Invited to say “a few appropriate remarks” at the dedication of the Gettysburg Soldiers’ National Cemetery, President Abraham Lincoln arrived at the Gettysburg station the evening before delivering the Gettysburg Address.
Following the Battle of Gettysburg, the station served as a field hospital and a departure point for thousands of soldiers.
In Nov. 1863, enthusiastic crowds gathered outside the depot hoping to catch a glimpse of the president as he arrived in Gettysburg. Now you can step onto the platform and into history as yet another distinguished guest to this historic station.
Today, the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station™ offers a self-guided tour featuring exhibits and artifacts relating to Lincoln and the railroad’s role in the history of Gettysburg.
- Stand in the footsteps of President Lincoln where he arrived in Gettysburg on the evening of Nov. 18, 1863.
- Admire the architecture of the historic depot listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With its distinctive cupola, arched windows and ornamental cornice, the station is a classic example of the Italianate style popular in the United States in the 1850s.
- Hear the story of the station following the battle, as it became a gateway for transporting thousands of wounded and dead soldiers, medical staff, supplies and relatives searching for their family members.
- Walk in the footsteps of President Lincoln from the station to the David Wills House, 8 Lincoln Square, where Lincoln stayed and finished his immortal Address.
