Gettysburg Historic Walking Tour: Downtown 1863

The Gettysburg Historic Walking Tour, “Downtown 1863,” is a two-hour guided walking experience focusing on the heart of Downtown Gettysburg during the summer of 1863. Presented by the Victorian Carriage Company, the tour explores the center portion of town, considered the heartbeat of Gettysburg during the Battle of Gettysburg.

With a 4.9-star rating based on 443 Google reviews, the tour examines the firsthand accounts of local civilians who lived in town and became reluctant witnesses to the events of July 1863. Participants learn how Gettysburg’s residents experienced the battle, how they remembered it afterward, and how the town’s existing structures compare to what stood in 1863.

The tour begins at the Lincoln Statue on the Square, outside of 11 Lincoln Square, where guests meet near the benches. From there, the walk proceeds through the central streets of town, visiting important landmarks from 1863 before returning to the Square. The route is leisurely paced, takes place on paved roads, and is manageable for wheelchairs. The experience lasts approximately two hours.

Pricing is free for children ages 0–10, $13 for youth ages 11–14, and $20 for adults ages 15 and older. Example pricing reflects availability for Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets for carriage, horseback, walking, and car tours may be purchased online or in person at the Gettysburg Heritage Center.

Visitors are encouraged to park at the Race Horse Alley Parking Garage behind the Gettysburg Hotel or use an NPS lot and ride the Lincoln Line trolley into town.