Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center in Gettysburg
Categories
- Visitor centerHistory museumMuseumTourist attraction
Location on the map
Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, US
Accessibility
Amenities
Good for kids YesEdit infoPhone: +1 877-874-2478
Site: https://www.gettysburgfoundation...
Opening hours- Monday:8AM–5PM
- Tuesday:8AM–5PM
- Wednesday:8AM–5PM
- Thursday:8AM–5PM
- Friday:8AM–5PM
- Saturday:8AM–5PM
- Sunday:8AM–5PM
Comments (199)
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Park and visited center. There is so much history there, so many things to learn, and so much to see.We ate lunch there too in the cafe. It was a little pricey for what the food was, but it was faster to just grab the food there than go find some place to eat.
Amazing history! You really get a feel for the place where 51,000 lost their lives over a three day time period. I started to whistle while we walked, and then stopped as this is hallowed ground. Beautiful area.
We walked in not knowing at all where to start. Luckily they have plenty of workers there to simply help with questions. We went to the ticket counter and asked the ladies recommendation on what to do and were given detailed descriptions of what order we should do the different events in. The historical film and cyclorama were AMAZING. The artwork and story telling was A+. We then went on the two hour guided business tour of Gettysburg. Linda our bus driver did amazing and was kind. Unfortunately I do not recall the tour guides name. He was so informative and personable. These two made our Gettysburg experience phenomenal! I highly recommend this tour company for anybodys first time here. We would have been so lost trying to tour on our own.
Great stories and beautiful monuments. You can take the auto tour yourself but next time getting the paid tour. I missed so many turns because I didnt know where to go. Stop by the museum center first to get the map and enjoy other things the museum offers.
If you love American History, then this is the place for you! The tours are self guided, but I found all the tidbits of info available to be fascinating, like the fact that there was only one recorded civilian casualty during the Battle at Gettysburg, Jenny Wade is her name.
4 hour free guided car tours thru the National Park Service app. Amazing diorama and movie. Very helpful staff and well-maintained grounds.
Gettysburg is one of those places in time of American History that shaped our country, but so little is known to many Americans. I admit to not knowing the southern forces set up to northwest of the town. And wondering how communication happened that long ago. And how there was only one civilian casualty, Jennie Wade, who was struck by an errant bullet, in her sisters house, in the three day brutal battle. More than 40,000 soldiers died. It is so worth visiting the museum, and seeing the cyclorama. So much history. Need I say what happens if we dont pay attention to, and learn from, the past
Visitors Center very clean, they have a place to buy snacks and refreshing drinks, a store, restrooms, and exhibits.I really appreciate the respect we feel at the place for all the people who died there. It doesnt matter what side they fight for.They said the self tour is about 3hrs. But you are free to decide where to go and how much time spend.The pictures are from Cemetery.
Great experience! I visited the Gettysburg battlefield earlier today. It had snowed the night before, and the day was windy and cold. There weren’t many people visiting, and I was able to walk from the visitor center to cemetery ridge from one end to the other, including little round top and then circle back to visit the cemetery.
The left side of the house is 350 years old, the small entryway in the middle is about 200 years old, and the section on the right is newer. Our guide was great. There’s something about being inside a 350 year-old home that is eerily eerie. Kept my ear out for ghosts but didn’t hear anything.
The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center is first class, especially the Cyclorama! Also, the guided tour in an open air double-decker bus was well worth the time and money. Im sorry to say that I wasnt really that interested in the history of that battlefield - until I visited for 5 days... I was fascinated, and horrified, by what I learned about that whole era of American history. I hope to return to visit again someday.
I highly recommend the bus tour. The tour was two hours, but we learned much. We also had our kids with us, and the guide did an excellent job with making sure they were engaged. After the tour we watch the film and saw the cyclorama. Well worth it!
The visitors center is actually visitor friendly. Clearly marked directions make navigating the museum a pleasant experience. The employees were courteous and knowledgeable. Although photos were allowed, we left the visual experience for you to discover on your own. The mini theaters give you a tactical advantage as you stop at each display that follows.
I went to see a battlefield the day before but didnt get the image in my head very clear. This museum is beyond my expectation. Highlight is the cyclorama that show the battlefield 360 degrees with super detail of painting. I love every single show and presentation they have in the museum. I learn and understand more from the beginning before the battle of Gettysburg started, 3 days battle and what happened after that.- Display is wonderful and interesting.- Staff is very nice and helpful.- Reasonable ticket.- Family friendly.- Plenty of parking spaceIf I have all day, I will just stay there. Recommended!
Wow this is a place you want to put on your places to see. The museum opens up at 9:00 am but get there early to get your ticket to the movie & cyclorama to get you started a memory you will never forget, then on to the museum for all the facts. Once your done continue on the the historical drive through the 16 battlefield locations. This can be done wit a guide in the car or on a bus where they explain all that went on that saved our Union. I didn’t take pictures of the auto tour I’ll leave that up for your imitation to see when you get there 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍.
Absolutely incredible Museum and park. The battlefield is solemnly and beautifully kept, and the museum is top notch. Try to spend a couple days if possible, because the park is extensive.
It was both solemn and a beautiful site. To be standing on the same grounds where so many soldiers lost their lives. From the top of the monument seeing the miles of battleground was breathtaking.
Great place. Every child above 8 should get the opportunity to g here and learn. American history. Got goosebumps on the battlefield.
Amazing museum. There is so much information here. You can easily spend hours going through the museum. Genuine artifacts abound. I feel like I can go back 100 times, and learn something new every time. Definitely dont miss the cyclorama. Truly spectacular. Hand sanitizer is available everywhere, face coverings are encouraged but not mandatory, and the restrooms are very clean. The gift shop is relatively inexpensive compared to other museum gift shops. The staff are helpful, as well as engaging. This building and all exhibits are wheelchair accessible.
Impressive! We used an Audio app on our phone which hightlighted events of the battle & gave excellent directions. Please check the visitor center as well.
Just amazing in the snow. This is somewhere that everyone should go to get a feel of the massive loss of life that took place here. The size of the battlefield is astounding.
