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 for their richly colored images and careful compositions, these companies helped shape how Americans imagined Gettysburg, turning it into a destination long before mass tourism took hold.

Postcards served several purposes at once: they were souvenirs, visual storytelling tools, and early travel inspiration. At a time when photography was expensive and inaccessible to most, postcards offered beautifully printed views that visitors simply couldn’t capture on their own. Sending one home was a way to say, Having a lovely time. Wish you were here.

Here, historic postcards are paired with contemporary photographs taken from similar vantage points. Side by side, the images reveal how Gettysburg has changed, and how much has remained the same. Trees have grown, paths have shifted, and visitors now share digital photos instead of postcards. Yet the landscape endures.

Seeing these views then and now reminds us that visiting Gettysburg has been part of its story since the years following the battle itself. Each generation has arrived with curiosity, reflection, and a desire to remember. As you study the postcard comparison, you’ll soon see how Gettysburg continues to frame the view across more than a century of visitors.

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