Dedication Day Events

Watch the 2025 Anniversary Event

To watch a recorded live stream of this event, please visit this Community Media of South Central PA web page.

 

November 19 marks the anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg. The Gettysburg National Cemetery is famous throughout the world today as the site of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered at the cemetery's dedication ceremonies four and a half months after the battle. Numerous events take place each year to commemorate this monumental anniversary.

 

The only known picture of Abraham Lincoln from the November 19, 1863 ceremony shows Lincoln from a distance with his hat removed and his head bowed. He is surrounded by dignitaries and the large crowd.

Library of Congress

Dedication Day Ceremony - November 19

Dedication Day 2026 will commemorate the 163rd anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

To commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the United States, this year's Dedication Day ceremony will fully recreate President Abraham Lincoln's visit to Gettysburg, beginning with his arrival by train on November 18. This will follow on November 19 with a recreation of the formal procession that will begin at the David Wills house, proceed down Baltimore Street, and finally enter the Taneytown Road gate of the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

All events are FREE. No tickets are required.

10 am to 11 am: Depart David Wills house, begin procession down Baltimore Street
11 am to 2 pm: Ceremony in Gettysburg National Cemetery
~ Times are approximate

This event is sponsored by Gettysburg National Military Park, the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania, the Gettysburg Foundation, and Gettysburg College.

Full Lincoln at Gettysburg Schedule of Events: November 16-19

• Downtown Gettysburg will host a full series of special events from November 16 to 19.
• Gettysburg National Military Park will participate in these events on November 18 and 19 only. All events are FREE. No tickets are required.
• Visit the Lincoln at Gettysburg website to see the full schedule of events from November 16 to 19.

David Will House Hours of Operation

The David Wills House is FREE. No tickets are required.

Monday, November 16: Open - 10 am to 4 pm
Tuesday, November 17: Open - 10 am to 4 pm
Wednesday, November 18: Open - 10 am to 2:30 pm, Closed - 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm, Open 3:30 pm to 8 pm
Thursday, November 19: Open - 10 am to 4 pm

 

Visit the David Wills House

Visit the home of Gettysburg attorney David Wills was the center of the immense clean-up process after the Battle of Gettysburg and where President Lincoln put the finishing touches on his Gettysburg Address, the speech that transformed Gettysburg from a place of death and devastation to the symbol of our nation's "new birth of freedom."

 

Visit the David Wills House

David Wills House

 

Luminaries and flags adorn the Civil War graves in the Soldiers' National Cemetery.

NPS Photo

Remembrance Day Illumination - November 21

This solemn commemoration features a luminary candle on each of the 3,512 Civil War soldier's graves. Names of the fallen soldiers will be read throughout the evening. FREE.

5:30 pm to 9 pm.

This event is co-sponsored by Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation.

 

National Cemetery Virtual Tour

Enhance your visit to the Soldiers' National Cemetery, in-person or virtually, by visiting our web page complete with a photo gallery of the Soldiers' National Monument, a video of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and lots more.

 

National Cemetery Virtual Tour

National Cemetery Virtual Tour

 

Special Laws and Regulations that Govern National Cemeteries Managed by the National Park Service

Reference Manual (RM) 61, 3.2.5 B. Commercial Filming and Photography

A written permit from the superintendent is required for all commercial filming in national cemeteries (NPS Management Policies 2006, section 8.6.6.2). Commercial filming means filming that involves the digital or film recording of a visual image or sound recording by a person, business, or other entity for a market audience. This includes recordings such as those used for a documentary, television or feature film, advertisement, or similar project (NPS Management Policies 2006, section 8.6.6.2).
 

36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 12.4 Special Events and Demonstrations

Conducting a special event or demonstration, whether spontaneous or organized, is prohibited except for official commemorative events conducted for Memorial Day, Veterans Day and other dates designated by the superintendent as having special historic and commemorative significance to a particular national cemetery.

36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 12.3 Definitions

Demonstration means a demonstration, picketing, speechmaking, marching, holding a vigil or religious service, or any other like form of conduct that involves the communication or expression of views or grievances, engaged in by one or more persons, the conduct of which is reasonably likely to attract a crowd or onlookers. This term does not include casual park use by persons that is not reasonably likely to attract a crowd or onlookers.

First Amendment Areas

The park has designated several First Amendment areas which can be used by less than 25 people without a sound amplification device and during park hours without any permit required. A map of the designated First Amendment areas can be found here.