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Home » Gettysburg Visitors Guide

Gettysburg Visitors Guide

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  1. Be sure to visit the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum — https://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm, 717-334-1124, 1195 Baltimore Pike — see the film, the Cyclorama, and the collection (download the guide: https://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/upload/GETT%20brochure.pdf)
  2. Hike the trails in the park (sunset on Cemetery Ridge is amazing!)– https://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/upload/GETT%20brochure.pdf
  3. Take the self-directed driving tour of the park (guide sheet at the museum) – https://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/14/gettysburg-battlefield-tours
  4. Take a driving tour of the park with a historian in your car – https://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/fees.htm,  Association of Battlefield Guides, 33 York Street, 717-253-5737,  gblth.org or https://www.civilwar.org/civil-war-discovery-trail/sites/gettysburg-guided-historic-walking-tours.html
  5. Visit the Gettysburg National Cemetery – an amazing historical site and fabulous arboretum, https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/national_cemeteries/pennsylvania/gettysburg_national_cemetery.html, https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=1584934, and https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/national_cemeteries/Pennsylvania/Gettysburg_National_Cemetery.html
  6. Take the walking tour of the Gettysburg National Cemetery — https://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/upload/National%20Cemetery%20brochure-2.pdf
  7. Visit the Eisenhower Historical site (a kitschy return to the 1950s) – buses leave from the museum — https://www.nps.gov/eise/index.htm, https://www.nps.gov/eise/planyourvisit/cell-phone-tour.htm, https://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/25/eisenhower-national-historic
  8. Visit the David Will House, where Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address – a ‘must’ if your interest are historical, https://www.davidwillshouse.org/, https://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/26/the-david-wills-house
  9. Don’t miss the Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum, 111 Seminary Ridge, 717-339-1300,https://seminaryridgemuseum.weebly.com/, a great Civil War museum inside the iconic building where sharpshooters gathered
  10. Take a walking tour of the town with licensed town historians, 717-253-5737, https://www.gblth.com/ or https://www.destinationgettysburg.com/members/american-stories-historic-walking-tours-programs.asp
  11. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride around town or through the battlefield. https://victoriancarriagecompany.com/carriage-tours/
  12. Ride a horse across the battlefield and historic Pickett’s Charge – https://www.nationalridingstables.com/, https://confederatetrails.com/horseback-tours/, https://ridehorsesgettysburg.com/, https://www.hickoryhollowfarm.com/, or https://victoriancarriagecompany.com/carriage-tours/
  13. Take a tour of the Gettysburg historic sites in a classic bus via Gettysburg Historic Tour Company, 717-334-8000,  https://www.historictourcompany.com/
  14. Join the “history nerds” for a private history tour, 717 334-2221, https://www.historynerds.org/nerd-for-a-day-package
  15. Walk the Gettysburg College Campus – don’t miss the great outdoor sculpture garden! (https://www.gettysburg.edu/about/offices/provost/gallery/outdoor-sculptures.dot), and be sure to stop at the Schmucker Art Gallery (https://www.gettysburg.edu/gallery/)
  16. Take the Gettysburg College Civil War self-guided walking tour, guide: https://www.gettysburg.edu/cw2013/pdfs/GCCWWalkingTourBooklet(lr).pdf
  17. Tour Gettysburg on moped, scooter, or electric bike with GettyPeds, https://www.gettypeds.net/, 717-398-2600
  18. See Gettysburg by bike via GettyBike Tours, https://www.gettysbike.com/, 717-752-7752
  19. See Gettysburg – the battlefield, the town, and more – by Segway – https://www.segtours.com/
  20. Visit the George Spangler Farm, preserved by the Park Service – https://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/51
  21. Don’t miss the Shriver House, https://www.shriverhouse.org/, a must-see experience, private museum that shows the Civilian life at the time of the battle, 309 Baltimore Street, 717- 337-2800
  22. Try out the beer! Appalachian Brewing Company, 259 Steinwehr Avenue, 717-334-220, https://abcbrew.com/team/gettysburg-battlefield/ and Battlefield Brew Works & Spirits of Gettysburg Distillery, 248 Hunterstown Road, https://battlefieldbrewworks.com/
  23. Wine tasting within a short walk!  Knob Hill Winery, 100 Chambersburg Street, 717-420-5171, https://www.facebook.com/knobhallgettysburg, Hauser Winery on The Square, 19 Lincoln Square, 717-334-4888, https://www.hauserestate.com/event/19-on-the-square-music-2/, Reid’s Winery & Cider House, 400 Baltimore Street, 717-334-7537, https://www.reidsorchardwinery.com/, and Adams County Winery, 25 Chambersburg Street, 717-334-1381, https://www.adamscountywinery.com/
  24. Great baked goods on the square – The Gettysburg Baking Company, 17 Lincoln Square, 717-334-2367, com
  25. A quick trip to Ireland! Gary Owen’s Irish Pub, 126 Chambersburg Street, 717-337-2719, https://garryowenirishpub.net/. A 90+ whiskey list.  Can’t miss the fish and chips – or the Irish nachos.
