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Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Guide |
Gettysburg National Military Park Description: Located 50 miles northwest of Baltimore, the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the site of the largest Civil War battle ever waged in the Western Hemisphere. The Battle of Gettysburg opened on July 1, 1863 and closed two days later with the climactic "Pickett's Charge". It resulted in a Union victory for the Army of the Potomac and successfully turned back the second invasion of the North by General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Over 51,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or captured making it the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. It was also a major turning point in the war. Historians have referred to the Battle of Gettysburg as the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy." It was the last major effort by Lee to take the fighting out of Virginia and into northern states. The Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg contains more than 7,000 interments including over 3,500 from the Civil War. It was here that President Abraham Lincoln delivered his immortal Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. Post-battle preservation efforts saved small portions of the battlefield as a memorial to the Union victory. On February 11, 1895, congressional legislation was signed to establish Gettysburg National Military Park as a memorial dedicated to the armies that fought that great three day battle. Gettysburg National Military Park incorporates nearly 6,000 acres, with 26 miles of park roads and over 1,400 monuments, markers, and memorials. Directions: Plane - The closest airport to Gettysburg is Harrisburg International Airport at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The second closest is Baltimore-Washington International near Baltimore, Maryland. Gettysburg has a small airfield for private aircraft. Car - Gettysburg National Military Park is located in Adams County, Pennsylvania. From North and South, follow US 15 to Gettysburg and watch for signs to direct you to the National Park Service Visitor Center. The visitor center is located between Taneytown Road (State Rt. 134) and Steinwehr Avenue (Bus. Rt. 15). From East and West, drive into Gettysburg on US Rt. 30, turn South on Baltimore Street (Rt. 97), and follow signs to Steinwehr Avenue (Bus. 15). Public Transportation - There is no public transportation system into Gettysburg at this time. Gettysburg National Military Park 97 Taneytown Road Gettysburg, PA 17325-2804 Phone: Visitor Information 717-334-1124 Email: GETT_Superintendent@nps.gov Detailed web page for Gettysburg National Military Park Gettysburg National Military Park Map Recreational Opportunities Auto Touring Biking Educational Programs Hiking Picnic Museums/Visitor Center |
