The 161st anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg is July 1, 2, and 3. The National Park Service has released the schedule of events for commemorating the anniversary. [begin quote]
The three-day Battle of Gettysburg marked a turning point not only in the course of the American Civil War, but also for the future of the United States of America. Join National Park Service Rangers during the 161st Anniversary for a series of free guided walks and talks that discuss, explore, and reflect on this important chapter in our nation’s history.
On all park avenues please park your vehicle on the right side of the road, unless otherwise directed, with all wheels on the pavement.
Schedule is subject to change.
July 1-3: Daily Ranger Guided Programs & Events
Gettysburg History Hike (90 minutes)
Hike from the Visitor Center to Cemetery Ridge where fighting raged on July 2 & 3, 1863. Get an overview of the battle, visit the site of Pickett’s Charge, explore the Bloody Angle, and walk in the footsteps of the men who struggled there.
Meet at Ranger Site 1, behind the Museum and Visitor Center.
10:00 A.M.
National Cemetery Tour (45 minutes)
Explore the meaning and cost of the Battle of Gettysburg, and of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Find out how the National Cemetery was established, who is buried there, and why Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address still has meaning for us today.
Meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to the National Cemetery.
11:00 A.M., 3:00 P.M., 5:30 P.M.
100 Nights of Taps (30 minutes)
Gather in the National Cemetery to learn more about the men buried there and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Listen as the notes of taps fill the air in Gettysburg as the famous 24-note call is sounded in honor of those who died during the three-day battle.
Meet at the Soldiers’ National Monument, Gettysburg National Cemetery.
7 P.M.
Monday, July 1, 2024
Key Moment Programs
Join National Park Service rangers for brief 30-minute programs that highlight the critical moments of the battle from the perspective of the soldiers and civilians who participated. Utilizing published and unpublished first-hand accounts, the humanity, chaos, and tragedy of battle will be explored. Minimal walking.
Station 1 – McPherson Barn
Scene of the opening of the battle on July 1 and of fierce fighting that afternoon.
Times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Park on Stone & Meredith Avenue.
Station 2 – Oak Hill, Tour Stop 2
The most commanding position on the July 1 battlefield and the jumping off point for key confederate attacks.
Times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Park at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, Auto Tour Stop 2.
Anniversary Battle Walks
These special two-hour programs involve significant walking, occasionally over rough terrain. Water, headgear, sun protection, insect repellent and sturdy walking shoes are highly recommended. All four tires must remain on pavement when parking alongside avenues.
9:00 A.M. – Buford Leads the Way: The Opening Hours of Battle
Meet at Oak Hill, Tour Stop 2. Park on Buford Avenue. Program ends at the Railroad Cut.
9:00 A.M. – The Fighting … was Most Desperate: Rowley’s Brigade on July 1st
Meet at Tour Stop 1, McPherson Ridge. Park on Reynolds Avenue.
3:00 P.M. – Junius Daniels Brigade – July 1, 1863
Meet at Oak Hill, Tour Stop 2. Park on Buford Avenue. Program ends at the Railroad Cut.
3:00 P.M. – Pender and Heth Attack: End of Day July 1
Meet at West End Guide Station. Park on Reynolds, Stone, & Meredith Avenue. Program ends on Reynolds Avenue.
Family Programs
While all programs are family-friendly, these have been specifically developed for families with children ages 4 to 14 in mind.
10:00 A.M. – Family Program: “Build It, Paint It, Mold It” (45 Minutes)
Children ages 4 to 14, and their families, will learn about the battle action in and around the McPherson barn on July 1, 1863 and will then have the opportunity to build the barn and other landscape features with Legos, paint the scene with water colors, or mold one of the nearby monuments with modeling clay.
Meet at the McPherson Barn. Park on Stone and Meredith Avenues.
1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Hands-On History Experience
Stop by the Group Lobby of the Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center anytime between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. for an interactive hands-on experience.Group Lobby, Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center.
Twilight Lantern Walk: The End of the First Day of Battle
Join National Park Service Interpreters for these special lantern walks and discover the stories of those who fought and died upon these fields 161 years ago.
8:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Meet at the Howard Equestrian Statue, East Cemetery Hill.
Weather modifications
- In the event of thunderstorm or tornado warnings, or a heat index in excess of 105 degrees, all programs will be canceled.
- In the event of a heat index in excess of 91 degrees, programs will be shortened and modified.
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Key Moment Programs
Join National Park Service rangers for brief 30-minute programs that highlight the critical moments of the battle from the perspective of the soldiers and civilians who participated. Utilizing published and unpublished first-hand accounts, the humanity, chaos, and tragedy of battle will be explored. Minimal walking.
Station 1 – Alabama Monument, Tour Stop 7
In the afternoon of July 2, Lt. Gen. James Longstreet placed his Confederate troops along Warfield Ridge, anchoring the right of his line in these woods.
Times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Park on South Confederate Avenue.
Station 2 – Culp’s Hill
Confederates of General Ewell’s 2nd Corps launched repeated attacks against the entrenched Union position on Culp’s Hill. Tenacious Union defenders, aided by the darkness of night, were able to repel the assault.
Times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Park on Slocum Avenue.
Anniversary Battle Walks
These special two-hour programs involve significant walking, occasionally over rough terrain. Water, headgear, sun protection, insect repellent and sturdy walking shoes are highly recommended. All four tires must remain on pavement when parking alongside avenues.
9:00 A.M. – “The Onslaught Was Terrible. . .And Our Losses Heavy”: Tilton, Sweitzer, and the Fight for Stony Hill and the Wheatfield
Program begins and ends at the Wheatfield, Auto Tour Stop 9.
