Gettysburg can be found in the rolling countryside of Pennsylvania and is easily reached from both Philadelphia and Baltimore. American history is kept alive today at this world-famous historical park that’s visited by tens of thousands of tourists and Civil War buffs each year, who come away muttering Lincoln|Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address in their sleep.
Gettysburg’s importance dates back to the three-day Civil War battle which was fought here and believed to have been the turning point in the war. The catastrophic loss of 50,000 men was later commemorated by President Lincoln in his well-known Gettysburg Address.
Aside from, the battlefield, now a national park, Gettysburg boasts a number of interesting attractions in addition to the Civil War sites including the sheer beauty of the landscape. One of the world’s last remaining cycloramas is a definite highlight, as are the Gettysburg National Cemetery, Museum of the Civil War and a number of individual monuments found throughout this national historic site.
Highlights
Gettysburg Cyclorama: is a fascinating work, executed in 1884 by the renowned French artist Paul Dominique Philippoteaux. The circular painting depicts Pickett’s charge and is one of the few cycloramas to be seen anywhere in the world today.
Gettysburg Museum of the Civil War: is a good place to begin your visit and to get your bearings, as you can follow an electronic map which details the locations of the battles. You will find a wide-ranging collection of exhibits of Civil War paraphernalia in the museum as well. Displays include: uniforms, tools, weapons, and artistic representations of the battle.
Antietam National Battlefield: this important battlefield is a short drive from Gettysburg and well worth a visit. It is the location where the Confederate army was repelled in its first attempt at invading the north, in 1862. The visitors’ center features exhibits from the battle, which is considered to be one of the bloodiest of the Civil War.
National Civil War Wax Museum: cashing in on the Civil War, this museum offers a chance to view and laugh at unrealistic wax mannequins of war heroes.
Gettysburg National Cemetery: the moving resting place of the 50,000 soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War battle, some of whose gravestones are only indicated by number, is centered on the Soldiers’ National Monument where Lincoln gave his famous address.
Jennie Wade House: said to be the only civilian who died in the battle, Jennie met her end when she was busy making bread for Union soldiers; a model corpse representing the scene helps you to visualize the event.