Downtown Gettysburg Self-Guided Walking Tour

Gettysburg, US
62% of travellers recommend this
Very Good (8 reviews)

Highlights

  • Discover tales of hardship and heroism
  • Experience the stories of everyday people
  • See the tree where Abraham Lincoln rode past
  • Learn about the life of Hettie Shriver
  • Explore one of the largest collections of Civil War artifacts

Meeting Point

After booking, search your email for "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow instructions NOW with Wi-Fi/data. Don't wait until onsite. What to bring: Charged smartphone, Power Bank, Headphones, & downloaded tour app.

Meeting point

297 Steinwehr Ave, Gettysburg, PA 17325 , United States

End point

End Point

After booking, search your email for "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow instructions NOW with Wi-Fi/data. Don't wait until onsite. What to bring: Charged smartphone, Power Bank, Headphones, & downloaded tour app.

Meeting point

297 Steinwehr Ave, Gettysburg, PA 17325 , United States

End point

What to expect

1

Jennie Wade House

As Confederate troops advanced on Gettysburg in 1863, Jennie Wade and her mother fled here to stay with Jennie’s sister Georgia. They were terrified of the coming battle and what it would mean for their town. When the fighting erupted a few days later, the family huddled together and prayed no one would break down their door with bayonets drawn. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
2

Gettysburg National Cemetery

Teams of soldiers went out and buried these men where they had fallen, Union and Confederate alike. Most graves were only 12 inches deep. The army had other battles to fight and no time to properly bury their dead.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
3

Tillie Pierce House Inn

When Hettie Shriver fled to her parent's farm, she wasn’t alone. She also took her family and her 15-year-old neighbor Tillie Pierce. Pierce was enthralled by the prospect of battle and had stood outside to watch Union soldiers ride by. Once the cannons began booming she realized she wasn’t safe. But even after fleeing with Hettie to the farm, she couldn’t escape the horrors of battle.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
4

Gettysburg Heritage Center

While the Civil War battle here made a name for this town, there are far more stories to tell than just those of soldiers and armies. With this walking tour, get ready to find out what the Civil War Gettysburg meant for everyday people caught up in it all. Note: This 1+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Downtown Gettysburg in 1-1.5 hours.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
5

Gettysburg Museum of History

This is one of the largest private collections of Civil War artifacts in the entire country, featuring more than 4,000 total artifacts. Collections like this one were obtained legally, but Gettysburg has seen its fair share of looting over the years. Even with the joint effort of residents and the government in 1863, some bodies and bits of gear were left on the battlefield. Whether they were in shallow graves or just hard-to-find places, those remains simply disappeared over time.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
6

Witness Tree

The battle isn’t the only reason this tree is special. Abraham Lincoln also rode directly past this tree on his way to deliver the Gettysburg Address.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
7

Adams County Court House

As the battle raged around the residents of Gettysburg and the wounded piled up, any and all available buildings became hospitals. Wounded soldiers were rushed into shelters like this courthouse, where doctors did everything they could to tend to their wounds.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
8

Shriver House Museum

This was home to Hettie Shriver, a mild-mannered woman whose story was all too familiar to Gettysburg residents after the battle. When the fighting first broke out, Hettie decided to flee with her family to her parents’ farm three miles south of town.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
9

David Wills House

David Wills was an attorney and a pillar of the Gettysburg community. He was also the man responsible for organizing the creation of the Gettysburg National Cemetery!

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
10

Hotel Gettysburg

This building dates all the way back to 1797, though it wasn’t always the Gettysburg Hotel. It started out as a humble tavern which for a time was owned by the prominent McClellan family.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
11

Lincoln Statue at Wills House

The man standing next to Lincoln doesn’t have a name — and that’s exactly the point! He’s “the common man.” The idea is to illustrate the continued importance of Gettysburg and Lincoln to everyday folks in the modern era.

Duration 5 minutes
Admission Admission Not Included
12

GAR Building

This is the Grand Army of the Republic Building or GAR for short. The government established it after the war to support Union veterans. Here, veterans would gather, share stories, and look after one another in times of need.

Duration 5 minutes

The experience can be subject to change due to bad weather or unforseen circumstances. We always endeavour to give you the best possible experience.

Additional Information

  • Additional information
    Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Additional information
    Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Additional information
    How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
  • Additional information
    How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
  • Additional information
    Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Additional information
    Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
  • Additional information
    Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share one tour by splitting headphones
  • Additional information
    Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Provided by Action Day Trips

What our experts say

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    Download the app before your visit.
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    Visit the Gettysburg Heritage Center nearby.
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    Bring headphones for a better experience.
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    Consider a snack break at a local café.
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    Check the weather for comfortable walking.

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