly at 7 p.m.
Ranger Programs - September 18 to November 19, 2023
Gettysburg History Hike (90 minutes)
Hike from the Visitor Center to Cemetery Ridge, where fighting raged on July 2 and 3, 1863. Get an overview of the battle, visit the site of Pickett’s Charge, explore the Bloody Angle, and walk in the footsteps of the men who struggled there.
Meet at Ranger Program Site 1, Museum and Visitor Center
Daily at 10 a.m.
The First Day of Battle (45 minutes)
Why did the battle begin at Gettysburg and how did the results of July 1, 1863, affect the rest of the battle? Join a National Park Service Ranger and explore where the largest battle fought in the western hemisphere began.
Meet at Auto Tour Stop 1, McPherson Ridge
Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m.
The Second Day of Battle (45 Minutes)
July 2, 1863, saw the heaviest fighting of the entire three-day battle. Understand the key decisions that shaped the day and the actions that resulted.
Meet at Auto Tour Stop 10, the Peach Orchard
Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Care of the Wounded (60 Minutes)
Civil War medicine was more than just bone saws and amputations. Visit an actual field hospital used during the first day of the battle. Learn how the wounded were evacuated and treated and discover the story of the doctors and nurses who struggled to keep them alive.
Meet at Ranger Program Site 1, Museum & Visitor Center
Daily, 3 p.m.
Four Score and Seven Years Ago: Lincoln and the Soldiers’ National Cemetery (45 minutes)
Visit the site of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and explore the Soldiers’ National Cemetery where over 3,500 Union soldiers killed in the battle were laid to rest.
Meet inside the Taneytown Gate, Gettysburg National Cemetery
Daily at 1:30 & 3 p.m.
Battle Walks (2 hours, Schedule Varies)
Want to experience the battlefield from the same vantage point as the men who fought there? Walk the fields and woods that men struggled for over 160 years ago, and get a closer look at the places and people that had an impact on the battle’s result.
10 am
The full schedule, list of topics, and where to meet the Park Ranger can be found on our Battle Walk web page.
Campfire Program (60 Minutes)
Rangers present programs on a variety of topics on the Battle of Gettysburg and American Civil War.
Check at the information desk inside the Museum & Visitor Center for a complete schedule of topics.
Meet at the Park Amphitheater, West Confederate Avenue
6 pm
The full schedule and list of topics can be found on our Campfire web page.
Details
Duration
30-120 Minutes
Activity
Guided Tours
Pets Allowed
Yes
Pets are allowed on the battlefield grounds. Pets are not allowed indoors or inside the National Cemetery.
Activity Fee
No
Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Outdoor ranger-guided programs are offered in the warm weather months in the spring, summer, and fall. Indoor programs are offered monthly in January, February, and March.
Dates, times, and topics are all subject to change.
Dates, times, and topics are all subject to change.
Accessibility Information
Indoor winter programs are physically accessible.
Outdoor spring, summer, and fall programs range in accessibility levels. Some are fully accessible, others are stationary under a tent, while others are rugged and lengthy hikes or walks.
It is our goal to work with park visitors to ensure everyone has a positive experience visiting Gettysburg. Please contact the park for information about specific programs or to request any accommodations you or a member of your party may need.
Outdoor spring, summer, and fall programs range in accessibility levels. Some are fully accessible, others are stationary under a tent, while others are rugged and lengthy hikes or walks.
It is our goal to work with park visitors to ensure everyone has a positive experience visiting Gettysburg. Please contact the park for information about specific programs or to request any accommodations you or a member of your party may need.