We did not do our research before visiting and were very overwhelmed. Many visitors take the entire day or multiple days to visit the park. I recommend arriving with a plan. Weve visited dozens of National Parks and this was the only one that felt commercialized with fees to enter museums, watch films, and purchase tours. There is a free auto tour that includes 16 stops. The cemetery was incredible to stand where Lincoln gave his address and overlooked countless unknown graves. Overall, Gettysburg is a well-maintained park overflowing with history that requires significant time to fully explore.
Great place, full of history! Could have spent so much more time here! You need days to see it all...we only had about 4 hours!
Very nice. Built in 2008. Has a good gift shop and decent cafeteria. Lots of employees and rangers to help plan your day and answer questions.
So much information to see and tale in. Museum, Birthday of Freedom movie and circulars are worth seeing just on their own. But the auto tour is great. Didnt get to see it all, ran out of time! Worth another trip.
One of my favorite places to visit, such a emotional and sobering place. Purchased tickets for the tour, and it was awesome! The tour guide was funny, knowledgeable, and just an all round awesome guy. I loved learning about the battle and cool little details that I wouldnt have otherwise have known. Thanks!
Such a great place to visit and give perspective on what our country has gone through. More Americans need to hear the whole story of the civil war.
Great museum. The ranger programs are incredible. Make time to do the Gettysburg History Hike: 3 Days in 90 Minutes. It is an easy walk and gives a great overview of the 3 day battle. It is well worth the time and will make the auto your muck more enjoyable. We spend about 8 hours at the park spread across 2 days. Trying to do it all in one day might have been too much.
We have been to the park to see some of the scenery into the past, but our last visit we spent milling around the visitor center and store. This is an exceptional shop. They have the best books on Gettysburg and other historical events in the founding of our country. Wonderful shirts and sweatshirts, and all sorts of gift items. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. The store is well laid out and clean. All around the store are exhibits which are just simply fascinating. Don’t miss stopping at the visitor center when you visit the fields and the town.
Brought my family all the way from NH to see the battlefield. We had a very great experience doing the free auto tour.
Fascinating, sad, glorious all at the same time! Standing behind canons, looking into fields, imagining what soldiers saw & reading about defeats & victories in the very spot I was standing was astounding for a history buff like myself. Standing in silence, listening to the wind blow through the trees, wondering if soldiers heard the same sounds at times. Standing in the very spot hundreds of soldiers gathered to listen to Abraham Lincoln give his Gettysburg address was surreal. The places, artifacts, the very ground you walk on is rich in history and I absolutely loved every minute of it!
Not a fan of history but enjoyed everything we saw. You could spend days and still not see everything. Our tour guy Roy was fantastic. He did the reenactments when he was younger and now does the big bus tours. He was so knowledgeable.. I could listen to him for hours.
Truly awe inspiring and humbling. What a sacred place. To walk the same grounds where so many fell. Words, books, nor movies could never do this battlefield justice. Its a must see to truly understand and take it in.
Important place to stop before you explore the battlefield. You can stop for free and busy the gift shop but if you want to explore the museum and watch the video its like 15 and add the cyclorama and its about 19 but its well worth it to give you some background before you go exploring.
Its a must stop if visiting Gettysburg for the first time. Come here first thing in morning and it sets up the rest of the day. See a 20 minute narrated film about the battle of Gettysburg. Then head to Cyclorama painting before finishing up at the museum. Once done here youll head out on bus or car tour to various battlefield sites. A truly memorable experience. Make sure you set aside at least half a day for this but if youre really into it you could spend all day here.
Allow 2 hours to take in the museum. Goes deep on all the Unionists motives and the individual battles and strategies for the battles before and after those at Gettsburg. Excellent
Impressive!! Well worth the trip. Monuments are beautiful. My husband and I did the 2 hour bus tour first, then drove back around the auto tour to take our own pics and enjoy it close up. Such a wonderful place..
Truly impressive museum with a film and cyclorama that illustrates the magnitude of the 3 day battle. The red route that takes you through the battlefield is well-done with a video explanation possible on your phone which you get at the info desk at the museum. As a student of history this is a must.
What an amazing tour! We had an excellent guide and it was well worth the time and only spent! It was awesome!
For anyone into US history, this place is amazing. The museum has lots to see for relics from both early US and CSA. Highly recommend spending extra to see the Cyclorama display and purchasing the narrated auto-tour. The narration for the self driven tour of the area really helps set the perspective of the scale of events that occured that my whole family could follow and understand. My 8yr old has even listened to it a couple time again since coming home to hear actual accounts of the war.
Great place really enjoyed seeing such a huge turning point in Americas history. But is you really want to see and learn as much as you can you will need at least 4-5 hours.And if you can go and see the 1st Minnesota infantry Memorial they have an awesome story that not Manny know about.
I have been here a few times, and I never cease to be amazed at the history and reverence that it inspires. I took them bus tour for the first time- totally worth it. See a ranger presentation, get put on your own and explore. One could really spend a few days here and not see it all. A must see for any history enthusiast.
We enjoyed our visit to Gettysburg. However, there is so much to do and see it was a little overwhelming. Make sure you have a good plan before you go. We opted not to do a group tour. While we did prefer it that way, the tours made it difficult to navigate on our own. The cyclorama was neat to see, but we were not a fan of the museum.
Very informative! There are a lot of guns and a good souvenir shop. The staff (volunteers?) are all nice and helpful.
Great facility, great museum. Also has a book store and visitor center in the facility, restroom available too inside. Can get the National Park passport stamps here for both the NMP and Eisenhower NHS. It is Rather busy and crowd though…It is a good place to get maps, information and start your Gettysburg tour. We were doing self guided tour, I did a lot of researches before our visiting, and it’s still good to get a map here.
Great opportunity to see history from your car. The visitors center is nice, but you have to pay for most things there.
Beautiful museum! I recommend purchasing the movie ticket, cyclorama viewing, and museum pass in advance to visiting (saves a TON of time!). Great deal for the price. If doing all 3, give yourself at least 3+ hours to do so. Friendly and helpful staff and park rangers. Learned a lot that I didnt know about the Battle. Had a great time. If youre kids like history, all is good. If they dont, they may become bored quick because theyre not into reading everything like adults will do.
We took the Bus tour through the Gettysburg Battle field.The tour guide was very informative he made you feel like you were really there for the battle !!!! It was amazing !!!!
