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Gettysburg Heritage Center

Gettysburg Heritage Center: Our most recommended tours and activities

Gettysburg: Battlefield Self-Guided Driving Tour with App

1. Gettysburg: Battlefield Self-Guided Driving Tour with App

Feel the heat of the battle on this self-guided tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield. Follow the battle through its 3 days of intense fighting, and see important landmarks like McPherson Ridge, the Valley of Death, the Pennsylvania State Memorial, and much more. Just start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app (not get your guide) and purchase the tour. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! As you drive toward your first major landmark, you’ll get an overview of the American Civil War, the leadup to the battle, and the dawning of the first bloody day. Then you’ll reach McPherson Ridge, where Union forces mounted their first defense against Confederate assault. After that is the infamous Railway Cut, where a tactical error led to a bloodbath. Take a moment to reflect on the reunion of the United States at the Eternal Light and Peace Memorial before heading to an Observation Tower for a bird's-eye view of the battlefield. Next, reach Seminary Ridge, where the Union set up an impromptu hospital before being overrun before entering the second day of the battle as you drive through the Pitzer Woods. See Warfield Ridge, where General Longstreet staged a dramatic assault, and the famous Little Round Top, one of the battle's most hotly contested sites. After that, cross the Valley of Death before passing the Devil’s Den and discover why each location bears such a grim title. Get a glimpse at the price civilians paid for the battle at the Abraham Trostle Farm, then hear about a chaotic and costly Union retreat as you cruise by Plum Run before arriving at the Pennsylvania State Memorial, Gettysburg's largest and most impressive monument. Then, follow the actual line of battle along Culp’s Hill as the story of the second day’s fighting draws to a close. Stop on the east side of Cemetery Hill to hear about the final, high-stakes engagement of the day. Get introduced to the third and final day of battle as you wind toward the High Water Mark of the Confederacy, supposedly indicating the closest the rebels ever came to winning the war. Hear the dramatic events of Pickett’s Charge and find out how the whole battle finally ended. Finally, visit the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, where the Union men who died for their country are honored. While there, you’ll have the opportunity to listen to a rendition of the famous Gettysburg Address, as delivered by Abraham Lincoln following the battle, before your tour concludes.

Gettysburg: Battlefield Audio Tour for Driving and Walking

2. Gettysburg: Battlefield Audio Tour for Driving and Walking

Walk in the footsteps of Civil War soldiers. Relive the battle strategies of Gettysburg generals. Embark on an adventure that brings this historic three-day battle to life. Start by downloading the tour app that will function as your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Journey through Gettysburg by vehicle and on foot, and learn about the bravery and humanity of individual soldiers. Hear the history of sites like Seminary Ridge. Visit the battlefield and imagine watching the fighting unfold from your vantage point. Let your audio guide make Gettysburg come alive as you walk through the boulder-strewn landscape of Devil’s Den. Feel transported back in time amongst the towering boulders and alien landscape. Imagine soldiers, generals, and cannoneers battling around you. Uncover the history of sites like Little Round Top, as you learn about the frantic maneuvering and raw courage of Union soldiers. Hear too about the ghosts of the battlefield. Uncover the mysterious, inexplicable events which still take place there, as the history of this battle lives on.

Gettysburg: Self-Guided Audio Downtown Walking Tour

3. Gettysburg: Self-Guided Audio Downtown Walking Tour

Explore Downtown Gettysburg at your own pace with a self-guided audio walking tour. Using an application on your phone, get access to your personal guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Visit the Gettysburg Heritage Center, the National Cemetery, the Witness Tree, and much more. Download your Action Tour Guide application and start your tour at the Gettysburg Heritage Center. Head north toward the National Cemetery, where Abraham Lincoln delivered his stirring Gettysburg Address. Learn next about the Jenny Wade House, the only civilian casualty in the whole battle. Then, it’s on to the Children of Gettysburg museum, full of exhibits about those oft-forgotten witnesses to all the bloodshed. Admire the Witness Tree, where Lincoln's carriage passed on his way to deliver his speech. Pass the home of Hettie Shriver, and find out why she went out of the frying pan and into the fire. At the Pierce House Inn, learn of the home to a young girl who became an unlikely combat medic during and after the battle, See the Gettysburg Museum of history, a private collection of over 4,000 war-related artifacts, and learn about modern-day grave robbers. The next landmark you’ll pass is a peculiar one—the remnants of an old cannon! Then there’s the Adams County Courthouse, which became an impromptu hospital for wounded soldiers as the fighting raged on. Afterward, you’ll pass the site where Congressman Thaddeus Stevens once had an office. His name might not be as well-remembered as Lincoln’s, but he’s definitely a hero worth knowing. Then, past a life-size Lincoln statue perfect for photo ops, you’ll find the David Wills House, where the real Abraham Lincoln put the finishing touches on his Gettysburg Address. Get to the Gettysburg Hotel, rumored to be one of the most haunted places in town. Finally, after hearing about the battle’s devastating aftermath, you’ll arrive at the train station which became an emergency medical station after the fighting had concluded at long last.

