Gettysburg was an amazing place to spend the 4th of July weekend. We were immersed in history and patriotism, and there was so much to do that we couldn’t possibly fit in everything. Here’s how we spent our time.

Museum & Spangler’s Farm

The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitors Center is the perfect first stop on a trip to Gettysburg and we spent about 5 hours there, including our trip to Spangler Farm Civil War Hospital. 

Highlights:

• The short film is included in museum admission and did a great job providing an overview of the Civil War. The kids even sat still for it!

• The cyclorama really brings an amazing piece of artwork to life, complete with lighting and sound effects. Included in admission!

• The Hands-On History experienced encouraged the kids to handle artifacts from the Civil War and even to try on clothing. A perfect way to make history come alive for children of all ages!

• Our visit to Spangler’s Farm Civil War Hospital was a nice little fieldtrip. The tour was interactive and provided a background into the types of  medical care available during the Civil War. Jack was even assigned the part of a soldier who had been wounded.

Travel Tip: Get there early! We pretty much had the place to ourselves around opening, but long lines had formed by the time we were leaving.

For Kids: There is a Junior Ranger Program for children ages 6-13. By completing an activity booklet while visiting Gettysburg, they can earn a Junior Ranger certificate and badge!

Audio-Guided Auto Tour of Battlefields

There are plenty of options for getting out and seeing the landscape where the battles took place. Depending on your preferences, there are bus tours, personal guides, horseback tours, and self-guided tours. We purchased The Gettysburg Story Battlefield Auto Tour from the Visitor Center Book Store. It came with maps, a book with information and diagrams, and 3 CDs that explained the historical relevance of each stop. We spent about four hours driving the well-marked battlefields, stopping regularly to climb the observation towers and examine the landmarks. 

Highlights:

• The view from Little Round Top was easily my favorite part of the tour. The landscape was beautiful, and the audio helped to transport us back to the Civil War times.

• The Soldiers National Cemetery was a somber, yet fitting last stop after hearing the details of the bloody battles. 

Travel Tip: Take the time to get out and explore the stops. It extends the tour time, but you can’t truly experience Gettysburg from inside the car.

For Kids: My boys loved the observation towers. Climbing the stairs and being able to see for miles was their favorite part of their day.

Battle Reenactments

Battle reenactments only happen once a year in Gettysburg, and we were lucky enough to be visiting at just the right time. The event is so much more than just the re-creation of a battle. It’s an opportunity to be immersed in the time period. From the clothing and weapons to the health care and food preparation, it is a chance to see and experience life in the 1800’s. 

Highlights:

• The battles were amazing. We saw a calvalry fight, complete with the use of cannons and infantry. It was loud and smoky and awesome to watch.

• In the living history village, so many passionate and knowledgable people were eager to share information. And they dressed and acted the part. We held rifles, learned how to fire a cannon, played with toys from the time period, and met the horses that fought in the reenactment battles. 

Travel Tip: Instead of paying extra for the grandstand seats, you can bring your own chairs. Just arrive early and set them up. No one will touch them as you walk around enjoying the activities, and you’ll have a front-row seat for the action!

For Kids: This place is so hands-on that almost everything is great for kids, but they also had a tent with activities just for children. They provided materials for children to make their own dolls and marbles, and even offered coloring contests. 

One more thing – if you have little ones that might scare easily, bring some cotton to put in their ears to lessen the noise during the battle.