Culp's Hill paving project at Gettysburg NMP

News Release Date: July 22, 2024

Contact: Jason Martz

GETTYSBURG, PA – Beginning Monday July 29, park roads on the eastern portion of the battlefield in the Culp’s Hill and Spangler’s Spring areas, Coster Avenue, and Benner Hill will be repaved. This three-month project will address road surfaces that are at the end of their lifespan.

This project requires road closures that will temporarily interrupt the ability to visit portions of the battlefield while work is ongoing. A mix of daytime and nighttime work will occur. Park roads may be fully closed, intermittently closed, or reduced to a single lane of traffic. No work is expected to occur on weekends or federal holidays, but this is subject to change due to adverse weather conditions.

Daytime roadwork that will affect normal visitation includes:

  • Wainwright Avenue: August 5 to 7 – Full Closure.

  • Entire Culp’s Hill/Spangler’s Spring area, including all feeder roads: August 8 to 14 – Intermittent Closure or Single Lane of Traffic.

  • Entire Culp’s Hill/Spangler’s Spring area, including all feeder roads: September 2 to 4 – Full Closure.

  • Culp’s Hill Tower Road and parking: September 5 to 6 – Full Closure.

  • Wainwright Avenue: September 9 to 10 – Full Closure.

  • Coster Avenue: September 11 – Full Closure.

  • Benner Hill: September 12 – Full Closure.

  • Entire Culp’s Hill/Spangler’s Spring area, including all feeder roads: September 26 to 31 – Intermittent Closure or Single Lane of Traffic.


Other Park roads in the area will be repaved during evening and nighttime hours and will have little to no effect on normal visitation. A road closure map will be provided, via the park website at www.nps.gov/gett, so visitors can plan their visit accordingly.

Scheduled paving dates are subject to change. Every effort will be made to complete the work as expeditiously as possible as well as minimize disruptions for park visitors. Full details on the schedule of road work will be made available on the park website and social media platforms as details become available.

www.nps.gov

Save 15-acres at Willoughby’s Run in Gettysburg

At the end of last year I had all but written off a critical 15 acres at Gettysburg as lost forever due to a massive new apartment complex that seemed unstoppable!

A local developer had planned to cover this hallowed ground with as many as 112 apartments spread out over eight buildings of differing heights, much to the consternation of local residents.

But we don’t give up easily, and after months of negotiations, along with appeals urging him to “do right by history,” the developer agreed to sell it to us for the price of $3 million.

Great news... except we don’t have a spare $3 million, especially given all the other threats to hallowed ground already on our docket.

Fortunately, a generous donor who cares passionately about Gettysburg stepped forward with an offer to give half of that amount, or $1.5 million, as a match, if we can raise the other half over the next few years!

We need to raise $375,000 so it can be matched by our donor's gift amount – for a total of $750,000.

Gettysburg is one of the most important battles ever fought on American soil.

And this 15-acre tract of Willoughby’s Run, which saw some of the earliest and most dramatic opening moments of the engagement, is indispensable to telling the story of what Americans on both sides of the battle were willing to fight and die for.

Willoughby’s Run witnessed some of the Gettysburg battle’s earliest and most striking opening moments.

Get your FREE copy of the Battle Maps of the Civil War: The Gettysburg Campaign with your donation of $63 or more.

CLAIM YOUR GETTYSBURG MAPBOOK

As a nonprofit organization, we may have limited funds, but we also have a wealth of historical information, maps, and illustrations that are invaluable to history lovers like you.

So, we’ve put together a fascinating new limited-edition book. The copies are being bound as I write to you! The title is Battle Maps of the Civil War: The Gettysburg Campaign, and it’s not available in bookstores but only from the American Battlefield Trust.

If you can please make a gift of $63 or more today, to ensure we have the funds to make this payment to secure 15 acres of battlefield at Gettysburg, you’ll be one of the first to receive this new book!

Will you please make your best gift now — for Gettysburg?

With honor and respect,

David N. Duncan
President
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust Prize for History Awarded

“Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South” earns $50,000 as exceptional work that amplifies the vital nature of historic battlefields as irreplaceable literary sources

Karen Testa, ktesta@mercuryllc.com
Mary Koik, mkoik@battlefields.org

June 27, 2024

After considering nearly 100 titles submitted by 24 different publishing houses, the American Battlefield Trust Prize for History has its inaugural awardees!

