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World video travel guide
News • United States • 2011-06-15
Celebrate Lincoln’s legacy in Gettysburg
Visitors can retrace 16th President’s monumental 1863 visit
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – June 14, 2011
It was less than five months after the American Civil War came north and devastated the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg. After three long days of fighting, more than 22,000 dead and wounded soldiers lay out on the farm fields around town. The town’s 2,400 residents were left to pick up the pieces. It took many months, and the town of Gettysburg was never the same.
When it came time to dedicate a National Cemetery where Union soldiers were buried, a tall, lanky president accepted an invitation to say “a few appropriate remarks,” on Nov. 19, 1863. Abraham Lincoln arrived by train, and within a day was back on the train heading back to the White House in Washington, D.C. But what he did in those 25 hours secured his legacy as one of America’s most beloved presidents, and that legacy can be relived in Gettysburg 148 years later.
“Gettysburg has seen its share of great men, but one stands above all others,” said Joanne Lewis, a Gettysburg historian and Licensed Battlefield Guide. “When Abraham Lincoln walked the streets of Gettysburg, he brought hope and caring. Those who witnessed his brief visit never forgot it, and the words he spoke here became some of the most revered words of all time.”
There are numerous ways to learn about and experience both Lincoln and his famous speech in Gettysburg. The town has preserved and protected the legacy that Lincoln created for Gettysburg, himself and for America.
“In Gettysburg, you can walk in Lincoln’s footsteps and experience those places where Lincoln visited during his short stay,” Lewis said. “From the Train Station where he arrived, to the Wills House where he stayed and the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and Presbyterian Church, you can retrace Lincoln’s monumental visit in November 1863.”
The Historic Gettysburg Railroad Station
Start where Lincoln started. The President arrived in Gettysburg the afternoon of Nov. 18th – just a day before he would deliver his immortal speech. When he arrived, there were still bodies of soldiers in the station waiting to be taken home to family members. Today, the Train Station is a Visitor Information Center and museum gallery.
David Wills House
Arguably, the Gettysburg Address would not have occurred had it not been for David Wills, a young attorney who developed the plans for the National Cemetery and sent the invitation to Lincoln. The President stayed overnight in the second floor bedroom and put the finishing touches on his speech that evening. The house is now owned by the National Park Service as a museum dedicated to both Lincoln’s visit and the efforts of Wills in the aftermath of the battle.
“Return Visit”
Called “the most true-to-life” depiction of Lincoln ever created, this statue is one of Gettysburg’s most popular attractions. The statue depicts the 16th president showing a visitor the David Wills house room in which he finished the Gettysburg Address. The sculptor – J. Seward Johnson Jr. – used casts of Lincoln’s face and hands, as well as designs from Lincoln’s suit coat.
Guided Historic Walking Tours
Expert historians help visitors follow Lincoln’s footsteps throughout the town of Gettysburg. These guides will share stories of how the townspeople reacted to the President’s arrival and the mood that day as Lincoln rode down Baltimore Street to the cemetery to make his remarks. These tours include the same stops that the President made during his 25-hour visit to Gettysburg.
Soldiers’ National Cemetery
At the site of the Union stronghold during the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, the National Cemetery is forever part of U.S. history because of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. As the first such cemetery, it now features several monuments to Lincoln and the Address, along with the gravesites of more than 3,300 Union soldiers. A walking tour and free ranger walks help guide visitors through the hallowed ground.
Mr. Lincoln’s Trail – A Walking Tour
Take a walk with Abraham Lincoln on this self-guided walking tour of Downtown Gettysburg and stop at some lesser-known Lincoln sites such as the Robert Harper House, where the President visited with his Secretary of State, William H. Seward, the night of Nov. 18th as he finished the Gettysburg Address.
Gettysburg Presbyterian Church
Before leaving town on Nov. 19th, Lincoln went back to the home of David Wills for lunch and a political rally at the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church. Accompanying the President was John Burns, a veteran of the War of 1812 who took up arms against the Confederates in Gettysburg. Today, the church preserves the pew where Lincoln sat and the church is open for visitors on many occasions, including the weekly Historic Church Walking Tours.
Lincoln Train Museum
Here, visitors can relive Lincoln’s trip to Gettysburg with a simulated train ride through the countryside on the way to Gettysburg. The program shares the personal thoughts of President Lincoln as he prepared himself to deliver his speech the next day. The museum features a collection of more than 1,000 trains and exhibits.
Lincoln Into Art Galley
Artist Wendy Allen has devoted much of her life to capturing the essence of Lincoln. Her portraits are known worldwide, and she helps people understand Lincoln himself through the details in her work. “For me, his face is familiar and comforting,” she said. “It symbolizes humanity, wisdom and moral courage. I want people to see him as a modern figure, still powerful and relevant, and with much to teach us.” Her gallery features many of her Lincoln images for the public to enjoy.
Dedication Day
Every year on Nov. 19, Gettysburg honors its beloved president with Dedication Day, to mark the anniversary of the dedication of the National Cemetery. The day includes a Wreath-laying ceremony, Keynote speaker and the reciting of the Gettysburg Address, along with a Graveside Salute to the U.S. Colored Troops.
In November 2013, Gettysburg will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. The Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau anticipates a strong interest in Lincoln from people around the world, especially during the next five years as the nation marks the sesquicentennial anniversary of the American Civil War.
“Lincoln secured his legacy right here in Gettysburg,” said Norris Flowers, President of the Gettysburg CVB. “More and more people from around the world visit Gettysburg to learn more about the 16th president and the address he delivered here.”
A gallery of Lincoln-related photographs can be downloaded from the Gettysburg CVB’s website. Videos of Gettysburg’s Annual Dedication Day ceremonies can be viewed on the CVB’s YouTube site.
The Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, the official tourism promotion agency, markets Gettysburg – Adams County as a premier travel destination, producing a positive economic impact.
