Thad’s Place illustrates the life and work of local figure Thaddeus Stevens, congressman, abolitionist, and defender of public education. The 815-square-foot exhibit space houses the letters, newspapers, books, and other documents from the extensive collection of the Thaddeus Stevens Society.
Located adjacent to the original Gettysburg home of Thaddeus Stevens, the museum offers a lounge area where guests can screen short videos and enjoy a coffee or a snack as well as a study area where historians and laypersons can access hundreds of books on Stevens for their own personal research.
Thad’s Place emphasizes Stevens’ dedication to abolishing slavery and promoting equal treatment and equal rights for all. The Thaddeus Stevens Society Museum, under the leadership of Director Ross Hetrick, also highlights Stevens’ involvement in the local iron industry with artifacts representing the work of the local iron mills which he personally owned, including Caledonia Ironworks just a short drive from Gettysburg.
Stevens, known to American History as a powerful and influential congressman during and after the Civil War, led a full and busy life in public service by additionally participating in the Underground Railroad, championing the cause of public education, and serving on the Board of Gettysburg College for 34 years.
The Thaddeus Stevens Society is a non-profit organization that works to promote, preserve, and protect the legacy of Thaddeus Stevens.