For her richly reported biography of the complicated Civil War leader who later encouraged an examination of the conflict’s roots and advocated for racial reconciliation, Elizabeth Varon has claimed the top honor and accompanying $50,0000 prize. Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South is published by Simon & Schuster.

In making the selection, Dr. James McPherson, Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Battle Cry of Freedom and one of the prize’s three judges, called Varon’s work “a literary and research achievement” that is “beautifully crafted and original in its good many insights.”

“It is a humbling honor to win this inaugural award from an organization that does so much to promote and revitalize the study of America's formative military conflicts,” Varon said. “I am especially grateful to be recognized with such an impressive group of fellow finalists, representing the dynamism of the field and the centrality of landscapes to the historical imagination.”

The judging panel, which also included Dr. James Kirby Martin, professor emeritus at University of Houston and Dr. Joan Waugh, professor emeritus at UCLA, bestowed Honorable Mention status on D. Scott Hartwig’s I Dread the Thought of the Place: The Battle of Antietam and the End of the Maryland Campaign and Friederike Baer’s Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War. Each author will receive a $2,500 award.

An excellent book can ignite the imagination and the Trust is pleased to honor works of scholarship that make use of battlefields as they would other primary source research documents. We truly appreciate the generous benefactor who has underwritten this program, ensuring that no funds are diverted away from our crucial land acquisition mission as we seek to uplift the broader discourse surrounding American history.

When notified of his honor, Scott Hartwig responded that the prize was “an outstanding way to encourage scholarship about our nation's history and from that scholarship, deeper understanding of the importance of preserving the landscapes where the great and tragic events of that history occurred.  If I Dread the Thought of the Place helps to advance the cause of battlefield preservation, then I am deeply grateful.”

The inaugural awards will be presented in September, during the Trust’s annual Grand Review weekend in Raleigh, N.C. Publishing houses may submit nominations of 2024 titles for next year’s award after October 1. Further details on the prize may be found on the American Battlefield Trust website.

The full roster of finalists for the inaugural prize also included:  

  • Ricardo A. Herrera, Feeding Washington's Army: Surviving the Valley Forge Winter of 1778, (University of North Carolina Press)  

  • Mark Edward Lender, Fort Ticonderoga, The Last Campaigns: The War in the North, 1777–1783 (Westholme Publishing)  

  • George Rable, Conflict of Command: George McClellan, Abraham Lincoln, and the Politics of War (Louisiana State University Press)  

  • Timothy B. Smith, Early Struggles for Vicksburg: The Mississippi Central Campaign and Chickasaw Bayou, October 25-December 31, 1862 (University of Kansas Press)  

  • Victor Vignola, Contrasts in Command: The Battle of Fair Oaks. May 31 - June 1, 1862 (Savas Beatie)  

  • Jack Warren, Freedom: The Enduring Importance of the American Revolution (Lyons Press)   

  • Jeffry D. Wert, The Heart of Hell: The Soldiers' Struggle for Spotsylvania's Bloody Angle (University of North Carolina Press)  

  • Ronald C. White, On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (Random House)

Ribbon Cutting Held to Celebrate the Reopening of Little Round Top

June 24, 2024 Gettysburg PA
Gettysburg National Military Park today celebrated the reopening of Little Round Top with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The Little Round Top area of the Gettysburg battlefield, which saw extensive fighting on the afternoon of July 2, 1863, had been closed to the public for almost two years for extensive rehabilitation efforts to improve parking areas, accessibility and safety, and address erosion and vegetation issues.

Little Round Top is expected to reopen to the public later this afternoon.

The project enhances access to a more extensive, safe, and accessible trail system that allows visitors to experience the area's monuments, cannons, and other areas of interest. Gathering areas across the summit will better accommodate the many large groups arriving by bus. Eroded soils have been stabilized and re-vegetated. New interpretive waysides throughout the area tell the story of those who suffered, died, and memorialized the battlefield. In addition, satellite parking has been expanded and formalized in the area with access to the trail system.

Funding for the project represents a mix of federal funds and generous donations. The total cost of the project was $12.9 million, of which $5.2 million came from donations from the Gettysburg Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the American Battlefield Trust.

“We extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to our philanthropic partners at the Gettysburg Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the American Battlefield Trust. Their dedication, vision, and support of this project made it possible” said Kristina Heister, superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site. “After a twenty-two-month closure, we are thrilled to welcome the American public back to the most iconic location on the battlefield. It is an area where visitors can truly experience a meaningful connection to the past and understand the sacrifices made to protect our freedoms. We are confident that, with the help of the visiting public, the improvements to Little Round Top will provide an amazing experience for generations of visitors to come.”

“The Gettysburg Foundation is excited about the reopening of Little Round Top and the work that the National Park Service has completed to rehabilitate the landscape, monuments, and trails there,” said Gettysburg Foundation interim president & CEO David Malgee. “We are proud to have supported this extensive project as the official non-profit partner of the National Parks at Gettysburg and are truly thankful for the many enhancements to “the hill” that will inspire visitors for generations to come,” added Malgee.

“Gettysburg veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Joshua Chamberlain noted that ‘In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays’ and there are few landscapes for which that power of place is more tangible than Little Round Top.” said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan. “Now revitalized and enhanced, it stands ready to welcome this and future generations, a place where they can feel a meaningful connection to the past.”

“Modernizing and improving visitor access to Little Round Top protects this hallowed ground and ensures that future generations can explore this place where history was made, and better understand how the battle of Gettysburg shaped our nation,” said National Park Foundation President and CEO Will Shafroth. “I am grateful for the generosity of John L. Nau, III and the partnership of the American Battlefield Trust for making it possible.” 

Park staff would like to thank the many members of the local Gettysburg community who helped keep park visitors up to date with pertinent information about the project and their continued patience throughout the process. We look forward to welcoming visitors back to this iconic battlefield site and join us as stewards to help us protect and interpret the site for generations to come.

Full details of the project, including photo albums, videos, time lapse videos, and frequently asked questions are on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/gett.

www.nps.gov

Jason Martz
Communications Specialist

Gettysburg National Military Park & Eisenhower National Historic Site

Office: 717-338-4423

Check out Gettysburg NMP on Web | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Blog 

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Cumberland Gap, The Cleft Between North And South

From National Parks Traveler - June 18, 2024

Cumberland Gap, The Cleft Between North And South

By Kim Kobersmith

Union troops passing through Cumberland Gap in 1863/Public Domain

Standing at the top of the Pinnacle Overlook, I could visualize why both sides of the Civil War considered Cumberland Gap such a strategic outpost. The views from this 2,440-foot high perch are long. On a clear morning over layers of gently rolling hills, I saw the Great Smoky Mountains 100 miles away on the distant horizon. Formerly Confederate Virginia lies to the southeast, and to the southwest formerly Confederate Tennessee. Union-allied Kentucky is situated to the north.

The terrain of this tri-state juncture made the gap a prominent passageway for millennia before and during the war. The overlook sits atop a nearly-100-mile-long ridgeline called Cumberland Mountain, part of the Appalachians that forms a natural and formidable barrier between the two sides. Peering down to the west, I could make out Cumberland Gap, the lowest pass in the region. Originally carved by the Yellow River, this deep notch in the ridge allows easy passage through. Just to the north lies a relatively flat basin, an anomaly in this mountainous terrain. A blanket of morning fog was settled into this ancient meteor crater, drifting along the contours of its dynamic past.

“When the war began, the Confederate strategy in the western theatre hinged on Cumberland Gap,” explained Dr. Lucas Wilder, Civil War history expert and park ranger. “They established it as one of the main bases of operation and hoped to block a Union invasion with a defensive line extending west.”

The Union also valued the gap. A major east-west railroad connecting the Confederacy ran just 40 miles south, and they hoped to sever the supply route. The northern presence also supported a strong pro-Union faction in eastern Tennessee; thousands of young men escaped north to Kentucky from the region to enlist.

While made famous by Daniel Boone as the best way through the mountains, Cumberland Gap is not the only way. Armies from both sides breached the line through some of the multiple gaps through the mountains. And yet, despite its anticipated importance and the fact that Cumberland Gap changed hands several times during the war, no major battles were fought there. The park interprets what it was like to serve here and preserves some notable reminders of the war.

The Confederates controlled the gap starting halfway through 1861. Under the command of General Felix Zollicoffer they built fortifications on the north side of the mountain to protect against a Union invasion. In mid-1862, however, they were ordered to move back deeper into Tennessee. Union forces moved in and built fortifications on the south side of the mountain.

But Northern forces held the gap for only a few months. In September 1862 they left during a major southern invasion into Kentucky and the Confederates moved back in. A year later, Union forces surrounded the southern troops from both sides of the gap. By this point in the war, the north was in control of Knoxville and much of eastern Tennessee. The southern troops were outnumbered and surrendered, knowing no reinforcements were on the way.

