We have been to Gettysburg a couple of times with the girls. This is going to be a long one because there is so much to do in historic Gettysburg with kids! Sorry…not sorry:)
Our most recent trip was a PA Cyber School Field Trip, so we did a few more activities that we probably wouldn’t have done otherwise.
We stayed for a week a the Gettysburg Battlefield Resorts Campground. The campground is just outside of town and actually has a battlefield reenactment area and monument on-site. The last time we went, we rented a cabin at The Lodges at Gettysburg. It was very nice but pricey. I’d rather camp.
On the evening we arrived, we watched the first half of the movie, Gettysburg. It is a long one, but it helped to give the girls a sense of the timeline, the landscape and the magnitude of the location for both sides.
Gettysburg Visitors Center
I think the first stop with kids has to be the Gettysburg Visitors Center. The Morgan Freeman narrated film is the perfect length to give an overview of the causes of the Civil War.
The Cyclorama is an amazing work of art from the early 20th century. It has been fully restored, and the girls were amazed by the amount of detail that is included. The museum provides plenty of hands-on activities and movies to bring history alive for kids. They also offer different kids activities, like getting to meet a soldier, trying on clothes and handling the weapons.
A Battlefield Tour
The next step should be a battlefield tour. In previous visits, we purchased a CD car tour from the bookstore at the Visitors Center. The Rangers there are very helpful in recommending a good one.
We broke up the tour over a few days, but you’ll have plenty of chances to stop and stretch your legs. Climbing on the rocks at Little Round Top and the 44th New York (“Castle”) monument were a hit with the girls.
This time, we were on a bus tour with a Ranger for the field trip. It was a three hour tour, and a nice overview of the three days of the battle. There are lots of options of Ranger-led tours available.
My recommendation is to make sure you have some type of tour, vs. just driving and reading plaques. You’ll get so much additional information and stories, which will make it so much more interesting for kids.
Pennsylvania State Monument
Seminary Ridge Museum
This was a first for us and was part of the field trip too. The kids got to participate in the “Become a Soldier” and “Mending the Wounded” programs. It was a great group experience, but I don’t think I would just see the museum on its own.
Shopping/Eating Downtown
Take a break from sight-seeing, and head downtown. There is no shortage of shopping and eating opportunities downtown. There are plenty of souvenir shops, and the girls love to look at estate jewelry at antique stores. One of our new favorite new stores was The Nerd Herd, a student-run business from Gettysburg College. Justin will be doing a whole separate post on where to eat and drink in Gettysburg. But the Dobbin House Tavern deserves it’s own mention here.
The Dobbins House
We have eaten twice at the Dobbin House Tavern. The food is excellent (especially the Onion Soup). But the real reason we love this place is the free tour of the home. We did the tour on the last trip with the owner. She was so fascinating, and the girls loved it! She gave a great history of the family, the area and the house from the Revolutionary War era. We especially loved the literal bar, and hearing the story of how the owner acquired the beautiful counter, that had once been in her family’s general store.
The Shriver House Museum
When we visited the last time, we did a special children’s party at the Shriver House Museum. I don’t see the event listed on their website, but if you have young children and can find this event, I highly recommend it. When we were there, the girls were about the same ages as Sadie and Molly Shriver were during the Battle at Gettysburg. The party included a tour of the house and garden from the children’s perspective, getting to play with Civil War-era toys, having a snack, and getting to see and touch clothing.
A Ghost Tour
We did a Ghost Tour on our first trip to Gettysburg. Avery was only five, but she insisted this was something she wanted to do…she even volunteered to be a soldier who got shot for a demonstration! We chose a family-friendly candlelight tour through Gettysburg Ghost Tours that started at dusk. It was a blast. The “ghost” stories focused more on the realities of the loss of life during the battle and the medical dangers of the time. But we did see a “spooky” shadow at the Dobbin House Tavern that looks like the profile of Abraham Lincoln. It was perfect for little ones.
Gettysburg National Cemetery
It is a solemn setting, so kids will need to be quiet and respectful while visiting the cemetery. It may not be the most exciting thing for kids to do, but there are a lot of beautiful monuments and they can stand where President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. For, us, we always stop here to visit my great-grandfather, who is buried in the Annex.
There is so much more to do in Gettysburg with kids…the Farmer’s Market at the Round Barn, the Eisenhower Home where the kids can be Secret Service Agents, the Jennie Wade house… What are your favorite activities with or without kids?
Read other posts on hands-on history locations with kids: Williamsburg, Montecello and Yorktown.