Park on Brooke Avenue and DeTrobriand Avenue.
9:00 A.M. – Reliving the Confusion and Uncertainty of July 2, 1863, Union and Confederate
Meet at the Warfield Tower, West Confederate Avenue.
Park on West Confederate Avenue. Program ends at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, South Confederate Avenue.
3:00 P.M. – The Crisis of the Engagement: McGilvery’s Artillery on July 2nd
Meet at the intersection of United States and Sedgwick Avenue.
Park at the Pennsylvania Memorial, Tour Stop 12.
3:00 P.M. – “The Federal Army was cut in twain…” – The 21st Mississippi and Barksdale’s Charge
Meet at the Mississippi Monument, Tour Stop 6.
Park on West Confederate Avenue. Program ends at the Trostle Farm, United States Ave.
Family Programs
While all programs are family-friendly, these have been specifically developed for families with children ages 4 to 14 in mind.
10:00 A.M. – Family Program:“Build It, Paint It, Mold It” (45 Minutes)
Children ages 4 to 14, and their families, will learn about the battle action in and around Little Round Top on July 2, 1863 and will then have the opportunity to build the barn and other landscape features with Legos, paint the scene with water colors, or mold one of the nearby monuments with modeling clay.
Meeting location TBD.
1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. Hands-On History Experience
Stop by the Group Lobby of the Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center anytime between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. for an interactive hands-on experience.Group Lobby, Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center.
Twilight Lantern Walk: Cemetery Ridge
Join National Park Service Interpreters for these special walks and discover the stories of those who offered up their lives upon these fields 160 years ago. Learn about who they were, why they served, and who they left behind.
8:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Meet at the National Cemetery Parking Lot.
Weather modifications
- In the event of thunderstorm or tornado warnings, or a heat index in excess of 105 degrees, all programs will be canceled.
- In the event of a heat index in excess of 91 degrees, programs will be shortened and modified.
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Key Moment Programs
Join National Park Service rangers for brief 30-minute programs that highlight the critical moments of the battle from the perspective of the soldiers and civilians who participated. Utilizing published and unpublished first-hand accounts the humanity, chaos, and tragedy of battle will be explored. Minimal walking.
Station 1 – The North Carolina Memorial, Tour Stop 4
Near here the last Confederate assault at Gettysburg, Pickett’s Charge, was launched. Times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Park on West Confederate Avenue.
Station 2 – The High-Water Mark, Tour Stop 15
Located near the center of the Union line of battle on Cemetery Ridge, this is where Pickett’s Charge reached its climax.
10:30 A.M., 11:30 A.M., 1:30 A.M., 2:30 p.m.
Park on Hancock Avenue.
Anniversary Battle Walks
These special two-hour programs involve significant walking, occasionally over rough terrain. Water, headgear, sun protection, insect repellent and sturdy walking shoes are highly recommended. All four tires must remain on pavement when parking alongside avenues.
9:00 A.M. – The Harvard Regiment: The 20th Massachusetts on July 3
Program begins and ends at the High Water Mark, Tour Stop 15.
Park on Hancock Avenue.
9:00 A.M. – “Their Usual Gallantry and Bravery”: Candy’s Brigade and the Fight for Culp’s Hill
Meet at the Culp’s Hill Tower.
Park on Slocum Avenue.
3:00 P.M. – “We Gained Nothing but Glory”: Pickett and Pettigrew ‘s Assault
Meet at the Virginia Memorial, Tour Stop 5.
Park on West Confederate Avenue. Program ends at the High-Water Mark, Tour Stop 15
3:00 P.M. – “Never to Yield” – The 14th Connecticut on July 3
Meet at the High-Water Mark, Tour Stop 15. Park on Hancock Avenue.
Family Programs
While all programs are family-friendly, these have been specifically developed for families with children ages 4 to 14 in mind.
10:00 A.M. – Family Program: “Build It, Paint It, Mold It” (45 Minutes)
Children ages 4 to 14, and their families, will learn about the battle action in and around the High-Water Mark on July 3, 1863 and will then have the opportunity to build the barn and other landscape features with Legos, paint the scene with water colors, or mold one of the nearby monuments with modeling clay.
Meet at Auto Tour Stop 15, The High-Water Mark.
Park on Hancock Avenue.
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Hands-On History Experience
Stop by the Group Lobby of the Gettysburg NMP Visitor Center anytime between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. for an interactive hands on experience.
Group Lobby, Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center.
Twilight Lantern Walk: The Aftermath of Pickett’s Charge (Co-sponsored by the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College)
Join National Park Service Interpreters for these special walks and discover the stories of those who offered up their lives upon these fields 160 years ago. Learn about who they were, why they served, and who they left behind.
8:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Meet at the Virginia Memorial, Tour Stop 5.
Park on West Confederate Avenue.
Weather modifications
- In the event of thunderstorm or tornado warnings, or a heat index in excess of 105 degrees, all programs will be canceled.
- In the event of a heat index in excess of 91 degrees, programs will be shortened and modified.
Sacred Trust Lecture Series
The Sacred Trust Lecture Series, co-sponsored by the Gettysburg Foundation and Gettysburg National Military Park, will be held July 1 to 3 and July 6 to 7 at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center and features renowned authors, historians, and National Park Service Rangers examining various aspects of the American Civil War experience, the Battle of Gettysburg, and much more. More information on the Sacred Trust Lecture Series can be found at www.gettysburgfoundation.org.[end quote]
This will be an excellent commemoration. The NPS rangers always do a fantastic job of historical interpretation.
Student of the American Civil War 