Gettysburg

Gettysburg, in Adams County in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, goes down in history as the battlefield in the Civil War where, despite terrible tragedy and loss of life, there was hope for the Union. In many ways, Gettysburg is where the North won the Civil War, and where Abraham Lincoln gave the Union hope that, somehow, something good was to come out of the lives lost in battle.

Understand
"Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this."

- Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 1863

Gettysburg is a borough and the county seat of Adams County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. However, Gettysburg is famous for the Battle of Gettysburg that was fought July 1-3, 1863. The fighting started when Union and Confederate troops converged just north of the town of Gettysburg. Three bloody days of fighting ensued, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. The town is also the location where President Abraham Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Battlefield in the Gettysburg National Military Park. The Battle is remembered both for Pickett's Charge and the "high water mark of the Confederacy" (considered by some to be the closest the Confederacy came to winning the war) as well as the turning point of the war that the failure of said charge and the overall offensive ultimately meant.

Terrain and climate
Flat meadows surrounded by rocky hills, with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains looming in the distance. In the countryside north of Gettysburg is the "Fruit Belt" of Pennsylvania with thousands of acres of apple and peach orchards and vineyards.

Gettysburg has a humid continental climate, with hot, humid summers and cold moist winters. Spring and Fall are mild and pleasant. Heavy winter storms occasionally strike the area, but these are fairly rare. Heaviest snowfall occurs during February and early March. Severe thunderstorms may occasionally hit the region, mostly in July and August.

By plane

 * Harrisburg International Airport is 47 miles from Gettysburg.
 * Baltimore-Washington International Airport is 62 miles from Gettysburg.
 * Washington Dulles International Airport is 78 miles from Gettysburg.
 * Philadelphia International Airport is 148 miles from Gettysburg.

By car
Gettysburg can be reached via US Rt 30 from Philadelphia, or via State Rt 97 from the Baltimore area. From the south, US 15 runs through the town for visitors arriving from the Washington DC region.

By train
Amtrak operates service to Harrisburg and Lancaster. Taxi service and car rentals are available to Gettysburg from there.

By bus
Rabbit Express runs buses to/from the Harrisburg Amtrak station and airport.

By car
By far the best way to see the park is with your own vehicle. Roads wind extensively throughout the battlefields, and include many places to pull off and allow visitors to walk around. Use caution when using these roads, as there may be many people walking or bicycling on these roads. The speed limit throughout the park is 15 mph. When in your car, you may navigate by map or purchase a CD at several locations throughout Gettysburg that will orientate you to the battlefield.

By bus
Guided tours on buses are available. There are several different types of bus tours: one is with licensed battlefield guides (adult $30, child $19) and one is with headphone narration (adult $26, child $15).

By bike
If you have the time and have an average level of fitness, bikes can be rented and can provide an enhanced experience in the park. Cycling the major sites of the July 1-3 campaign can be completed in one day and allow you to experience battle lines and topography in a much more realistic fashion than car or bus.

By horse or carriage
The battlefield features NPS horse trails where you can either bring your own horse or book a battlefield tour on horseback with Confederate Trails of Gettysburg Guided Battlefield Horseback Tours https://confederatetrails.com. 2 hour guided battlefield tours and town history tours by Horse-drawn carriage or on foot are also a must do when visiting Gettysburg; walking and carriage tours can be booked with [Http://gettysburgstartshere.com Horse Tours of Gettysburg]'s Victorian Carriage Company Authorized by GNMP and use only Licensed Battlefield Guides.

By foot
One of the best ways to tour the battlefield is by foot — either running, walking or hiking. There are 26 miles (40 km) of roadway and several hiking trails, both flat and rugged.

Eat
Restaurants abound throughout the town, from nationally known chains, to local Mom & Pop diners.



Drink
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the park at any time.

Camping and backcountry
There are seven campgrounds in Gettysburg: Artillery Ridge Campground, Drummer Boy Campground, Gettysburg Campground, Gettysburg KOA, Round Top Campground, Granite Hill Campground, Gettysburg Battlefield Resort (Membership)

Hiking, camping, and grilling can be done at nearby Caledonia State Park, located approximately 25 miles west of Gettysburg on US Rt 30. Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve in nearby Fairfield, Pa., has more than 600 acres and miles of trails for hiking as well.

Stay safe
Gettysburg is very safe. However, it can get very crowded during the summer, and especially on summer weekends. If large crowds are not pleasing to you, especially avoid the anniversary dates of July 1-3.

Other Pennsylvania cities

 * Harrisburg - The capital of Pennsylvania.
 * Allentown - Pennsylvania's third most populous city rich in history.
 * Hershey - Chocolate country.
 * Lancaster - Amish country.
 * Philadelphia - birthplace of American independence.
 * York - Central Pennsylvania country.

Other regional cities

 * Baltimore - Including the National Aquarium.
 * New York City - America's largest city and some say the best city in the world.
 * Washington, DC - The nation's capital, about an hour and a half away.