Last updated: July 15, 2024
Thing to Do
Daily Ranger Programs at Gettysburg
![A park ranger gives a program to a group of people.](/common/uploads/cropped_image/primary/BE910189-E983-352E-3D96F360D6950100.jpg?width=1300&quality=90&mode=crop)
NPS Photo
Ranger Programs: July 15 – August 11
- In the event of thunderstorm or tornado warnings, programs will be canceled.
- In the event of a heat index in excess of 91 degrees, programs will be shortened and modified.
- In the event of a heat index in excess of 103 degrees, all programs will be canceled.
- Program cancellations or modifications will be posted on www.nps.gov/gett and on the Gettysburg National Military Park Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Free Ranger-led hikes, walks, and talks that explore key moments and locations on the Gettysburg battlefield. All programs are free and open to the public. Schedule subject to change.
Gettysburg History Hike (90 minutes)
Hike from the Visitor Center to Cemetery Ridge, where fighting raged on July 2 and 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 Program Site 1, Museum and Visitor Center.
Daily at 10:00 AM.
Battle Walk (2 hours)
Want to experience the battlefield from the same vantage point as the men who fought there? Walk the fields and woods that men struggled for over 160 years ago and get a closer look at the places and people that impacted the battle’s result. Water, insect repellant, a hat, and proper foot gear are highly recommended. Check out the information desk for a complete schedule of topics and where to meet the Park Ranger or visit Gettysburg Battle Walks (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Friday, Saturday, Sunday at 10:00 AM.
Little Round Top Hike (60 Minutes)
For over an hour on July 2, 1863, Union and Confederate troops battled for control of this small hill. Explore the rocky summit, see original Union breastworks, and discover why Little Round Top was so important to both sides.
Meet at the gathering area on the far (northern) end of the Little Round Top parking lot.
Daily at 11:00 AM.
Cannoneers to Your Post! Join the Artillery (30 minutes)
Join a National Park Service living historian and become part of a gun crew as you discover the role artillery played during the Battle of Gettysburg. Please note that this program does not include a black powder firing demonstration.
Meet at Ranger Program Site 1 at the Museum and Visitor Center.
Daily at 11:00 AM.
McPherson Ridge Hike (60 Minutes)
The Edward McPherson farm witnessed the opening shots of the Battle of Gettysburg, initiated between Union cavalry and Confederate infantry. How did the fighting on this simple farm shape and influence the strategy of the battle in the coming days? Join a Ranger on this hour-long hike to discover the answers.
Meet at Tour Stop 1, McPherson Ridge.
Daily at 1:00 PM.
Culp’s Hill Hike (60 Minutes)
Hike the wooded slopes of Culp’s Hill where the most sustained fighting of the battle took place.
Meet at the Culp’s Hill Tower, Slocum Ave.
Daily at 2:00 PM.
~ Family Programs
While all programs are family-friendly, these have been specifically developed for families & children.
Hands on History Cart
Look for our themed Hands on History Carts where visitors of all ages can meet a Park Ranger or Educator to explore some of the people and stories of the Battle of Gettysburg with hands-on replicas and original artifacts from the American Civil War.
Find the cart in the Museum and Visitor Center. Times vary, check at the information desk
Junior Ranger Program (Self Directed)
Discover the history of Gettysburg National Military Park through the Junior Ranger Program, a project for our young visitors to have fun while they learn about the importance and history that is Gettysburg.
Get a booklet and materials at the Ranger Desk in the Museum and Visitor Center, open from 8 AM–5 PM.
~ Special Programs
Explore Gettysburg National Cemetery, visit the home where Abraham Lincoln spent the night, or chat with a National Park Service Ranger. These special programs are designed to make your visit to Gettysburg one you’ll never forget.
“We are building for the ages to come…” The Little Round Top Rehabilitation Project (60 minutes)
It’s the single most visited location on the Gettysburg battlefield, and it showed. Come along for a hike up to the summit and learn how the countless decisions that were required now allows all visitors access to this iconic hill.
Meet at the gravel parking lot at the intersection of Wheatfield Road and Sedgwick Avenue.
Park in the gravel parking lot at the intersection of Wheatfield Road and Sedgwick Avenue and along the right side of Sedgwick Avenue.
Wednesdays at 10:00 AM
National Cemetery Tour (35 minutes)
Visit the site of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and explore the Soldiers’ National Cemetery where over 3,500 Union soldiers killed in the battle were laid to rest.
Meet inside the Taneytown Gate, Gettysburg National Cemetery.
Daily at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM.
The David Wills House Museum (Self-Guided)
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. Admission to the Wills House is free.
Open Friday-Sunday, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Caring for the Wounded (35 Minutes)
Over 27,000 soldiers were wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg. Learn how they were evacuated, treated, and how most of their lives were saved by the medical personnel of both armies.
Meet at Ranger Site 1.
Daily at 3:00 PM.
Exploring Pickett’s Charge (45 minutes)
Pickett’s Charge is one of the most famous events in American military history. Join a Park Ranger and learn why it was ordered, what its outcome meant for the Union and Confederacy, and how it has been remembered through history.
Meet at the Virginia Memorial, Auto Tour Stop 5.
Daily at 3:30 PM.
~ Evening Programs
Licensed Battlefield Guide Tour of Gettysburg National Cemetery (90 minutes) Meet a member of Gettysburg’s Licensed Battlefield Guides at the Cemetery Rostrum for a free guided walk exploring the history of Gettysburg National Cemetery. This program will conclude at the Soldiers’ National Monument prior to the performance of Taps.
Meet inside the Taneytown Gate, Gettysburg National Cemetery.
Daily at 5:30 PM.
100 Nights of Taps Program (30 minutes) The notes of “Taps” will once more fill the air every evening as the famous 24-note call is sounded in Gettysburg National Cemetery from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania and Gettysburg National Military Park will co-sponsor the seventh year of One Hundred Nights of Taps, in partnership with Taps for Veterans and Gettysburg’s Licensed Battlefield Guides.
Meet at the Soldiers’ National Monument, Gettysburg National Cemetery.
Nightly at 7:00 PM.
Summer Campfire Series (60 minutes) Rangers present evening campfire talks on a wide variety of topics on the Battle of Gettysburg and the American Civil War. Programs take place at the Pitzer Woods Amphitheater, near Tour Stop #6.
Visitors can check at the information desk for a complete schedule of topics or visit Campfire Programs at Gettysburg (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).
Friday, Saturday, Sunday at 8:30 PM.
- In the event of thunderstorm or tornado warnings, programs will be canceled.
- In the event of a heat index in excess of 91 degrees, programs will be shortened and modified.
- In the event of a heat index in excess of 103 degrees, all programs will be canceled.
- Program cancellations or modifications will be posted on www.nps.gov/gett and on the Gettysburg National Military Park Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Dates, times, and topics are all subject to change.
Outdoor spring, summer, and fall programs range in accessibility levels. Some are fully accessible, others are stationary under a tent, while others are rugged and lengthy hikes or walks.
It is our goal to work with park visitors to ensure everyone has a positive experience visiting Gettysburg. Please contact the park for information about specific programs or to request any accommodations you or a member of your party may need.