Category: Things to Do

Haunted Gettysburg: 4 Places Where History and the Paranormal Meet

By: Austin Poulson

Gettysburg is known for its history, but generations of visitors and residents have also shared stories about what may still linger here.

From unexplained footsteps and voices to mysterious figures that seem to disappear as quickly as they appear, ghost stories have become part of the folklore surrounding many of Gettysburg’s historic places.

Some stories have been passed down for generations. Others come from modern visitors and paranormal investigators. And while not every legend can be proven, the real history behind these places is often just as fascinating as the ghost stories.

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The Unexpected Side of Gettysburg: Hidden Gems Worth Discovering

By Austin Poulson

Gettysburg may be best known for its history, but some of the most memorable stops are the ones you probably wouldn’t think to look for.

A museum filled with thousands of elephants. Secret World War II spy training sites. Vintage race cars. Outdoor adventures tucked into the countryside. A local saloon hiding in plain sight.

Venture beyond the battlefield and you’ll find a collection of unexpected attractions and experiences scattered throughout Gettysburg and Adams County. They don’t necessarily have much in common, and that’s exactly the point.

If you’ve already experienced ... Read This Story

See Gettysburg from the Saddle: Horse Tours You’ll Never Forget

By Austin Poulson

Long before cars traveled Gettysburg’s historic roads, horses carried soldiers, civilians and travelers across this landscape. Today, visitors can experience Gettysburg from a different perspective with horseback tours across portions of the battlefield and horse-drawn carriage rides through the Adams County countryside.

Whether you’re interested in Civil War history, scenic landscapes or simply slowing down and experiencing the destination at a different pace, Gettysburg’s horseback and carriage tours offer memorable ways to explore.

Here’s where you can saddle up.

Horse Tours of Gettysburg: Ride Through Battlefield History

If you’ve ever wanted to ... Read This Story

Gifts with a Story: Holiday Shopping in Gettysburg & Adams County

By: Tina Klym-Snyder

This Christmas, if you love Gettysburg, give Gettysburg.

This holiday season, plan a getaway to Gettysburg and discover how giving local makes every gift more meaningful. In the season of giving, what better way to show your love of something than by sharing it? And in Adams County, there’s so much to share. From handmade confections, handpicked produce, and heirloom artifacts to dazzling jewelry, stylish décor, charming pop culture, and immersive gaming, From charming downtown boutiques and artisan shops to countryside farm markets and small-town antiques, Gettysburg and Adams County invite visitors to experience the ... Read This Story

Peace, Pottery, and Produce

By Destination Gettysburg Staff, from interviews with David and Junko Young, November 2025

At the foot of Little Round Top, where history shaped the nation, David and Junko Young and their four sons have shaped something quieter: an oasis of handmade pottery, fresh produce, and peace. Their business, The Lion Potter, a Gettysburg pottery studio and farmstand, blends art and farming in a way that feels both surprising and completely natural. It’s not a gallery. It’s not a farmstand. It’s a place where beauty, nourishment, and stillness meet.

The Lion Potter is a Gettysburg pottery studio ... Read This Story

All Hands-On Fun

As seen in the 2026 Destination Gettysburg Getaway Guide

History here isn’t just something you read on a plaque. It’s something you climb, touch, taste, explore, and play. Gettysburg and Adams County are packed with hands-on experiences that invite kids (and curious grown-ups) to step into the story, get a little messy, and make memories along the way. From orchards and museums to nature trails and living history, these adventures turn learning into action and curiosity into discovery.

Hands-On History & Museums

Interactive experiences where kids can step directly into the past.

Sit in the seat of a ... Read This Story

Why Gettysburg Should Be Your Juneteenth Destination This Year

By Moellyn Ramos Yetsko

For a town known for a battle about freedom, Gettysburg still holds a lot of stories peoplenever hear.Most visitors come to Gettysburg expecting cannons, monuments, and Civil War historyfrozen in time. They come looking for Lincoln. For the battlefield. For the turning point.And they should.

But if America’s 250th anniversary is asking us to reflect on the story of this country, whofought for freedom, who defined it, who was denied it, and who is still fighting to fully claim it, then Gettysburg becomes more than a historic destination.It becomes a mirror.Because ... Read This Story

Step Back in History: Gettysburg’s Historic Homes & House Tours

By Carl Whitehill

Gettysburg’s history extends far beyond the battlefield. Throughout town and across Adams County, historic homes, taverns, farms, and museums invite visitors to step inside the stories of civilians, soldiers, presidents, and families who shaped the American experience. From preserved Civil War homes to presidential estates and colonial taverns, these spaces bring history to life in deeply personal ways.

After exploring the battlefield and many museums scattered throughout Gettysburg and its countryside, take time to discover these historic homes where guides bring visitors face-to-face with the people who lived through defining moments in American ... Read This Story

Greetings from Gettysburg

As seen in the 2026 Destination Gettysburg Getaway Guide

Then & Now

Long before social media and smartphone cameras, postcards were how travelers shared their experiences, with Gettysburg one of the most photographed destinations in America. In the early 1900s, visitors mailed hand-colored postcards home, offering loved ones a glimpse of battlefield landscapes, monuments, and quiet corners they couldn’t easily see for themselves.

The historic postcards featured in the 2026 Getaway Guide were produced by leading publishers of the era, including Rotograph Company of New York City (circa 1904) and Raphael Tuck & Sons (circa 1907). Known ... Read This Story

A Mural in the Making

As seen in the 2026 Destination Gettysburg Getaway Guide

Stories Rising at Beyond the Battle

Something big is taking shape in Gettysburg—literally. As Adams County marks America’s 250th anniversary, a new public art mural transforms the exterior wall of the Adams County Historical Society’s Beyond the Battle Museum into a powerful visual story of themed to address, “Who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re headed.”

The mural, titled “Adams County: Stories Past, Present, and Future,” is being created by artist Sarah Jacobs, whose work many locals already recognize from her striking murals at the Adams ... Read This Story

Highway of Heroes

As seen in the 2026 Destination Gettysburg Getaway Guide

Experience America’s Legacy, Right Here in Pennsylvania

Stretching more than 300 miles across the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania’s Highway of Heroes follows historic U.S. Route 30, the Lincoln Highway, America’s first transcontinental roadway. Traveling east to west from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, this meaningful route connects six nationally significant sites that together tell the story of courage, sacrifice, leadership, and freedom.

As the nation commemorates its 250th anniversary, Pennsylvania’s role in shaping America comes sharply into focus. Along this single road, visitors can trace the country’s journey from independence and endurance ... Read This Story