History Off the Battlefield in Gettysburg

Over 1.5 million people visit the Gettysburg National Military Park every year to learn more about the Battle of Gettysburg, the three-day engagement in 1863 that marked the turning point of the U.S. Civil War. They walk the landscape that hosted the battle and visit the park museum to see exhibits and one of the world's largest collections of Civil War relics. However, many people don't realize that there is a lot of history to explore off the battlefield.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania has a rich history dating back more than 300 years. The town was a major furniture, gun carriage and bridgework manufacturer. Gettysburg was also the home of a U.S. president, the site of the first-ever tank school for the U.S. Army and the host of a World War II prisoner-of-war (POW) camp. The following sites, museums and festivals offer the opportunity to explore Gettysburg's historical significance off the battlefield.

The Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum helps visitors interpret centuries of Gettysburg history before, during and after the Civil War. USA TODAY readers named it the Best New Museum in 2023. The 5,000-square-foot facility features twelve interactive exhibit galleries and more than 1,000 rare artifacts to showcase the stories of Gettysburg civilians.

Stories begin with prehistoric legends and dinosaur footprints and end with modern-day tales of historical figures and everyday heroes. The museum's premier exhibit is known as Caught in the Crossfire. This immersive experience utilizes a farmhouse set, cutting-edge technology and a script written by New York Times bestselling author Jeff Shaara to help visitors experience what it was like to be a Gettysburg family trapped in the crossfire during the battle.

The farm and only home General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mamie Eisenhower ever owned is preserved at the Eisenhower National Historic Site. The site, adjacent to Gettysburg National Battlefield, served as a weekend retreat for the president and his wife. It also hosted distinguished guests and world leaders, including Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle and Nikita Khrushchev.

The Eisenhowers retired to the farm in 1961 and gifted it to the government six years later. It was designated a National Historic Site in 1969 and opened to the public in 1980. The farm grounds are open all year and the house is open for house tours on weekends in the spring, summer and around Christmas. Eisenhower National Historic Site has a massive three-day World War II Weekend event every year in September. The event features living history presentations, guest speakers, ranger-guided tours, interactive family activities and other programming.

Gettysburg has a strong and unique connection to World War II. The town was the site of a psychological warfare training camp, the Navy's secret map-making office, a German POW camp and a meeting place for world leaders. The National Cemetery, where nearly 500 WWII veterans are interred, is also located in Gettysburg. The WWII American Experience Museum and Education Center was created to honor this history and tell stories of U.S. involvement in the war through the experiences and memories of the people of Gettysburg and the surrounding region. 

The museum displays operational battlefront vehicles and equipment, authentic helmets and uniforms and regional artifacts. These items are featured in realistic dioramas and exhibits that portray life on the battlefield and the home front. The museum also offers rotating exhibits, lectures, seminars, group discussions, living history programs, USO dances, vehicle and equipment demonstrations, educational programs and an annual military weekend.

The Gettysburg National 19th Century Base Ball Festival is held annually during the third week of July. Dozens of teams converge on Gettysburg to participate in games. They wear old-timey wool uniforms (without gloves) and use 1864 rules, wooden bats and one ball per game.

This annual weekend is the biggest gathering of 19th-century base ball clubs in America. Approximately 30 teams play in the tournament, consisting of over 60 games in two days. The games are played at Schroeder Farm, where Major General George Pickett gathered his men before the famous charge. Rolling hills and 19th-century farms serve as a backdrop for the free tournament.

Built in 1776, the Dobbin House is Gettysburg's oldest standing structure. It was a stop on the Underground Railroad and a hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg. The building overlooks the site where President Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address. The Dobbin House was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and is considered a Pennsylvania Historic Landmark.

Today, the Dobbin House is a colonial-themed restaurant and tavern that allows visitors to tour three floors and six historic rooms. It serves colonial and continental cuisine and themed drinks, including Philadelphia Fish House Punch, a drink that was popular with several Founding Fathers.

Sachs Covered Bridge, known as "Pennsylvania's most historic bridge," was built in 1852. Union and Confederate soldiers crossed the bridge during the Battle of Gettysburg to get over Marsh Creek. Sachs Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Today, it is a destination for Gettysburg visitors who want to see this historic structure and enjoy nature activities like birdwatching.