Summer Season Closing Weekend: George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital

Come to the 2022 summer season closing weekend at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital. Explore the historic site open for visitors Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Walk the grounds, hear the stories and feel the emotions at this once thriving family farm suddenly transformed into a Civil War field hospital in July 1863. Interact with living historians, enjoy programs and learn about historic barn preservation.

Learn even more about Civil War medicine, medical techniques, the role of surgeons and caregivers, soldiers’ experiences, the humanity of citizens, the Spangler family and the role of civilians during and after the battle. Docents are available for questions. Civil War era encampments are set up on-site.

Program Schedule: Friday – Sunday

• 11:15 – 11:45 a.m.     The Spangler Farm in 1863
• 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.      An Army Field Hospital:  The George Spangler Farm

Sunday Special Programming

Historic Gettysburg-Adams County (HGAC) interprets the design, construction and use of the stunning expression of an iconic, vernacular architectural form—the Pennsylvania Bank Barn. Representatives of HGAC discuss the George Spangler Farm’s restoration in the past decade—from a dilapidated structure in danger of collapse to a visage of its original glory—that revived this important, tangible component of American history.

Aug. 12-14, 2022 Living History:

• 136th NYSV Medical Hospital: Regimental field hospital based in Charlotte, North Carolina, demonstrates surgeries, nursing techniques and duties, with the use of mannequins and period instruments. Featured: Dr. Bleecker Hovey’s surgeon kit actually used at the George Spangler Farm in 1863–still intact after 159 years.
• Company A, 9th PA Reserves: Medical unit from near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and living historians portray members of the United States Sanitary Commission.
• Company H, 119^th N.Y. Volunteers Historical Association: A non-profit organization founded in 1980, living historians portray the original company organized in August 1862. Through interpretation for the benefit and education of the public, the Association researches, preserves and disseminates the history and service of Company H in the American Civil War, including the social heritage of its men and their families on Long Island.
• The Healing: Conversations Between Nurses North and South: A unique and moving portrayal of women who pioneered professional nursing and served during the American Civil War. True accounts based on diaries and first-person references reflect the profound impact these Civil War nurses had on the soldiers they treated that went beyond the battles and the war.

Admission to the historic site is included with the purchase of a Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience ticket at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. Visitors also have the option to purchase single timed shuttle tickets for admission to the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital. Friends of Gettysburg members receive complimentary admission and timed shuttle tickets for admission to the site.

Access to the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital is via timed shuttles departing the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center Friday through Sunday every 20 minutes starting at 10 a.m. with the last shuttle departing the Museum & Visitor Center at 1:40 p.m. The last returning shuttle to the Museum & Visitor Center departs the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital at 3:20 p.m.

For shuttle tickets, call 877-874-2478, inquire at the Ticket Counter inside the Museum & Visitor Center or visit GettysburgFoundation.org.