  26. A quick trip to Germany! An extensive collection of fabulous handmade German artisan craftwork at The Christmas Haus, 13 Baltimore Street, 717-624-9646, https://www.thechristmashausonline.com/
  27. Don’t miss Lincoln Into Art, the studio and gallery of nationally-known Lincoln painter, Wendy Allen, 329 Baltimore Street, 203- 770-3421, https://www.lincolnintoart.com/
  28. Back to the future! The Lincoln Diner at 32 Carlisle Street, https://thelincolndiner.com/, is the real thing – since 1955. Open 24 hours.  Homemade soup. Breakfast all day.  Their own bakery.
  29. Great shops featuring artisan work. Gallery 30, 26 York Street, 717-334-0335, https://gallery30.com/.  The Lark, 17 Lincoln Square, 717-334-5275, https://www.larkgifts.com/.  Artworks, 30 York Street, 717-334-4250, https://www.artworkspa.com/, Codori’s, 2 York Street, 717-334-6371
  30. Ernie’s Texas Lunch has been in Gettysburg since 1921. Order a Texas weiner with chopped onions and chili, a beer, and fries (with cheese, gravy, or chili), 58 Chambersburg Street, 717-334-1970.
  31. Don’t miss the $5 Martini Happy Hour at The Parrot, 35 Chambersburg Street, 717-337-3739, https://theparrotgettysburg.com/, Tuesday to Thursdays, 8:00 – Midnight, Fridays from 4:00 – 6:00
  32. Tommy’s Pizza – don’t let the name fool you – people go there for the great Pennsylvania beer selection on tap, 105 Steinwehr Ave, 717-334-8966, https://www.tommyspizzainc.com/taplist.php
  33. For gallery fans, check out Lord Nelson’s Gallery, a wonderful gallery of fabulous historical art, 27 Chambersburg Street, 717-334-7950, https://www.lordnelsons.com/welcome.htm and the Bluebrick Gallery, 18 N Washington Street, 717-420-0103
  34. Visit the Rupp House, 451 Baltimore Street, museum run by the Gettysburg Foundation with some great exhibits, https://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/27/rupp-house, and the Jennie Wade House Museum, 548 Baltimore Street, gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com, the home of the only civilian killed during the battle
  35. Stop in for a ‘historical’ cocktail in the Dobbin House Springhouse Tavern – one of the oldest buildings in town – and the basement springhouse is charming – https://www.dobbinhouse.com/menu4.htm
  36. Take the “wine, cider, and food” tour with Savor Gettysburg, https://www.savorgettysburgfoodtours.com/
  37. Check out an independent film @the Majestic Theater. 717-337-8200, https://www.gettysburgmajestic.org/calendar/cinema.dot
  38. Try the two local distilleries – Mason Dixon Distillery (small batch distillery and restaurant), 331 E Water Street, and Battlefield Brew Works & Spirits of Gettysburg Distillery, 248 Hunterstown Road (also a tasting room at 45 Steinwehr Avenue), 717-398-2907, https://battlefieldbrewworks.com/
  39. One of the best panoramic views of the mountains (along with world-class hard cider) at Hauser Winery, 410 Cashtown Road, Biglerville, 717-334-4888, https://www.hauserestate.com/, be sure to get there before sunset!
  40. The Historic Round Barn Farm Market & Thirsty Farmer Brew Works, 298 Cashtown Rd, Biglerville, 717-334-1984, https://roundbarn.farm/, the barn is an architectural marvel – filled with local produce and local beer.
  41. A wide range of local wines and local ciders at Boyer Cellars, the tasting room at Boyer Nursery, 405 Boyer Nursery Rd, Biglerville, 929-265-2284, https://www.boyercellars.com/about
  42. Take a beautiful drive through Appalachian fruit and wine country – Halbrendt Vineyard & Winery, 1150 Evergreen Way, Orrtanna, 717-253-0793, https://halbrendtwinery.com/, Reid’s Winery, 2135 Buchanan Valley Road, Orrtanna, 717-677-7047, https://www.reidsorchardwinery.com/, Adams County Winery, 251 Peach Tree Road, Orrtanna, 717-334-4631, https://www.adamscountywinery.com/, Hollabaugh Bros. Inc. Fruit Farm and Market, 545 Carlisle Road, Biglerville, PA , 717-677-8412, https://hollabaughbros.com/, Thomason’s Olde Thyme Herb Farm and Gift Shop, 170 Stoney Point Road, East Berlin, 717-624-1527
  43. Gettysburg is known as one of the ‘most haunted places in America’ – and you may want to discover why. Try a ghost tour:
  1. To get out of town and enjoy the beauty of the Appalachian and the Appalachian Trail, take the Scenic Valley driving tour, guide: https://www.destinationgettysburg.com/uploads/files/members/Scenic%20Valley%20Tour%2010.pdf, or the Historic Conewago Valley driving tour, guide: https://www.destinationgettysburg.com/uploads/files/Conewago%20Valley%20Tour%20for%20web.pdf
For our specialty recommendation lists – the many golf courses, the hundreds of antique stores, and the many hiking trails, just ask!