America is filled with sites that help tell the country’s history, but few places speak to the nation’s enduring freedom better than Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This, of course, is where Union soldiers outlasted their Confederate foes to help turn the tide in the Civil War and inspire one of the most memorable speeches ever delivered.
Even if you’re not much of a history buff, a visit to Gettysburg National Military Park will leave you yearning to learn more about this pivotal period in American history. As you walk the battlefield and hear the stories of those who fought and died, the chaos that unfolded here for a few days in July 1863 — and gripped a divided nation for four years — comes into full focus.
Before you set foot on the battlefield, stop at the park’s brand-new Visitor Center and Museum, a $103 million facility that opened just last year. In addition to providing a thorough orientation of the battlefield, the center offers 12 galleries with thousands of Civil War objects and artifacts on display, including a portable wooden desk used in the field by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and a sapling crutch employed by a wounded Union soldier.
A great way to see all of the sites in historic Gettysburg is by joining a walking tour or by guiding yourself through the town with a free pamphlet from Main Street Gettysburg. A must-see is the David Wills House, where Abraham Lincoln finalized the Gettysburg Address.