This one is off the beaten path for most. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the nearest ‘big’ city is 40 minutes North, while the more populous Baltimore and Washington D.C. are a bit more than an hour and a half away. Gettysburg National Military Park maintains 6,000 acres of historical ground with the largest collection of outdoor sculptures in the world. There are 1,328 monuments, memorials, and markers highlighting the three day battle, in which over 160,000 soldiers fought. Driving through the park, it’s easy to visualize the struggles that these soldiers would have faced in key areas of the battle. The park service has placed many plaques with pictures taken in the days following the battle in the areas where they were taken.

There are also several structures that survived that battle still around today. The Trossle Farm, includes the home and barn of which still has the hole created by cannon fire during the third day of the battle. Along with many other structures, the homes used as battlefield headquarters by Generals Lee and Meade are still standing.

When asked to write and deliver a ‘few appropriate remarks’ for the dedication of the Union Cemetery in Gettysburg, Abraham Lincoln responded by delivering one of the most best known speeches in American History. At the center of the military cemetery, you will find a plaque dedicated to the speech; however, the spot marked is no longer believed to be the exact location of Lincoln as he delivered the address. Most researchers place him in the public cemetery about 300 yards north of the marker.
As an aside, you can also visit the home in which Lincoln finalized his speech. It can be found in the center of the town of Gettysburg, just outside the park.

The final highlight of the park is visitor center and museum, which houses 12 museum galleries and a cyclorama painting of the battle which is 42 feet high and 377 feet in circumference. It is only one of two cycloramas in the U.S. and was painted between 1883 and 1884. In additional to exhibits, there is a short film providing an overview and the history of Gettysburg and the battle. I do recommend visiting the museum first if you have time, as it will provide a much more comprehensive understanding of the park; just make sure you have time to see the park too as you can get lost for quite a while taking in all the museum has to offer.

Driving the park can take as little as an hour and much longer if you have the time. The museum is definitely worth a stop as well and can take as long or longer given the large size. If you are really into history, make the time visit this great national park and museum.

SAS: 3 (primarily based on proximity to major metro areas)