Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. A trip to Gettysburg is a day filled with history, nature, and local culture.

Located approximately 85 miles from Washington, DC, a day trip to Gettysburg makes for a terrific outing through beautiful landscapes filled with history. It’s an easy drive along scenic Maryland Hwy 270 to the Pennsylvania border and to PA Route 85.

Gettysburg National Military Park

Your first stop should be the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum Visitors Center. There is ample free parking. The center is privately owned by the Gettysburg Foundation and is operated in partnership with the National Park Service. Inside the visitors center you’ll find a plethora of information and services to help you plan your day.

The center is quite nice, super clean, modern and there is a nice offering of services including,

• National Park Information Desk (don’t forget to stamp your park passport)
• Two dining options with indoor/outdoor seating
• Museum
• Ticket counter to purchase admission to the theater, museum and guided tours
• Bookstore/gift shop
• Foundation Resource Room
• Restrooms

• “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Abraham Lincoln

Auto Tour

We chose to follow the auto tour. It was an interesting way to see the battlefield and monuments on our own time. The roads are well-marked and the bright red auto tour signs are easy to follow. The loop is 23 miles long with 14 designated stops along the way. There are pull-outs along the route where visitors can park and get out to walk. We downloaded the park service free app and listened to the information at each stop along the loop. The loop and app covers three days of the Battle of Gettysburg. Note: The NPS app works for all national parks in the US.

Field Hospital

This little cabin, known as the Leister House, served as a field hospital. The NPS docent at the cabin shared with us the story of Lydia Leister and her little farmhouse, as well as how it became a field hospital. It addition, it served as headquarters for General Meade.

The Leister House

In 1861 Lydia Leister, a widow with six children, bought the cabin and nine acres of farmland. As the battle progressed, Lydia’s farm proved to be in direct line with the fighting. As such, General Meade took the cabin as his temporary headquarters. The cabin also served as a field hospital. The docent defined a field hospital as a place of amputation, most often without any type of anesthesia.

Given the circumstances, Lydia and her children had to leave their farm for the duration of the fighting. After the dust settled so-to-speak, she did return to the farm and essentially started over.

Dobbin House B&B

After the battle, Lydia and her children moved back to their farm. As a result of the family’s reconstruction of the battle torn farm, they were able to purchase an additional seven acres in 1868. Moreover, in 1874 they built a two-story addition onto the house. Lydia, at age 79, sold the farm to the Gettysburg Memorial Foundation and subsequently moved to the town of Gettysburg. She loved her home so much she took the two-story addition with her and had it built onto her new home. Lydia passed away in 1893.

Nearly 100 years later, Lydia’s home was renovated and became the Dobbin House Tavern Bed & Breakfast. True story.

The Charm of Gettysburg

Just a short drive from the battlefield is the quaint town of Gettysburg with all of its historical charm. Founded by Samuel Gettys, in 1786, Gettysburg was the intersecting point of 10 busy roads which made the town a key location.

Aside from the historical aspect of the town, Gettysburg is a tourist mecca. Historical homes, shops and a multitude of eateries line the streets. It’s a very nice little town. After a day of exploring the battlefield and memorials, a visit to Gettysburg is time well-spent. For instance, there are many visitor options including,

• Museum of History
• Heritage Center
• Eisenhower National Historic Site
• National Cemetery
• Enjoy a respite at the Dobbin House Tavern
• Lincoln Train Museum
• Antique shopping
• Ghost tours
• Children of Gettysburg interactive Museum
• The covered bridges in nearby Frederick County, Maryland

We enjoyed lunch at Gettysburger and an afternoon coffee/chai respite at Presidents Coffee.

How to Spend a Day in Gettysburg

If you find yourself near Gettysburg, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the sites of the battlefield and the town. It’s a day(s) filled with history, nature, and local culture. Fall is a wonderful time of year to visit the area. The autumn colors are glorious to experience and the cool weather is ideal for exploring the battlefield and memorials.