A Family Visit to Gettysburg

Parents wanting to introduce their children to some of the iconic places in American history will find Gettysburg a family-friendly destination. This Pennsylvania battlefield was the scene of what was to be the turning point in the Civil War, and Gettysburg National Military Park commemorates that three-day battle in 1863 that took the lives of 51,000 people.

It is also the place where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his best-known speech, the Gettysburg Address. Although a battlefield might not seem a likely vacation destination for kids, many of the attractions have features to engage them and bring history to life.

Gettysburg National Military Park began as a cemetery for Union soldiers killed here, but, by 1886, Confederate memorials were allowed. Most of the monuments, some quite impressive, stand where the units fought.

Begin at the visitor center and museum to learn more about the Civil War’s causes and the importance of the Battle of Gettysburg. Audio and visual effects at the dramatic Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama, painted in the late 1880s, seem to engulf visitors in the midst of Pickett’s Charge, and 11 galleries contain more displays and actual artifacts, along with interactive exhibits, videos and voice accounts that bring the battle and the war to life.

Gettysburg National Military Park. Photo: Refocus – Dreamstime.com

To get the most from the site, take a tour with a licensed battlefield guide, either in your own car or on a bus tour. Or get a CD audio tour from the museum shop to explore the battlefields on your own. The succession of monuments and details of the battle may not interest young kids for long, but be sure to take them to Little Round Top. As they explore the rough, rocky terrain, they can picture the sharpshooters hiding behind the boulders of Devil’s Den.

Although you can expect big crowds then, a good way to get a picture of what the battle was like is at the annual Gettysburg Civil War Reenactment in early July. Re-enactors in authentic uniforms take on the roles of generals, officers and foot soldiers of both armies, firing cannons and authentic weapons. More reenactors in replica military encampments demonstrate military and civilian skills of the era and there are band concerts and activities.

Not everything here concerns the battle. You can visit the home of President and Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower, furnished as it was when Eisenhower used it in the 1950s. There’s a scavenger hunt for kids and you can get there on a shuttle bus from the National Park Visitor Center.

At the Shriver House, which Confederate sharpshooters commandeered and knocked holes through its brick wall to fire at Union troops, costumed interpreters bring to life the world of the Shriver children as you tour the restored rooms. Kids will also learn how modern techniques were used to discover what happened here.

At the Jenny Wade House, costumed guides explore how the war impacted civilian life in Gettysburg. Jenny Wade was only civilian killed during the battle, when a stray bullet hit her as she was making bread in the kitchen.

Family-friendly hotels with indoor swimming pools include the mid-range Best Western Gettysburg and Hampton Inn Gettysburg, both serve complimentary breakfast. The budget Days Inn by Wyndham Gettysburg, just outside the center, has an outdoor pool and rooms have refrigerators and microwaves.

Gettysburg is easy to get around, although, on summer weekends and during special events, traffic and parking can be difficult. As hotels all offer parking, it’s a good idea to leave your car and take the Freedom Transit lines that connect downtown, the major hotel areas and the battlefield Visitor Center.