Living History at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital

Make your plans to visit the historic George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital this weekend, Friday through Sunday, July 26-28, 2024.

Living historians help make history come alive as you walk the grounds, hear the stories and feel the emotions at this once thriving family farm forever changed by the Battle of Gettysburg. Explore the meticulously restored and best preserved field hospital from the American Civil War with original buildings from the 1863 battle.

Friday-Sunday Programs:

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

Sunday Special Programming: Historic Gettysburg-Adams County (HGAC) will be on-site each Sunday. HGAC interprets the design, construction and use of the stunning expression of an iconic, vernacular architectural form—the Pennsylvania Bank Barn. HGAC will discuss the restoration of the George Spangler Farm in the past decade—from a dilapidated structure in danger of collapse to a visage of its original glory, which revived this important, tangible component of American history.

Friday-Sunday Living History:

Citizens of Gettysburg: Civilians, attired in authentic Victorian period clothing, recreate the experience of Civil War era civilians of Gettysburg and provide ‘first-person impressions.’

Dr. Willen & Company: A Union surgeon, civilian nurse and hospital steward present Civil War medicine and portray Civil War medical personnel with expert explanations on all phases of Civil War medical care.

Madam Lauer Fashionable Dressmaker: A Civil War reenactor for 26 years portrays a dressmaker in her endeavor to educate the public on several facets of life during the Civil War that are not typically found in school textbooks. A member of the 150th PA Bucktails, Lauer attends re-enactments and living histories traveling throughout Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio, and has lectured in towns throughout Pennsylvania, including Indiana, State College, Titusville and Gettysburg.

Reynolds Battery: Blacksmiths demonstrate techniques of drawing, upsetting, bending, twisting, punching and double striking as used during the Civil War to repair Artillery and Cavalry equipment, using a replica (1849) traveling blacksmith forge. A large group of living historians display a 3" ordinance rifle (cannon) and portray camp life with a cook, leather worker/harness maker, medical staff with equipment, wounded soldiers, drummer with music, a Confederate grave digger and a carpenter.

Shuttles and 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. Single shuttle and admission tickets are also available to visit the historic site. Friends of Gettysburg members receive complimentary shuttle/admission tickets during summer weekends.

Shuttles depart the 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 departs the historic site at 3:20 p.m. For shuttle and admission tickets, call the Gettysburg Foundation, 877-874-2478 or 717-334-2436, or visit GettysburgFoundation.org.

Recurrence info: