Gettysburg Battlefield Museum

Your visit to Gettysburg National Military Park should be time well spent! The mission of the National Park Service and its partner, the Gettysburg Foundation, is to provide each and every visitor with a quality experience while visiting the Museum and Visitor Center, walking in the Soldiers' National Cemetery where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address,and while touring the battlefield park. There are a number of suggestions we can offer to help you map out the time you will spend at the park and the basic information on this page will guide you in planning your visit. We encourage you to explore our other web pages, especially Things to Do and Things to Know Before You Comeas these provide up to date information on park events and programs that will be of interest.

Where should we begin our visit to the park? Begin your visit at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, where the park offers free information, an extensive museum about Gettysburg and the Civil War, the fully restored Gettysburg Cyclorama that dramatically depicts "Pickett's Charge", and the film "A New Birth of Freedom", narrated by award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, which focuses on the significance of Gettysburg. There is an entry fee for admission to the museum, film and Gettysburg Cyclorama. The center also provides information on the numerous ways to tour the battlefield park including the Licensed Battlefield Guide service, an expansive bookstore managed by Event Network, Inc., and a refreshment saloon that offers snacks, sandwiches and drinks in a Civil War period atmosphere. Shuttle buses to Eisenhower National Historic Site are available from the Visitor Center.

How long should I plan for my visit? Plan to spend a minimum of four hours at the park, though an entire day is more desirable if you wish to take advantage of the museum, film and cyclorama program, have a leisurely tour of the park and visit nearby attractions. Recently, visitors have spent an average of three and one half hours in the museum alone!

What kind of park tours are best for me? The park offers a number of battlefield tours that can be arranged at the Museum and Visitor Center. Tour the park with a Licensed Battlefield Guide in the convenience of your own vehicle or ride along with others on a tour bus accompanied by a guide (offered seasonally). There is a fee for a guided tour. We also offer self-guiding auto tours and tours on compact disk, which can be purchased at the museum book store. Commercial bus tours of the park are available through companies in Gettysburg.