**Please note that all National Park Service programming is currently suspended**Sunday, October 26 – 10:00 AMAlexander Hays and the Blue Birds: Holding Cemetery Ridgewith Ranger Karlton SmithMeet at Abraham Brian House, Hancock Avenue
On July 3, 1863, Brig. Gen. Alexander Hays and his division—known as the “Blue Birds”—held fast as Confederate forces under Pettigrew and Trimble stormed the northern sector of Cemetery Ridge. This walk explores Hays’ bold leadership and his role in repelling the assault during Pickett’s Charge.
These 2-hour intensive programs examine unique portions of the battlefield, cover significant distances, and cross rough/uneven terrain. It is strongly recommended that visitors ... Read This Story
**Please note that all National Park Service programming is currently suspended**Saturday, October 25 – 6:30 PMShadows of the Past: Legends, Lore, and the Truth Behind Gettysburg’s Haunting Tales
Ghost stories swirl like mist around Gettysburg’s fields—phantom regiments, haunted inns, and spectral horsemen roaming the night. But what if the truth is even more powerful than the myth?
Join National Park Service rangers as they unravel the origins of Gettysburg’s most popular ghost stories and battlefield legends—revealing what’s based in fact, what’s pure fiction, and why these tales persist.
This isn’t a ghost tour— but in the end, you might find that the true ... Read This Story
**Please note that all National Park Service programming is currently suspended**Saturday, October 25 – 10:00 AMBarksdale’s Charge: Mississippi Fire on the Peach Orchard LineMeet at North Sickles Avenue, Auto Tour Stop 10
Follow Brigadier General William Barksdale’s Mississippi brigade through one of the most ferocious attacks of July 2, 1863. With wild hair and fiery determination, Barksdale led a thunderous charge that tore through Union lines. Walk the ground, hear the voices, and feel the impact of this dramatic moment.
These 2-hour intensive programs examine unique portions of the battlefield, cover significant distances, and cross rough/uneven terrain. It is strongly recommended that ... Read This Story
**Please note that all National Park Service programming is currently suspended**Friday, October 24 – 6:30 PMDamn the Torpedoes! Admiral Farragut at Mobile Baywith Ranger Karlton SmithSail from Gettysburg to the Gulf coast and witness Admiral David Farragut’s daring 1864 assault on Mobile Bay. Through dramatic storytelling, this program explores Farragut’s leadership, the famous command —“Damn the torpedoes!”—and the naval courage that helped turn the tide of the Civil War.Rangers present evening campfire talks on a wide variety of topics on the Battle of Gettysburg and the American Civil War. Programs take place at the Pitzer Woods ... Read This Story
Enjoy the holiday weekend with a free day of fun and exploration at the historic George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital—the best preserved field hospital from the American Civil War.Fall Family Day features family-friendly programming and activities—including living history, Civil War encampments, Civil War medicine, Spangler family experiences, historic barn preservation presentations and local favorites.Guests can drive directly to the property for this event where limited on-site parking will be available.
Join us on the Cyclorama platform for an exclusive after-hours, close-up look at the iconic Gettysburg Cyclorama painting. Enjoy additional time on the viewing platform to observe in full light the remarkable, close-up details and distant battle scenes of the painting. Journey under the diorama to see how the 360-degree illusion comes to life. Read more about this extraordinary program.
Plan your fall trip to Gettysburg to join us for these special events that are free and open to the public:Sunday, September 28 – 10:00 AMPickett’s Charge: Supervisory Ranger Angie AtkinsonMeet at the Virginia Memorial, Auto Tour Stop 5, West Confederate AvenueOn the afternoon of July 3, 1863, nearly 12,000 Confederate soldiers stepped off into open fields under blistering fire, advancing toward the heart of the Union line. Known as “Pickett’s Charge,” this bold and bloody assault marked the climactic moment of the Battle of Gettysburg—and a turning point of the Civil War. Join Ranger Atkinson for a walking journey ... Read This Story
Plan your fall trip to Gettysburg to join us for these special events that are free and open to the public:Saturday, September 27 – 7:00 PMBeyond the Sobriquet: The Men of the Iron Brigadewith Ranger Dan WelchMove beyond the moniker of this famed Union brigade and meet the men who gave it life. Through personal stories and battlefield legacy, discover who filled the ranks of the Iron Brigade and how their service at Gettysburg helped define them.Rangers present evening campfire talks on a wide variety of topics on the Battle of Gettysburg and the American Civil War. Programs take place ... Read This Story
Plan your fall trip to Gettysburg to join us for these special events that are free and open to the public:
Saturday, September 27 – 10:00 AMIn the Shadows of the Trees: The 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters on July 2, 1863with Ranger John Nicholas
Meet at Picnic Area near Auto Tour Stop 7, South Confederate Avenue
Step into the woods with the green-uniformed elite of the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters. On July 2, 1863, these hand-picked marksmen undertook a dangerous mission on the Union left. This walk traces their route through rugged terrain and heavy fire, revealing how their daring delay helped shape the defense ... Read This Story
Plan your fall trip to Gettysburg for a series of special events that are free and open to the public:Friday, September 26 – 7:00 PMTwilight of the Blue & Gray: The Last Reunion of Surviving Civil War Veterans at Gettysburg – Ranger Christopher GwinnEighty-five summers after musket fire echoed over Gettysburg, the final living veterans of the Civil War returned—not as foes, but as old men. In July 1938, over 1,800 Union and Confederate veterans gathered here one last time, their memories bridging the gap of war and time. Join Ranger Gwinn around the campfire as we explore the stories, ... Read This Story
From the execution of James Hunter for the 1817 murder of Henry Heagy to the tragic story of the “Babes in the Woods” in 1934, the region surrounding Gettysburg has had its share of felonious activity. Join Gettysburg History Director of Education and historian Timothy H. Smith as he discusses some of the early murders and tragic deaths in Gettysburg and Adams County.$10/ACHS Members; $20 General Admission. Purchase your tickets here.