Today, short trails from the park road to the overlook lead to two of the 1860s' earthwork fortifications, Fort McCook and Fort Lyon. The area originally held 16 forts, eight built by each side, some which were elaborate enough to fit 10 cannons.

Besides the preserved fortifications, visitors can best experience the lingering presence of war-time troops on a ranger-guided tour of Gap Cave. This five-level, 18-mile cavern provides a peek into the concentration of caves and karst formations in the park as well as a long history of human visitation. Soldiers from both sides stationed at the gap, bored from long days without much action, would venture into the cave.

Park records indicate that more than a thousand soldiers explored the cave in those few years. Their letters home reveal a level of knowledge and awe in detailed accounts of their experiences. Some knew, for example, the names of stalactites and stalagmites and the scientific process of their formation. Others described the beauty of room after room of columns, flowstones, and cave bacon in shades of white, black, and yellow, colored by minerals.

On my cave tour, I imagined having much of the same experiences as these long-ago visitors. We spied a cave salamander perched by the path and ducked as several startled bats flew around our heads. The only light inside the cave was what we carried; flashlights were issued to us upon our arrival for the tour. Then we entered the Civil War room and I felt an even more direct connection.

Here, the soldiers left a piece of themselves behind. More than 300 veterans emblazoned their names in the cave, and the walls of this room are covered with historical graffiti. Most of the names we know little about beyond a mention in the census or an attribution to a military unit. But Dr. Wilder, our guide, pointed out one rather large name, partially hidden behind a column. James Edwards Rains was Confederate commander of the gap for six months. A Nashville native, Rains graduated from Yale Law School and served as district attorney in Tennessee. As a soldier, he reached the rank of brigadier general before being shot through the heart at the Battle of Stone’s River. There is one rather curious aspect of Rains’ signature: his last name was misspelled as “Raines.” Dr. Wilder surmises his men wrote it for him after his visit.

While I was surrounded by soldiers’ names in the Civil War room and imagined their explorations, the place I most closely felt their experience of war was in the cave’s Music Room. Dr. Wilder demonstrated the room’s great acoustics with a song, and the intricate cave structure clarified his clear baritone voice. “Rebel Soldier” is a sad, slow Civil War ballad from southern Appalachia. Written from a Confederate point of view, it tells a universal story of war, of love and homesickness and battle and death. Hearing it in the cave, where so many soldiers had spent part of their war experience, was a haunting and moving reminder of some of the many who traveled Cumberland Gap before me.

Cumberland Gap National Historic Park interprets thousands of years of human travel, from Cherokee and Shawnee traders to Daniel Boone and his Wilderness Road to early tourists exploring Appalachian Mountain beauty.

Adams Co. Hist. Soc. Battle of Gettysburg 161st Anniversary events

Join the American Battlefield Trust and Adams County Historical Society for The Ultimate GettysNerd Game Show on Sunday, June 30th!

Be a part of the live studio audience and enjoy the following perks:

  • $10 voucher for on-site food trucks (The Mexican Food Truck and The Lucky Truck) and complimentary water bottles

  • Swag bag featuring items from ABT and ACHS

  • A chance to win additional prizes

  • Free admission to Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum (valid June 30th only)

  • And, of course, lots of fun with your hosts Garry Adelman, Tim Smith, and Kris White.

Tickets are $40/general admission. GettysNerd test takers receive $10 off admission.

Reserve Audience Tickets

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Have you ever seen the inside of the Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse? Now is your chance! Join us for a special tour focusing on the women of Cemetery Hill - Elizabeth Thorn and Jennie Wade. The tour will begin at the Jennie Wade House and end at Evergreen Cemetery. Special guests include Tim Smith, Cindy Small, and Brian Kennell. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of the women of Cemetery Hill.

Reserve Tour Tickets

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Don't miss out on our other Battle of Gettysburg 161st Anniversary events and programs.



Free Programs:



June 27th

7 to 8 p.m. - VIRTUAL PROGRAM ONLY - Eternal Light Peace Memorial with Ken Cole (Watch Here)



June 29th

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. - The Union Advance with Tim Smith (Reserve Tickets)



July 2nd

1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Company K: The Boys Who Fought at Home with Phil Spaugy

*Free for ACHS members; $10/general admission (Reserve Tickets)



July 6th

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Civil War Book Sale & Signing

*Book signings by Jeff Shaara (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.), Tim Smith and Andrew Dalton (12 p.m. to 2 p.m.) & Jean Green and Bradley Gottfried (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) plus a special guest appearance by Gettysburg actor Bo Brinkman.*



Need to get rid of some of your current book collection to make room for your book sale purchases? We are currently accepting donations of used Civil War and history books for the sale. Please email us at info@achs-pa.org if you are interested in donating.



