1-Day Gettysburg History in a Day | Educational Tours & Graduation Trips

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Day 1 You'll See:

Your group will get a whirlwind history lesson with this exciting 1-day Gettysburg history-themed field trip!

Day
1

Gettysburg Battlefield Tour

Student groups visiting can participate in programs that are fascinating and engaging in dealing with the Battle of Gettysburg. They will rediscover what life was like for the civilians before, during and after the battle on the Heritage of a Town Tour. Features include historical documents, artifacts, interactive displays, and 3-D programs. You will learn how ordinary people did extraordinary things during a time of crisis. The tour concludes with the film “Three Days that Changed a Town.” The film takes an in-depth look at the three-day battle, including the aftermath and also the dedication of Soldiers’ National Cemetery.

Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitors Center

The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, off Baltimore Pike, provides guests with a museum experience covering the American Civil War, an impressive Cyclorama depicting the final battle, and a tour center with licensed certified guides. At the Museum of the Civil War, your group can explore 22,000 square feet of exhibit space, the floors filled with relics of battle, interactive activities, and multimedia presentations. Learn all about the conflict of battle and its aftermath, as well as the personal stories of the soldiers themselves. Catch the 20-minute 'A New Birth of Freedom' film, narrated by Morgan Freedom, or head to the Gettysburg Cyclorama. This massive piece shows the 'final fury' of Pickett's Charge, a battle that took place right here.

Gettysburg Heritage Center

Inside the Gettysburg Heritage Center, your group will be able to explore various 3-D photos, programs, artifacts, interactive displays, and storyboards that explain the lasting effects of war on all of those involved. Before you leave the museum stop and view the award-winning 20-minute movie presentation Gettysburg: An Animated Map, created by the Civil War Trust. If interested, your group can opt-in for an additional tour after your visit to the museum, with several different options such as walking tours, bus tours, iPhone tours, and even horse and carriage tours.

Shriver House Museum

This 19th-century home-turned-museum is the perfect spot for your group to learn all about the Civil War, its local impact, and how the daily lives of civilians went on during the war. The house itself is the former home of a local Civil War soldier's family and it explores the civilian experience, with several stories about the family and their daily lives. George, Hettie, Sadie (7), and Mollie all have insightful stories to tell, and walking through the meticulously restored rooms that once belonged to them will help tell them! The guides here are dressed in period attire, allowing you to travel back in time with them to when this spot was Shriver's Saloon and Ten-Pin Alley, or a bit later when it was a local soldier hospital.

Jennie Wade House Museum

Welcome to the Jennie Wade House, the historic home dedicated to the Gettysburg civilian casualty Jennie Wade, the only civilian killed here during the 3-day battle. Inside this shrine to Jennie Wade, you will find several different artifacts and learning opportunities, the house authentically furnished cellar to attic. There are guides in period attire who are well-versed in the history of the home, retelling the tragedy through daily tours that last about 30 minutes. Hear all about domestic wartime life in 1863, as well as about the house and the battle in general. See authentic artifacts such as the very artillery shell that fatally wounded Jennie while she was kneading the dough.

Dobbins House Tavern

Established in 1776 by Reverand Alexander Dobbin, this 12-acre battlefield farmhouse/historic B&B/Alehouse and Restaurant is one of the most historically accurate spots in Gettysburg, the home 'beautifully and authentically restored' to look exactly as it did when first built. The house itself provides free tours and history lessons on Mr. Dobbin, his family, and his role in local society, and the various eateries provide a meal with tastes and ambiance straight from the 18th century. For dinner, you have a couple of different choices. You can have a more casual dining experience at Springhouse Tavern, an 'alehouse set amidst three natural springs' that serves up fresh deli sandwiches for lunch and generous dinner platters for supper! For a more authentic, fine-dining experience then head to the Alexander Dobbin Dining Rooms, an eating experience set within 6 historic rooms (dining room, parlor, library, study, bedroom, spinning room, and the Abigal Adams Ballroom for larger groups).