Historic Battlefields Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour Bundle

4. Historic Battlefields Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour Bundle

This bundle includes self-guided, narrated driving tours of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Yorktown. Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Once downloaded, you can begin your tour at any of the battlefields in the bundle. There will be a GPS-marked starting point for each tour. In Gettysburg, you’ll follow the trajectory of this tide-turning, three-day battle which pushed Union and Confederate forces to the brink. Visit stunning memorials like the State of Pennsylvania Monument and hear about the heroism of the soldiers who fought on this land. See crucial locations from the battle like Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, and the High Water Mark of the Confederacy. Listen to a blow-by-blow account of the battle as it unfolded across this hallowed ground. Finally, arrive at the Gettysburg National Cemetery and hear a stirring rendition of the Gettysburg Address to conclude your tour. In Antietam, you’ll relive the single deadliest day of the Civil War. Trace the steps of the soldiers on both sides of the conflict at Dunker Church, Bloody Lane, and Burnside's Bridge. Feel the tension in the Cornfield and West Woods, where some of the fiercest fighting took place, and find out how a misplaced cigar might have started the whole ordeal. Return to where it all started in Yorktown, the site of the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War. Tour the fields where George Washington’s army effectively secured American independence from the British Empire and hear how such an unlikely feat was accomplished. Visit the Moore House, where surrender negotiations took place, then look out across Surrender Field, where the British laid down their arms. Plus, hear about the aftermath of this historic struggle at the Yorktown Victory Monument, where your tour concludes. All this is included in one convenient bundle!

100+ Self Guided Audio Tours by Action Tour Guide

5. 100+ Self Guided Audio Tours by Action Tour Guide

Create your own cross-country trail, following recommended routes between 50 of the best attractions the United States has to offer. Enjoy audio and visual guides that are curated by local experts, creative writers, and professional voice artists, conveniently packed into the Action Tour Guide App. Start your adventure at Gettysburg Heritage Center, and explore the Civil War's most important battlegrounds. See the roots of the revolution in Boston and Philadelphia. Visit Lexington and Concord to imagine the famous “shot heard ‘round the world”. Drive out to Cape Cod or Cape Ann for the unique shoreline and quaint New England towns. Turn back time at the Gilded Age mansions in Newport. Roll down your windows on the Pacific Coast Highway, and take in the majesty of Big Sur. Head west to Utah’s “Mighty Five” national parks, and admire each breath-taking landscape. Swing north to Yellowstone, home to volcanic springs and the Old Faithful geyser. Take your time completing each tour and choosing your ideal route after browsing all 50 options. Stay entertained along the way with texts and visuals that accompany each audio guide. The hardest part is deciding where to start.

Other Sightseeing Options in Gettysburg Heritage Center

Want to discover all there is to do in Gettysburg Heritage Center? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Gettysburg Heritage Center

Overall rating

3.9 / 5

based on 20 reviews

It was a cool Autumn day to drive the route. The directions were easy to follow. We were able to travel at our own speed; taking our time to absorb the information at each stop. We were able to stop at the Visitor Center for an extended period of time and were able to return to audio tour without difficulty.

Great to tour anytime convenient for you. Easy to start and stop tour then pick up where you left off. Tour guide voice is pleasant articulate. We loved it. Even listen to it back at home after our trip.

Following the battle in the tour in a self-paced download made understanding and appreciating those three fateful days so much better.

Wonderful ! You can take your time at your own pace while touring. Also, you can pull over at anytime and look around .

Easy to use and very accurate as to your location!