July 7th

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. - The Confederate Retreat with Tim Smith (Reserve Tickets)



Paid Programs:



July 1st

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Fire Our Civil War Cannon!

$50/ACHS members; $70/general admission (Reserve Tickets)



July 4th

7 p.m. to 8 p.m. - An Evening with William A. Frassanito

$40/ACHS members; $6

Elmira NY Civil War Symposium July 26-28th

2nd Annual Elmira Civil War Symposium

July 26-28, 2024
Click here for more information

​ The Friends of the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp and Elmira College are sponsoring a symposium Friday, July 26 through Sunday  July 28, 2024. Presentations will cover a range of topics related to Elmira’s Civil War history. Scheduled activities will take place on the historic Elmira College campus.

Keynote Speaker
Wayne Motts​

“From Elmira to Gettysburg: Elmira Connections to America’s Greatest Civil War Battle” Situated just north of the Pennsylvania border, along the banks of the Chemung River, Elmira with its population of nearly 27,000 persons in 1860 was soon to play a key role in the American Civil War. Elmira sent her own sons to war, and played a key role as a Union rendezvous, muster point, training location and eventually a prisoner of war camp. Join historian, battlefield guide, and author, Wayne E. Motts as he explores some personal stories between Elmira and the Battle of Gettysburg. Wayne E. Motts is the President Emeritus & Historian of the Gettysburg Foundation, which is the non-profit philanthropic partner of the Gettysburg National Military Park and the Eisenhower National Historic Site. Wayne is the author of Trust in God and Fear Nothing: Gen. Lewis A. Armistead, CSA, and the co-author with James A. Hessler of Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg the Most Famous Attack in American History. Wayne has been a licensed battlefield guide at the Gettysburg National Military Park for 36 years.

​

Additional information inquiries can be emailed to Barracksno3@gmail.com

The Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg

From the National Park Service

161st Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg Programs

Cemetery Ridge is visible as a storm approaches the battlefield. NPS Photo

TOP 10 TIPS for a Safe and Enjoyable Battle Anniversary.
 

  1. Know before you go! The full schedule for the Battle of Gettysburg Anniversary from July 1 to 3 can be found on our website, or grab a program booklet at the Museum and Visitor Center. 

  2. The regular Summer Ranger program schedule is suspended during the Battle of Gettysburg Anniversary events from July 1 to 3. These programs will resume on July 5. 

  3. Watch the weather and know our cancellation policy.  

  • In the event of thunderstorm or tornado warnings, or a heat index more than 105 degrees, all programs will be canceled.  

  • In the event of a heat index more than 91 degrees, programs will be shortened and modified. 

  1. Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water, know your limitations, and don't overexert yourself. 

  2. We offer a variety of programming for all age levels, interests, and abilities including Family programs, Sacred Trust talks (in partnership with the Gettysburg Foundation), 100 Nights of Taps, and Living History demonstrations. 

  3. Ticks! Ticks! Ticks! (And don’t forget their friends; chiggers and mosquitoes.) Please use bug spray and wear long pants. 

  4. Prepare yourself against the harmful effects of the sun. Please use sunscreen, wear a hat, and consider a cooling cloth to help keep you cool and protected from the sun. 

  5. Sturdy walking shoes or boots are a must for the anniversary hikes.  

  6. Remember the Six Ps: Proper Parking Prevents Park Protection Problems. Please keep all four wheels on the pavement and park as directed. 

  7. What about the reenactments? The National Park Service does not allow reenactments within the battlefield park, though several occur on private property outside the park boundary. However, Living History demonstrations take place throughout the park. 

The three-day Battle of Gettysburg marked a turning point not only in the course of the American Civil War, but also for the future of the United States of America. Join National Park Service Rangers during the 161st Anniversary for a series of free guided walks and talks that discuss, explore, and reflect on this important chapter in our nation’s history.

On all park avenues please park your vehicle on the right side of the road, unless otherwise directed, with all wheels on the pavement.

Schedule is subject to change.