I dont know where to begin. very humbling. Dave was knowledgeable. LOVED LOVED THE CYCLORAMA OF THE Battle of Gettysburg
Amazing. Really puts things into perspective when you think of that huge field filled with soldiers, smoke, the sounds of cannon fire..
This is a very inspirational and educational place for family and tourists! It was amazing and the staff and security were so friendly. The battlefield tours are amazing and unfortunately didn’t get pictures but you can get a picture with Abraham Lincoln Statue outside and the gift shop was full of so much historical themed gifts! Definitely check it out you won’t be disappointed!!
I love this place. We live within 1.5 hrs of Gettysburg so we go multiple times a year. This time we got the deal which was the bus tour, museum, film and cyclorama for $42. If you dont want to do the bus ride its $15 .It was well worth the price. The bus ride was about 2.5 hrs and we went to parts of Gettysburg that weve never seen before. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and kind. The theater was big and seats comfortable. I think the cyclorama was the best part. I didnt know what that was till the worker explained it and the way it has been conserved and the lights and displays were absolutely incredible. The museum was amazing, a lot bigger then I expected. I liked how on each exhibit there were quotes from both the union and confederate side. I also like how there was emotion in the display. Yes, it told the facts of the battle but they tried to really show the personal and emotional aspect from the soldiers and families point of view. Ill definitely be doing the tour again. I do suggest get there when the center opens. We got there at 12 and we ran out of time at the museum, we ended up missing the last few displays. We went on a Thursday and they closed at 5.Ill definitely be back to to see the Jennie Wade museum, Eisenhower farm and George Spangler farm and field hospital, all places we drove by on the bus.Overall I suggest that you visit Gettysburg its absolutely incredible.
Amazing experience...really needed more than a day to experience it all. I would recomend to new visitors, visit the museum before taking the self guided tour. We did it the opposite way and wish we had more time to go through the tour a second time
Intense historical experience. People who may be triggered by explosions sound be prepared. Part of the audio visual experience may be triggering.
Great history. Sad it came to war. Both sides are honored. Mostly the North of course.
Dont miss it! Our favorite part of the trip. Our tour guide Denny was very informative and funny. Great for kids and adults both. Beautiful scenery. Great gift shop and a place you can eat lunch.
It was great, but also the saddest museum I have ever been in.
Gettysburg is an amazing place with so much to look at it would take days to see everything. The museum is excellent and the cyclorama is amazing. The driving tour is nice if you dont have a lot of time which is what I did. The park rangers are great and very helpful.
I didnt care much for the Visitor Center. I was hoping to learn a lot from reading like at other sites Ive gone to, but this was just a fancy visitor center with a small food/beverage area and a big gift shop which aside from the books, wasnt great. There was a museum and short film but you had to pay for them. It just didnt seem like the people visiting were very respectful about anything.
The movie? Good. Narrated by Morgan Freeman. The Cyclorama? Good. Really neat. The Bus Tour? Good but 2 hours long. The museum? Awesome!!
We watched the film and went through the museum. They were great. It was clean and also very interesting and Im not super into history. The cyclorama was super cool. We scheduled the car tour for the following day. We got the most amazing tour guide. His name was Jim Miller. I think he knows more about the battle at Gettysburg than anyone in the world! He is a vivid story teller and knew quotes and hour by hour accounts of the entire battle. We drove to different battle sights he talked and answered questions. Took some pics. Plus we had snacks and a cooler in the trunk so it was a fabulous morning. Being in the comfort of your own car is priceless. It was the best tour Ive ever been on! My entire family was in awe of his knowledge. And he was just a friendly guy. All that being said I highly recommend the car tour!
This is A-day long experience. So much to learn see and read inside of the museum. Then the car tour to see All of Gettysburg Monuments And the history of the war. Great car tour to hear information you can download on your phone to follow directions and listen to the information at each stop.
Visited for the first time with kids between 6 to 13 years old. Happy to say that everyone had a great time and enjoyed our time. Stayed for over three hours and easily couldve made a full day out of it.Parking was free and easily accessible. Priced tickets out ahead of time and knew what to expect when we got inside. However, pleasantly surprised when husband went to pay when they suggested us getting the membership instead as it saved us close to $40. Not only did it include the tickets into the museum but also several other activities.
Really is a great place to explore and visit. Kids enjoyed the movie and panoramic artwork and narrative. We got there when the visitor center opened so we didnt have any trouble with crowds, however it got crowded quickly. Monuments and driving tour are in great shape and plenty of opportunities to pull over and explore. Great picnic spots and rangers were very friendly and accommodating.
Excellent experience and very historical. Very sombering being on the battlefield and talking about the units that were there.
To experience what it wouldve been like at Gettysburg is cool and the Museum is definitely worth it
An absolutely amazing experience that should be required of all Americans. Being a bit of a history buff, I was aware of the basic facts about the Battle of Gettysburg but didnt quite ever grasp the gravity and scale of what took place. The Visitor Center and Museum brings the magnitude of what went down on those 3 days to life. A great collection of detailed info and artifacts from the events leading up to the war and the battle through the aftermath and building of the park. Definitely the place to start your visit to the park and it really is a cant miss experience.
Very friendly and helpful staff. The video with Morgan Freeman narrating followed by the surround mural was well done and inspiring. The place is clean, fresh and professionally done. Museum was really good and informative showing examples of uniforms and what the soldiers carried and how they lived along with a whole lot more. The whole place was well worth the stop and a true pleasure
Super well kept and so peaceful. The walk was amazing and the scenery beautiful. Everything was close by so you didnt have to walk too far!
You need two days to tour the entire Battlefield. We did the Gettysburg bus tour which is excellent. The tour guide very knowledgeable, but its a lot to absorve in two hour tour.
Incredible interactive monument, museum and park grounds that explores and educates what it meant for our country to go through this trying event. Its a messy subject, but weve grown as a country and history is a great teacher, if youre willing to listen.
Ive been coming to Gettysburg since the early 90s and it seems the more I come the more there is to explore. Me and my family had a great time following in the footsteps of our ancestors that fought on the union side of the battle; 9th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment of Buffords First Division and 88th New York Volunteer Regimentnof the famed Irish Brigade of Hancocks 2nd Army Corps. My wife wasnt a history buff until I brought her to Gettysburg and now its one of her favorite vacation spots.
