Begin your visit to the battlefield at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. The Battle of Gettysburg is considered a turning point in the Civil War. Rangers at Gettysburg National Military Park offer programs about important moments and places on the battlefield. More than 6,000 United States soldiers and veterans are laid to rest at Gettysburg National Cemetery. While the programs explore individual sites and moments, the cemetery serves as a memorial to those buried there.
History on the Ground and in the Landscape
Gettysburg Battle Walks are intensive, two-hour programs. They cover considerable distances and traverse uneven or challenging terrain. If you are interested in these walks, plan for the full duration and take the terrain into account. Program times may change, so check the schedule before your visit.
Freedom Transit also helps you get around Gettysburg: the Red, Blue and Gray routes connect downtown with the Museum and Visitor Center, as well as with stops west and east of town. Routes and schedules may change, so check the timetable for your trip.
Insights into the Eisenhowers’ History
Eisenhower National Historic Site preserves the farm of Dwight D. Eisenhower, general and 34th president of the United States. Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower used the farm as a weekend retreat; it was also a meeting place for leaders from around the world. Tours of the Eisenhower home are offered seasonally and on selected days. The site also offers free, ranger-led walks through the farm’s historic landscape; these are also scheduled seasonally. The house tour and landscape walk focus on different things: one explores the house, while the other highlights the historic landscape.
Trails and Landscapes
Caledonia State Park covers 1,125 acres in Adams and Franklin Counties along US 30. Ten miles of hiking trails pass through forests and historic areas, and the Appalachian Trail also runs through the park. At the Thaddeus Steven Blacksmith Shop, visitors can tour the forge and occasionally watch a guest blacksmith make iron products. Opening hours vary by season, so it’s worth checking visitor hours.
Strawberry Hill’s landscape includes wet and dry woodlands, two mountain streams, ponds and a restored mineral quarry. The Free Hike Friday series offers guided walks with a naturalist on trails of varying difficulty. Here, the focus is on both the variety of landscape features and the trails themselves.
Covered Bridges and Their Stories
The Sachs Covered Bridge was built by David Stoner in 1852. During the Battle of Gettysburg, from July 1 to 3, 1863, it was used by Union and Confederate troops. Its surroundings provide a quiet, idyllic setting for photographers, anglers, hikers, birdwatchers and nature lovers of all experience levels.
Jack’s Mountain Bridge is a single-lane bridge over Tom’s Creek. It is the only covered bridge in Adams County still used daily by motor vehicles. It is also the only covered bridge in Pennsylvania whose traffic is controlled by traffic lights. These distinctive features make it a different subject for bridge photography than the history of Sachs Covered Bridge.
Fruit Growing and Seasonal Discoveries
Fruit growing and spring blossoms shape the landscape of Adams County: the county has more than 120 orchards and nearly 1,250 farms, and millions of blossoms appear in spring. The Adams County Blossom Belt adds to this seasonal picture as a self-guided scenic driving route with 14 official stops through Upper Adams County.
The National Apple Museum is housed in a restored barn dating from before the American Civil War. It preserves and presents the history and artifacts of the apple and tree-fruit industry, as well as its contribution to the development of Adams County. The free digital Adams County Field to Festival Trail highlights orchards, farmers’ markets and craft beverages. It takes visitors to local growers and producers, as well as to seasonal events and festivals in Gettysburg and Adams County. The offering is updated seasonally.
Cycling with Clear Route Conditions
Bicycles are welcome at Gettysburg National Military Park, but are permitted only on paved park roads and avenues. The Adams County road cycling guide includes three routes; each comes with a map, cue sheet, route description and landscape photographs. Route details may be updated, so check the current version of the guide before setting out.
More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Gettysburg, Abbottstown, New Oxford, Aspers, Littlestown, Carbon, Wyoming County, Washington.
Return to the main travel overview: Pennsylvania.