July 1-3: Daily Ranger Guided Programs & Events

Gettysburg History Hike (90 minutes)
Hike from the Visitor Center to Cemetery Ridge where fighting raged on July 2 & 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 Site 1, behind the Museum and Visitor Center.
10:00 A.M.

National Cemetery Tour (45 minutes)
Explore the meaning and cost of the Battle of Gettysburg, and of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Find out how the National Cemetery was established, who is buried there, and why Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address still has meaning for us today.
Meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to the National Cemetery.
11:00 A.M., 3:00 P.M., 5:30 P.M.

100 Nights of Taps (30 minutes)
Gather in the National Cemetery to learn more about the men buried there and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Listen as the notes of taps fill the air in Gettysburg as the famous 24-note call is sounded in honor of those who died during the three-day battle.
Meet at the Soldiers’ National Monument, Gettysburg National Cemetery.
7 P.M.

Monday, July 1, 2024

Key Moment Programs

Join National Park Service rangers for brief 30-minute programs that highlight the critical moments of the battle from the perspective of the soldiers and civilians who participated. Utilizing published and unpublished first-hand accounts, the humanity, chaos, and tragedy of battle will be explored. Minimal walking.

Station 1 – McPherson Barn
Scene of the opening of the battle on July 1 and of fierce fighting that afternoon.
Times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Park on Stone & Meredith Avenue.

Station 2 – Oak Hill, Tour Stop 2
The most commanding position on the July 1 battlefield and the jumping off point for key confederate attacks.
Times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Park at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, Auto Tour Stop 2.

Anniversary Battle Walks

These special two-hour programs involve significant walking, occasionally over rough terrain. Water, headgear, sun protection, insect repellent and sturdy walking shoes are highly recommended. All four tires must remain on pavement when parking alongside avenues.

9:00 A.M. – Buford Leads the Way: The Opening Hours of Battle
Meet at Oak Hill, Tour Stop 2. Park on Buford Avenue. Program ends at the Railroad Cut.

9:00 A.M. – The Fighting ... was Most Desperate: Rowley's Brigade on July 1st
Meet at Tour Stop 1, McPherson Ridge. Park on Reynolds Avenue.

3:00 P.M. – Junius Daniels Brigade – July 1, 1863
Meet at Oak Hill, Tour Stop 2. Park on Buford Avenue. Program ends at the Railroad Cut.

3:00 P.M. – Pender and Heth Attack: End of Day July 1
Meet at West End Guide Station. Park on Reynolds, Stone, & Meredith Avenue. Program ends on Reynolds Avenue.

Family Programs

While all programs are family-friendly, these have been specifically developed for families with children ages 4 to 14 in mind.

10:00 A.M. – Family Program: “Build It, Paint It, Mold It” (45 Minutes)
Children ages 4 to 14, and their families, will learn about the battle action in and around the McPherson barn on July 1, 1863 and will then have the opportunity to build the barn and other landscape features with Legos, paint the scene with water colors, or mold one of the nearby monuments with modeling clay.
Meet at the McPherson Barn. Park on Stone and Meredith Avenues.

1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Hands-On History Experience
Stop by the Group Lobby of the Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center anytime between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. for an interactive hands-on experience.Group Lobby, Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center.

Twilight Lantern Walk: The End of the First Day of Battle

Join National Park Service Interpreters for these special lantern walks and discover the stories of those who fought and died upon these fields 161 years ago.
8:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Meet at the Howard Equestrian Statue, East Cemetery Hill.

Weather modifications

  • In the event of thunderstorm or tornado warnings, or a heat index in excess of 105 degrees, all programs will be canceled.

  • In the event of a heat index in excess of 91 degrees, programs will be shortened and modified.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Key Moment Programs

Join National Park Service rangers for brief 30-minute programs that highlight the critical moments of the battle from the perspective of the soldiers and civilians who participated. Utilizing published and unpublished first-hand accounts, the humanity, chaos, and tragedy of battle will be explored. Minimal walking.

Station 1 – Alabama Monument, Tour Stop 7
In the afternoon of July 2, Lt. Gen. James Longstreet placed his Confederate troops along Warfield Ridge, anchoring the right of his line in these woods.
Times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Park on South Confederate Avenue.

Station 2 – Culp’s Hill
Confederates of General Ewell’s 2nd Corps launched repeated attacks against the entrenched Union position on Culp’s Hill. Tenacious Union defenders, aided by the darkness of night, were able to repel the assault.
Times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Park on Slocum Avenue.