Took the Tour bus it was nice, just didnt get a lot of pictures because they dont stop a lot of places
Park Ranger law enforcement harassed me when I sheltered at a rest stop on the hwy into town. It was a heavy freezing rain storm that was unsafe. They were rude hostile and treated me poorly and invaded any privacy I hoped to have. I paid to visit the battlefield. A couple hours after the harassment, I found a fallen tree on the main road of the tour road. I think these bored officers should prioritize and focus more on their guests safety then harassing travelers seeking shelter from a winter storm advisory. Soured the whole visit.
Took my breath away as I traveled along the self guided tour. Such bravery is almost unimaginable. I recommend buying the self guided tour cds/digital download at the museum.
Spent 2 days touring the battlefield using cds from the gift shop. Awesome tour.
We had a great time driving around the fields and paying our respects at the cemetery. The visitors center itself was very neat and well maintained.
Great Experience cant wait to go back first visit with grands
Great tour. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and well studied. He made the battle come alive. Yet, it is hard to comprehend how many gave their lives in just 3 days. The toll was incomprehensible.
Loved it!! Learned more about History here than i did in school.... this is a must stop for everyone.
American history presented by professionals. It is an honor to go to that sacred site
Outstanding. Whether your close by or travel Gettysburg is worth your time and effort.
Such a moving experience to see the catastrophic results of American fighting American. Everyone needs to visit this holy ground to learn and vow to never allow the destruction of America from within again.
Lots of interesting things to look at and the historical significance is very interesting
So much to see. It should be viewed with awe and reverence. So much carnage to preserve this great nation.
Tons of history everywhere. Beautiful park and downtown. Good for walking, bike tours & car tours. Plenty to eat and drink.
So vast in area, and just remarkably preserved. We only had a day and a half here, but easily could spend a full week so very grateful we have these parks as vantage points of reminders and defeats.
I took my 6 & 8 year old here. I highly recommend the museum, film, and cyclorama experience. It was a very educational and entertaining experience for my children and I. They asked tons of questions and were very engaged. Then we toured the sites and explored the town. Well definitely be back.
Absolutely blew my mind how awesome this place actually is. The views the monuments how clean everything is kept. As a veteran who has been to many battlefields in my travels this one is absolutely a must do I will be back again and again
Wonderful people here, eager to share their vast knowledge of this beautiful memorial to all the Americans who lived and died during this momentous time in Americas history. The 360 degree circular Cyclorama oil painting (representing the battle of Pickets Charge) comes to life with special lighting and sound effects during the narrated viewing experience. Private car tour guides brought the details of this battle and all the sacrificial acts of bravery, as well as the terror and exhaustion the soldiers must have felt, into compassionate focus. Very beautiful, now, but solemn and moving . A spiritual experience, and a good place to offer a silent prayer for peace.
Official Audio Tour is not as good as previous versions. Skipped stop 5 and 11, replayed opening dialog. Did not include Devils Den.The park is fantastic. Ive done the tour several times.
Love the visit we had. We took a tour bus through it with a guide named Don. He was very fun to have as a guide and very well informative. I just wish I had more time to stop and enjoy all of the battle that had happened and get a closer look at all the memorials.
There are a few free exhibits to see (mostly guns, belt clips and soldier replicas). Can garb a park map here and use facilities. They do offer additional exhibits, tours and shows for a fee. We opted to grab a map and do our own driving tour following the auto stop tour online and listening to the YouTube videos. Would rate the self auto tour itself 5 stars since it was free and I could go at my own pace. I would reccomend this. I did a paid bus tour here before and felt rushed.
Really visually well done, information about the war is clear and well-communicated. I appreciated that the historical presentation included all sides and wasnt white-washed. The one thing that stood out to me was how under-represented the role of women in the war was. I saw mention of two women in the whole place. The facility was very clean and staff very friendly and helpful.
They continue to improve in bringing history to life. Should be a mandatory field trip for every student. A+
If you love History and want to stand where so many brave men once stood as they fought for rights of all men and women in our country, then there is no better place!! We didnt even get to do half of whats available!! And the self-guided tour is FREE!! Drive, bicycle, Segway, or hike the Auto-tour and you will see a lot of amazing sights!P.S. I highly recommend visiting Forbes Rock on foot. Im wanting to say its stop 13 or 14. Might be wrong though. But still, an amazing spot to truly envision what happened!
Museum was great! we did the auto tour, would look into the horse riding tour next visit:) amazing to see this historical site and relics first hand
Such a humbling experience to go on this Gettysburg tour. Our tour guide was quite wonderful at his job and Im really glad that we got him! You can tell hes been doing this for a really long time! To be able to see where everything took place, to be in two states at one time, to feel surreal in the moment and hear the stories that the tour guide was telling us, like I said it was very humbling!
A very sobering and impressive place. Very clearly laid out to give a person a good sense of how things unfolded and where.
Historical LandmarkCannot go wrong here. Wonderful tours and dramatization.
This museum was fantastic. And the bus tour of the battlefield was very informative. The licensed battlefield guide was very well-versed about the historic significance of different parts of the battlefield. He even told us a fun fact about how Remember the Titans was filmed at Gettysburg College. I highly recommend for the museum and a tour to be on anyones visit list.
Our bus tour went here. A tour guide for the battlefield got on and talked about the time line and what happened. Very interesting
Great park, great upgrades in past years, unsurpassed accurate and easy to follow depictions and history of a extremely critically battle that shaped American history. Many viable cool tour options of actually battlefield. First time there, I will definitely go back (without 12 year old daughter) so, I can spend an entire day there and enjoy it all.
Gettysburg was amazing. The family and I only had a few hours to look around as we had a long trip back home but it was totally worth it. The battlefields are laid out in a way that you will know which regiments stood where, and battled from which positions. There are monuments and Canon all over the place. You really need more time to explore than a few hours. Would recommend to any history buffs out there.
This is one of the best visitor centers you will find. It really brings the history of the Battle of Gettysburg to life through artifacts and short videos. The 360 Mural from 1888 is mind blowing. I would highly recommend touring the visitor center before the battlefield itself as you will have a much better understanding of what you are looking at when on the battlefield. The artifacts they have to chose to display are unique and really bring you back to 1863.