Anniversary Battle Walks

These special two-hour programs involve significant walking, occasionally over rough terrain. Water, headgear, sun protection, insect repellent and sturdy walking shoes are highly recommended. All four tires must remain on pavement when parking alongside avenues.

9:00 A.M. – "The Onslaught Was Terrible. . .And Our Losses Heavy": Tilton, Sweitzer, and the Fight for Stony Hill and the Wheatfield
Program begins and ends at the Wheatfield, Auto Tour Stop 9.
Park on Brooke Avenue and DeTrobriand Avenue.

9:00 A.M. – Reliving the Confusion and Uncertainty of July 2, 1863, Union and Confederate
Meet at the Warfield Tower, West Confederate Avenue.
Park on West Confederate Avenue. Program ends at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, South Confederate Avenue.

3:00 P.M. – The Crisis of the Engagement: McGilvery's Artillery on July 2nd
Meet at the intersection of United States and Sedgwick Avenue.
Park at the Pennsylvania Memorial, Tour Stop 12.

3:00 P.M. – "The Federal Army was cut in twain..." - The 21st Mississippi and Barksdale's Charge
Meet at the Mississippi Monument, Tour Stop 6.
Park on West Confederate Avenue. Program ends at the Trostle Farm, United States Ave.

Family Programs

While all programs are family-friendly, these have been specifically developed for families with children ages 4 to 14 in mind.

10:00 A.M. – Family Program:“Build It, Paint It, Mold It” (45 Minutes)
Children ages 4 to 14, and their families, will learn about the battle action in and around Little Round Top on July 2, 1863 and will then have the opportunity to build the barn and other landscape features with Legos, paint the scene with water colors, or mold one of the nearby monuments with modeling clay.
Meeting location TBD.

1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Hands-On History Experience
Stop by the Group Lobby of the Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center anytime between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. for an interactive hands-on experience.Group Lobby, Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center.

Twilight Lantern Walk: Cemetery Ridge

Join National Park Service Interpreters for these special walks and discover the stories of those who offered up their lives upon these fields 160 years ago. Learn about who they were, why they served, and who they left behind.
8:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Meet at the National Cemetery Parking Lot.

Weather modifications

  • In the event of thunderstorm or tornado warnings, or a heat index in excess of 105 degrees, all programs will be canceled.

  • In the event of a heat index in excess of 91 degrees, programs will be shortened and modified.

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Key Moment Programs

Join National Park Service rangers for brief 30-minute programs that highlight the critical moments of the battle from the perspective of the soldiers and civilians who participated. Utilizing published and unpublished first-hand accounts the humanity, chaos, and tragedy of battle will be explored. Minimal walking.

Station 1 – The North Carolina Memorial, Tour Stop 4
Near here the last Confederate assault at Gettysburg, Pickett’s Charge, was launched. Times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Park on West Confederate Avenue.

Station 2 – The High-Water Mark, Tour Stop 15
Located near the center of the Union line of battle on Cemetery Ridge, this is where Pickett’s Charge reached its climax.
10:30 A.M., 11:30 A.M., 1:30 A.M., 2:30 p.m.
Park on Hancock Avenue.

Anniversary Battle Walks

These special two-hour programs involve significant walking, occasionally over rough terrain. Water, headgear, sun protection, insect repellent and sturdy walking shoes are highly recommended. All four tires must remain on pavement when parking alongside avenues.

9:00 A.M. – The Harvard Regiment: The 20th Massachusetts on July 3
Program begins and ends at the High Water Mark, Tour Stop 15.
Park on Hancock Avenue.

9:00 A.M. – “Their Usual Gallantry and Bravery”: Candy’s Brigade and the Fight for Culp’s Hill
Meet at the Culp’s Hill Tower.
Park on Slocum Avenue.

3:00 P.M. – "We Gained Nothing but Glory": Pickett and Pettigrew 's Assault
Meet at the Virginia Memorial, Tour Stop 5.
Park on West Confederate Avenue. Program ends at the High-Water Mark, Tour Stop 15

3:00 P.M. – “Never to Yield” - The 14th Connecticut on July 3
Meet at the High-Water Mark, Tour Stop 15. Park on Hancock Avenue.

Family Programs

While all programs are family-friendly, these have been specifically developed for families with children ages 4 to 14 in mind.