The park museum is an excellent place to learn about the Battle of Gettysburg. Consider that it is very busy on weekends even during off season so if you can manage to get there on a Friday afternoon youll be able to see the exhibits without feeling rushed or crowded. Although they do offer veteran and military discounts they do not apply to the standard admission for the museum only, the only discount for just the museum is active duty military only.
This place is put together great. Would recommend your trip to be 2 days as there is so much to see.
We thought a couple of days would be sufficient to see the park. We were so wrong. There is a ton to see here. In the museum, the rotary painting is really something. The museum is good too. We were told an hour is the average time spent, but reading and going through everything takes several hours. At least 4.The auto tour around the battlefield is a good place to start, and a good guideline to follow, but there are some major features you will miss if you follow it. Make sure not to miss big round top or devils den for sure. There are numerous places to stop and see the monuments or plaques. There are so many interesting stories throughout the park but you need to discover them.We did not get to the trails, but there are many hiking trails that look very interesting. The Eisenhower house requires tickets from the museum. I imagine you need to set aside at least half a day for that.There are guided tours available. Both bus groups, or personal guides. As we went through the park we encountered both groups and the guides seemed knowledgeable.Overall this park exceeded my expectations and I expect a return visit. I encourage anyone else reading this to seriously consider a trip to this very well maintained park.
Awesome, trip for history interested people. Very clean, respectful, and has great touring ability. We hired a tour guide which we highly recommend, got hear it about from someone with much more knowledge than the book.
A really nice experience. The film was informative. The self guided driving tour was easy. You can find videos to watch on YouTube at the different stops.
Museum is very extensive and interesting with a lot of reading. Self driving tour was nice to stop where you want. Lots of plaques and monuments while driving. Takes a long time from point a to end. Give self plenty of time. If you like to stop and read everything will take days. If you pick and choose what to see and read give self about 3 to 4 hours. Also there are walking trails.
What an enlightening and informative place. Steeped in obvious history it is WELL worth the stop (and were glad we did). Ive passed Gettysburg a number of times on road trips but never had the chance to stop. I dont have kids but I could see that the kids who were there were enjoying the experience. I happened upon a friendly *retired* tour guide who gave me a crash course on monuments and what the different types mean. Super friendly and not stand-off-ish at all despite COVID. I am actually looking forward to going back again when the weather is better and we have more time. Bring your walking boots to really delve into and explore the area.
All of the staff were very informative and helpful. They have an extensive museum exhibit that you can spend anywhere from a couple of hours to an entire afternoon viewing depending on your interest level and how many of the interactive screens/short videos/reading about the exhibitis you want to do. We spent several hours there. It does cost to visit the museum part and you can check prices on their website.
Love the movie and the museum. Very informative and very moving. Every American should visit this place and the battlefield. I cant recommend this highly enough. Some of my photos show the view from on top of little round top
Spent a week hiking trails and exploring the museum. Respectfully preserved to tell the story. I wish the hiking paths were marked a little better in someplace. Wasnt sure I was on the path sometimes and didnt want to damage the grounds. The museum is fabulous, but hit the restroom first as there isnt one in the galleries anywhere, there is a lot to see in the galleries.
This park has changed so much in the last 25 years. We visited in 96 on a family trip. Came back this year too a massive beautiful museum, audio tours, guided tours, handicap accessible.
Gettysburg National Military Museum and Park are a must see for all Americans interested in our countrys history. The whole experience is phenomenal! Start at the museum and take some time to watch the intro video narrated by Morgan Freeman. Then go up and view the Cyclorama which is a huge 360 degree painting that tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg. It is narrated and had light effects. Then head to the battlefield itself. The battlefield is set up so that you can drive through it to the various monuments and battle locations. Its a huge space. If you dont know the history of are rusty I would recommend taking advantage of the many guided tour options. I believe the gift shop also sells a narrated tour you can play in your car. If possible plan to spend more than one day in Gettysburg. The park and museum can take a full day or more and then there are lots of interesting things to do and see in the town and the surrounding countryside.
We did the auto tour of the battlefield. Stop by the visitor center and get a map...then do it all in one day (about 2-3 hours depending on stopping/photos) or break it up into sections. A must do when youre here!
We took a bus tour and the guy (wish I remembered his name) was awesome to say the least. There is also a great reverence to all have been honored here. You see what is going on today and how we quickly forget our past.
Worried we could be headed to another civil war? A day here might persuade you to be a peacemaker instead of a provocateur.
Very cute little stop off, bring waters if walking the trail and there are no trashcans.
Great place to visit. The park and driving tour is free. You will have to pay to tour the museum, movie,and painting exhibit. If you have never been worth the money. If you just do the museum you can watch the videos which makes up most If the movie.
An amazing place to go by yourself or with your kids. Give at least two hours to do the full drive. Studying about the battle before you go will also benefit you. Watching Gettysburg will also be very fun and exciting.
The museum portion was great with detailed exhibits showing a lot of items from the Battle of Gettysburg.My only complaint about the museum is how noisy it was. Not noisy from the people but from the videos that were playing. At no point could you get away from the audio of some video being played. No place of silent reflection of the battle, not even in the slavery exhibit. Just a constant noise throughout. It also doesnt help that the videos being played were from the History Channel, the same channel that has shows like Ancient Aliens.
Very important historical battle that took place here 1863 and the Park and monuments are exceptional 👏 definitely a bucket place to go. They even have a Cafe inside the museum. Pricey but food was good 👍 God Bless
Very well organized and easy to navigate. Premises were well maintained and the park service employees were kind, knowledgeable, and helpful. Amazing presentation of an important part of our history. Highly recommended.
You can learn alot more by visiting these types of places that read about it in a book. I learn a whole lot more about the war and what each day was all about. 3 long days!
We had an awesome experience there. We only made to the museum and the battlefield. An emotional time as I understood what the stakes were for both sites
Very well designed and operated operation. Museum items and show a must see. Food area had great choices at reasonable prices. Information Center, Tour options, souvenirs and book store all under one roof!
This park, as the countless people who visit can attest, is a wonderful place that words really cant describe. No wonder it took Lincoln some time to write his address during the cemetery dedication. As you look through the monuments and out onto the fields, its difficult to fully comprehend what took place during this battle, but the emotions and the solemn air you feel while here is hard to deny. As always, the NPS staff are always smiling and happy to talk with you no matter how many people they see in a day. I definitely recommend one of the certified guides as they were very informative and knowledgeable. Definitely worth multiple visits!!
Had a private tour guide. Informative and worth every penny. Learned so much. Amazing and horrible what these soldiers endured. Go see it and learn.
There is a free version of the film if you need to save money, a small room near the museum, but the large multi-screen showing was worth the money for me, and the included lecture and display should not be missed. The trails are pleasant for light hiking, and the entire experience will have you thinking about the meaning of honor and morality. If you pass near it, go see it.
There is a heaviness in the air, you just feel the history! Definitely recommend going as I will go back
We visited the visitors center first and picked up the guided tour with our car CD player. What a nice way to explore and learn about the war at Gettysburg. It just has a little bit expensive I dont know why they dont let you rent the CD.
Absolutely wonderful experience! Our personal guide was great and down to earth!! Loved it all!!
Museum, bus tour and cyclorama helped me understand the time, the stakes, what actually occurred and, most importantly, the humanity, of this pivotal battle and the war. I was frequently overwhelmed with emotion and awe. The tour bus guide was beyond outstanding.
A haunting and beautiful reminder of the struggle, sacrifice and triumph of our nation. We are a young nation and the hill we must climb is worthy of the sacrifice. Become a friend member and enjoy extra savings.
Great time visiting the visitor center. We enjoyed the exhibts outside the muesum. We opted to go explore the battlefields vs the museum. Next time we plan to do the museum! All in all a great experience. Everyone was helpful and polite we interacted with.
A great place for the history buff. Could spend forever here. The audio tour is a affordable way to get more out of the experience but the private tour guide is definitely the way to go. You will love it.
Very nice place but you cant see much at the visitor center without paying extra. But the free driving tour is really neat. Go as fast or slow as you want
This was such a fun experience, a must see if you are traveling to D.C. very accurate in depicting the south. They may have lost the war but they are still Americans and deserve to be remembered as the brave men and women fighting for their beliefs. We had a fantastic tour guide that knew so much information and facts. Many cool monuments and pretty good food.
Tremendous preserved site of a pivotal battle of the Civil War.Here, you can go stand and see the landscape the soliders and officers saw in order to better understand what they did here. Reading a book or seeing a movie is great but being in the same place gives an opportunity to interpret what they did .
A great place to learn some history and get some walking exercise. The museum and battlefield with cemetery adjacent, are a long walk away. You may want to get back in your car and park over at the field site.
Everyone should go to the Museum and the cyclorama. If you are a history fan it will take a few hours to go through. The actual Park you need at least 2 days to complete. Unless you do a bus tour that just goes to highlights.I suggest getting the audio tour and going in your own car.I am definitely going back because I know theres so much more at Gettysburg.
Non profit philanthropy? Expensive, have to pay for everything, no veterans discount, its not actually a part of the park service. If it was it would be free with the blue star program. Dont waste your money. Go see the monuments, at least thats affordable and free.
An amazing and immersive experience. As a historian this place is everything I could ask for. There was a 20 minute wait to get in but it was completely worth it. The bookstore has an amazing selection of souvenirs and reading material. This museum is the perfect pairing with the battlefields and monuments that are littered throughout the area.
First time for our daughter. Moved to say the least.
It was a great experience. The videos helped give context to our self driven tour of the battlefield. And the artifacts in the museum added to our knowledge of the battle.
Certainly has become more of a tourist attraction than when I was a kid. It seems that the biggest catch was an over priced movie and the gift shop that took up a large share of the floor plan. The museum was tiny in comparison.
Had a really great trip here. It’s very important to understand the history of our nation and to stand in the place of an immense battle is a very surreal and inspiring experience.
Very interesting, and is great for kids the cyclorama was amazing and so was the movie. Totally recommend for anyone without anything to do.
What an amazing experience. There is a calmness and spirit of tranquility that comes over one as you look out among the fields here. Its free to walk the grounds, but the museum is well worth seeing. Pack your patience, as the town of Gettysburg can get busy and cramped. Im always amazed to see history first-hand. Despite our stained past, we can honor the memory of those who lost their lives here.
When you visit here, make sure to purchase the movie, 360 surrounded cyclerama and museum package to get the full experience. The movie will take you thru 20+ minutes of gripping American history to show you the importance of Gettysburg followed by the 360 display after which re-enacts the events of the day as if you were there. And then of course you have to experience the museum and perhaps buy a souvenir from the gift shop on the way out.
If you are interested in the history behind the Civil War, this is definitely a place you do not want to miss. The movie, narrated by Morgan Freeman with Sam Waterson as the voice of Lincoln, is worth seeing. Afterwards, the Cyclorama picture of the battle is absolutely breathtaking. The museum is filled with amazing artifacts, short movies and even some of Lincolns actual letters. The gift shop is very large and amazing, filled with many choices. The gift shop is pricey, but it helps the museum sustain. The statue outside of Lincoln is definitely an excellent photo op!
The battle that turned the tide of the Civil War. You are walking on and through history. While walking through the grounds, close your eyes and imagine what happened here over 150 years ago. A must for any Civil War as well as any history buff. One visit will not be enough. Very highly recommend for adults as well as children.
Wonderful museum, a cornerstone of the military park. Well worth the time and effort to walk through. Great exhibits and videos, interesting gifts, cool little book shop.
It was clean, beautiful, and full of history! Even with a lot of people, there was plenty of space and little trails to follow.
My daughter and I first came here when she was a senior in high school and always wanted to go back to have more time here. We went back the Saturday of mothers day weekend with my significant other and we had a good time. We watched the movie, saw the cyclorama sound and light show, walked through the museum and did a bus tour of the battlefields. The movie was good and the cyclorama was awesome it gave one a better understanding of the battle. The museum was really nice even though some of the exhibits were not available due to the restrictions with covid.Our guide on the bus tour was very knowledgeable and we were able to get off the bus a few times; however, I was a little bummed we werent able to walk around little big top for a few minutes and we didnt get to go to devils den or the peach orchard. Next time we go I want to do a self guided tour so we can get out where we want and walk around the battlefields. I am hoping my family enjoyed themselves on our family vacation.In the one picture please correct me if I am wrong but it appears like I captured a face with a gun in front of it.I am hoping when we go back next time everything will be available to view and see and there wont be any restrictions.