10:00 A.M. – Family Program: “Build It, Paint It, Mold It” (45 Minutes)
Children ages 4 to 14, and their families, will learn about the battle action in and around the High-Water Mark on July 3, 1863 and will then have the opportunity to build the barn and other landscape features with Legos, paint the scene with water colors, or mold one of the nearby monuments with modeling clay.
Meet at Auto Tour Stop 15, The High-Water Mark.
Park on Hancock Avenue.

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Hands-On History Experience
Stop by the Group Lobby of the Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center anytime between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. for an interactive hands on experience.
Group Lobby, Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center.

Twilight Lantern Walk: The Aftermath of Pickett’s Charge (Co-sponsored by the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College)
Join National Park Service Interpreters for these special walks and discover the stories of those who offered up their lives upon these fields 160 years ago. Learn about who they were, why they served, and who they left behind.
8:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Meet at the Virginia Memorial, Tour Stop 5.
Park on West Confederate Avenue.

Weather modifications

  • In the event of thunderstorm or tornado warnings, or a heat index in excess of 105 degrees, all programs will be canceled.

  • In the event of a heat index in excess of 91 degrees, programs will be shortened and modified.

Sacred Trust Lecture Series

The Sacred Trust Lecture Series, co-sponsored by the Gettysburg Foundation and Gettysburg National Military Park, will be held July 1 to 3 and July 6 to 7 at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center and features renowned authors, historians, and National Park Service Rangers examining various aspects of the American Civil War experience, the Battle of Gettysburg, and much more. More information on the Sacred Trust Lecture Series can be found at www.gettysburgfoundation.org.

Summer Events Scheduled At Fredericksburg And Spotsylvania

Chatham House

FROM NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER - June 2, 2024

A stop this summer at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia can provide some insights and perspectives into the Civil War battles that raged across this landscape.

The annual History at Sunset program continues with topics covering lesser-known stories across the park. Additionally, walking tours will explore the grounds of the Jackson Death Site, and on select evenings, the Chatham gate will be open into the evening.

Chatham Evening Hours on 2nd Fridays

On June 14, July 12, and August 9, the Chatham parking lot gate will remain open until 8 p.m. Join park staff on the grounds to reflect on the history of Chatham. Bring your camera, a sketchbook, or pick up some supplies to create your own artwork interpreting this special place during these evening hours.

Walking Tours of the Jackson Death Site Grounds on 1st and 3rd Saturdays

On June 15, July 6 & 20, and August 3, join park staff and explore the history that shaped this landscape and reflect on what the landscape tells us today. This 45-minute walking tour will cover about a quarter-mile over flat terrain.

2024 History at Sunset Schedule

All History at Sunset occur every other Saturday evening, programs start at 6:30 p.m., last 90 minutes, and are free to all visitors. Programs take place outdoors. Come prepared with bug spray, comfortable walking shoes, and water. The 2024 History at Sunset schedule is as follows:

June 15 — “The United Roar Was Sublime”: The Second Battle of Fredericksburg, May 3, 1863

Battlefield hike, 1 mile, meet at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center; In May 1863, fighting once more returned to the town of Fredericksburg. The action that made up the Second Battle of Fredericksburg was full of drama and carried high stakes for both sides.

June 29 — Wilderness Crossing Trail

Battlefield hike, 1.5 mile, meet at Ellwood on the Wilderness Battlefield;  Learn more about those hard at work behind the scenes of the Union army, the area hospitals, and the return of US military forces for Marine Corps exercises in the 1920s around Ellwood Plantation.

July 13 — “To Care for Him Who Shall Have Borne the Battle”: Stories from the Fredericksburg National Cemetery

Battlefield walk, 0.25 mile, meet at the side entrance to the Fredericksburg National Cemetery;  Join park rangers for a program that examines the stories of some of the soldiers killed during the war and how their families navigated the difficult realities that war produced and explore how the country made meaning out of the devastation of war.


July 27 — "The Fruit of Grant's Victories": Confederate POWs at Spotsylvania Court House

Battlefield hike, 3/4 mile, meet at the Bloody Angle (tour stop 3 on the Spotsylvania Battlefield);  Thousands of Confederate soldiers became prisoners on May 12, 1864. What did their confinement entail? How were they treated by their captors and comrades during and after the war?

August 10 — The Legacy of Ellwood: Slavery, Resistance, and Power
Stationary evening talk, meet at Ellwood on the Wilderness Battlefield;  What does it mean to resist against oppression? Join rangers for a talk about this complex place with a storied past of slavery and resistance.