It was a beautiful tour. We used the auto tour app. so we could spend as much time as we wanted looking. We also learned a lot of history from the auto tour. It can get a bit crowded, I imagine it depends on when you go. Took lots of pictures of the sites and beautiful landscape. So needless to say we had a wonderful time.
Incredible bus tour, and the museum was very well executed. Phenomenal work done in sharing such a pivotal moment in United States history.
First time Ive been to the remodeled visitor center. Beautiful, inside and out! Cyclorama exhibit is gorgeous, but narration is a bit loud, if ears are sensitive.
Absolutely wonderful. Wife asked me how I felt afterwards... somber. The driving tour is well thought out. The whole experience is worth doing every 3-5 years
Wow. Just wow. Can you fit seeing every site in one day? Yes, you can. But there is just so so much. However, the national cemetery, the field of Pickets Charge, Big and Little Round Tip, and Devils Den... are definitely the high points of interest. If youve never been... definitely check this historic sites. Incredible.
Highly recommended. Visit the museum and view the movie and cyclorama. The cyclorama by itself is worth the admission price. Then take the auto tour so you can climb the observation towers to view the battlefield locations.
Very neat the visitor center is nice.Thank goodness for the maps & the studio CD (you can get at the visitor center store.) - if you do the tour on your own.The monuments are really cool. The historic landmarks are so surreal.The houses along the route are just beautiful.If you have time & money... you may want to do the bus tour. Were headed one behind us... it looked fun!!**make sure you start you tour very early in the day. (So you have enough time & daylight)Make sure you have your camera & batteries enough media storage for pictures.Enjoy the walk/ drive through history.Enjoy the pictures.
Great museum, recommend the movie and bus tour. Leave time to drive around the park afterwards to see all the monuments up close.
This is a must see!!!! We did a self-guided audio tour and it was a great experience. There is so much to learn, I will definitely be coming back!
Awsome Real Historical place. Enjoyed just walking around ourselves! They do have bus tours that take you around the entire battleground or from what I was told you can also drive your own car!How ever you go, just enjoy a little piece of America`s history!Well worth the trip! Very family oriented!
To stand on Cemetery Ridge and consider the magnitude of the cost... Unfathomable.To be surrounded by a 19th century painting on all sides and see in vivid detail the chaos of Picketts charge...My heart was torn between swelling courage and broken sorrow.What a place!
To visit Gettysburg Park and the town you need to go early because you can not finish everything in one day. If you do the car tour it is FREE but no tour guide just a website with videos not very reliable. There are paid tours with guides either bus, horse carriage or shuttles from companies in town. Another way is the bike buggies it does not include a tour guide but they are fun. Because the battle of Gettysburg happened in a wide area of landscape walking the whole tour will take you 2 days at least because it is 20 miles or more of areas to see. You will not see soldier or general reenactments or people walking in attire from 1863 but you will see many wonderful monuments, sceneries, cannons, homes and museums. There are bathrooms along the way plus areas to park along the route to enjoy the monuments and to walk trails. Dont forget to check out the visiting center and museum inside. We would of liked to give Gettysburg 10 stars for its beautiful sceneries and the significant history it represents for the U.S. but because we heard so many tourists complain about the car tour not having its own radio guide or a way for you to understand each stop we agree with everyone we met along the way. Take time to browse around town it is a must see!
There is no other rating that would apply to this heartbreaking yet magnificent place. We had a personal guide for the 3 of us. He was the best. Steve Slaughter Licensed Battlefield Guide.
I used the markers for the driving tour to visit the different battle sites. Wish Id payed the $39.99 for the digital guided tour.
As always, this was a wonderful weekend getaway. The battlefield is so well maintained Anna educational. We are so thankful that it is still here!! I wish everyone in the USA could visit!
This museum was huge and filled with so much to see, read, watch and learn. It was incredible and we could have spent all day there. The movie and cyclorama were so powerful, moving and informative. We will return again soon!
I was here 25 years ago, way before the new museum was built. It was pretty great then just touring the battlefield, but even better now with the museum and guided bus tours.
Truly hallowed ground. An amazing place to learn and explore. Highly recommend a guided tour. We did a bus, but I hear private vehicle tours are even better. Kids loved a Junior Ranger program and earning their badges. I also appreciated the available EV charging spots with a reasonable $1/hr rate. Plan on at least a full day to see the museum and a tour.
From the battlefield at little round top to the peach orchard and all in between you can feel a presence of the men who faithfully fought to bring an end of a tyrannical government. The blood that was shed on this battlefield will forever haunt those who do believe that causes are worth dying for. Just being there brings forth a renewed vision of what America is suppose to be, The United States of America. A must see because words can not describe the feelings.
Gettysburg...it’s a lot to take in. Can you see it in one day, yes. But there’s more than one visit’s worth of stuff there. The immensity of the battlefield, the relationships between players on both sides, it was amply recorded within the museum, the grounds and the town. It’s amazing, how much my young children grasped, and is something I would love to continue to review with them over the course of our lives. If you can stop by, don’t miss. If you can do it on multiple occasions, do it.
An essential when seeing the historic city of Gettysburg!
This is a very incredible place to visit hard to imagine all the lives that were lost at this battle you still can see damage to some of the original farm houses. I chose to take a guided 45 minute tour which really help me understand the three days of the battle. I think the price was $75 and he drives in your personal vehicle well worth it. Then afterwords I drove back to all the locations and took many different pictures from different angles all the cannons lined up a very impressive as to the monuments that are all over.
If youre not already filled with excitement when you get there you wont leave emotionally spent when you leave. No words can say what you experience there make sure you take the money to do the tourist watch the shows A most importantly dont be in a rush to go anywhere . From the statues to commemorate the people who fought to the canons still in place.
I learned about civil war. I it is so interesting
Love to my vacation and my visit here to the Gettysburg museum. Our tour guide was the most Awesome kind gentleman and very knowledgeable about all the history! He made the tour very worthwhile, wouldnt mind taking the tour a second time should I come back!
The visitor center is awesome. The rangers in the front were extremely helpful. The museum was clean and tastefully done. The bus tour was the best! Thomas Clark rocked every detail of the war and answered all our crazy questions. He kept it professional but added bits of humor to break the tension during discussion of a very dark time in US history. He kept kids engaged and had a smile the entire time. Highly recommend!
My opinion is bias because I am a history teacher. The park is breathtaking. There are memorials everywhere dedicated to the different groups that fought in the battle of Gettysburg. The visitor center is very nice. Tickets come with a short 20 min film narrated by Morgan Freeman and a 20 cyclorama depicting Pickett’s charge. After that, walk through the museum with hundreds of artifacts from the battle and the town. The walk through is like a time line discussing what happened during the civil war and during the battle. The park is quite large and spills into town. If you’re short on time, drive through it and follow the self-auto tour, but if you have all day, bring a bike and bike around the battle field and end in town for a bite to eat. The battle field has great views of the battlefield scattered around, but make sure to stop at the Pennsylvania monument where you can go up to the top of it.
Definitely a place to go if you enjoy history.. cant get enough of this place...
We did a quick layover here as we traveled north. We were so thrilled with Gettysburg and plan to stop again. We literally only had 4 hours to see everything that we could, and we were able to do the short version of it. I recommend stopping at the Visitors Center to get a better idea of what to do if youre short on time.
I thought it was a little over priced for visiting the museum and the movie was definitely not worth it to me. I feel that this has simply become a money maker and not about keeping historical content and facts for all those to see.
Hey highly educational stop on your East Coast trip. The cyclorama is amazing to see. The 360° painting truly illustrates the battle . The museum and the film also bring the battle of Gettysburg to life. We had a wonderful tour guide who take brought the history of Gettysburg to life. Paul was so knowledgeable and funny to boot. He really kept my students attention during the two hour tour.
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Total reviews rating 4.8
199 Reviews for Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-15What an amazing experience this place is! The vast size of this battlefield is awe inspiring. Over 70,000 men lost their lives battling over a 24 acre piece of land, to either keep or do away with slavery. To learn and to actually be able to visualize how far a canon ball weighing 8 pounds could be launched a mile away with a canon two hundred years ago is truly incredible. The museum displays of the uniforms, handguns, rifles and various artifacts is extensive.I enjoyed the bus tour with the tour guide.It was interesting and fun to hear the narrative of the battle and learn about the little to unknown facts about the battle.In order to experience the entire Gettysburg site, it is easily a two day trip.For convenience, there is a small cafeteria in the main building. The new museum building was.built in 2008 and is very clean and modern. There is a good sized souvenir shop in the main building as well. There are also numerous nearby hotels, souvenir shops and restaurants in the City of Gettysburg.For the history buff, this is a must see place to visit.
Review №2
2022-06-28What an incredible place. I didnt have enough time to truly explore the entirety of it, as it is so incredibly vast. The bus tour was well worth the money, and comes with a very nice driver and a knowledgeable and friendly guide. Highly recommend that everyone should go, if possible, take a few days to really take it all in. I plan to return for a few days to hike it.
Review №3
2022-05-14Always love Gettysburg. Haven’t been here in a number if years. The visitor’s center is great and the overview movie very informative. Had a wonderful guide for our students. Very knowledgeable and gave plenty of information. So much to see and learn.
Review №4
2022-06-13A sobering glimpse into the tumultuous past of my beloved nation. Having ancestors on both sides of the divide gives me pause to reflect at just how fortunate I really am.I cannot recommend visiting the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center enough! You must go! While there the Film and the Cyclorama are a must see.Whether you opt for a guided or self-guided tour of the battlefield, you’re sure to grow in your appreciation for the magnitude of this great Civil War Battle.
Review №5
2022-05-04So beautiful.Well preserved.It feels alive with all the canons and monuments.Fences look like they have always been here.A must see if you are a fan of history.Get a map and follow the self guided tour. You will not be disappointed.
Review №6
2022-05-16The best place to understand the history of United States 🇺🇸.Is the only and unique opportunity to feel, learn and see the artifacts of the Civil War. This place is outstanding.You can link the experience with other Histories places in PA and follow up the past, the present and the future. The museum has one of the biggest oil painting in the world which describes the reality of the battlefield of Gettysburg vs General Lee.If you willing to learn our freedom and why was important the emancipation, go and visit this area.Highly recommend: schedule a private tour for 3 hours and let the professional guide diving you to the past of the history.Unforgettable experience.Top 10 places to visit in PA.Stay in a local hotel. You will need plenty of time to walk, read and enjoy the activities.
Review №7
2022-01-24If youre any kind of history nerd, than this is the place to go!! Theres so much to see and learn about, and even if youre not the biggest history nerd, the sights are still interesting to see. Downtown Gettysburg also has neat places to see if you dont want to spend the entire day exploring battlefields. Definitely worth a trip though!
Review №8
2022-05-28Took solo trip. Excellent museum and worth the admission. The monuments were really interesting to look. Well laid out auto tour. This park would have been a beautiful stand-alone park if Americas biggest Civil War battle never took place here.
Review №9
2022-04-23Its an amazing site full of history and education. You can go on a tour or explore around like me and my family did. The one thing Id wish was improved is that there should be more street signage. Id sometimes get lost even with GPS and the map they gave us due to us debating what street we were on. Otherwise, excellent place!
Review №10
2022-04-14Such a somber place, the battlefield is actually bigger than what you see. Park Service personnel is very helpful, The visitor center is large, clean, everything is clearly marked. I suggest you take the guided bus tour - they can explain to you what you are seeing & also give you the history of the battle itself. To get the full experience you need at least a full day just for the park. The national cemetery will tug at your heartstrings. I recommend visiting this place and the town of Gettysburg itself to anyone who is interested in history, but most importantly a very significant battle in the fight for freedom in one of the most turbulent times in our history. In the visitor center you will see actual firearms, insignia, ordinance, uniforms & everyday items used in the camps during the Battle of Gettysburg. Reading about history is one thing, but when you see it in front of you it makes it more authentic & real!