Key Moment Programs

Key Moment Programs offer a 30-minute overview of the events that occurred in a specific location on that day of the battle. Minimal walking is required.

July 1
Parking and shuttles will be available from 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. from the Stadium West Lot at Gettysburg College located on Constitution Avenue. Shuttles will pick up every 15-20 minutes. Stops include McPherson's Ridge, Eternal Light Peace Memorial, and Barlows Knoll.

Station 1 – McPherson’s Ridge
Where: Auto tour stop 1
What: Scene of the opening of the battle on July 1 and of fierce fighting that afternoon.
Presented at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Station 2 – Oak Hill
Where: Station on west side of Eternal Light Peace Memorial, Auto tour stop 2
What: The most commanding position on the July 1 battlefield and the jump-off point for key Confederate attacks during the afternoon.  
Presented at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Station 3 –Peace Light - Information Station
Where: East side of Eternal Light Peace Memorial, Auto tour stop 2
What: Park staff and volunteers offer information on the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, the July 1 battle action, and general park information.
Open 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Station 4 – Barlow Knoll
Where: Barlow Knoll
What: The far right flank of the Union front on July 1. A successful Confederate attack here helped unravel the Union line and forced its retreat through Gettysburg.  
Presented at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Station 5 –Cemetery Hill
Where: Baltimore Street Entrance to the Soldiers’ National Cemetery
What: The defeated Union troops of the 1st and 11th Corps rallied and reorganized here. The hill would become the anchor of the new Union defensive line. Presented at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

July 2
Parking and shuttles will be available from 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Shuttles will pick up every 15-20 minutes. Stops include Devil's Den, Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, High Water Mark, and the National Cemetery North lot on Taneytown Road.

Station 1 – Little Round Top 
Where: Auto tour stop 8
What: The key terrain on the Union left flank and the scene of heavy fighting on the afternoon of July 2.
Presented at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Station 2 – Devil’s Den
Where: Opposite Devil’s Den parking area on Sickles Avenue
What: The Union 3rd Corps anchored its left flank here on July 2. That afternoon a desperate struggle ensued when Confederates of Longstreet’s 1st Corps attacked.
Presented at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Station 3 – The Wheatfield
Where: Auto tour stop 9
What: The wheatfield of farmer George Rose changed hands several times in the ebb and flow of battle on July 2 and left hundreds of casualties.
Presented at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Station 4 – The Peach Orchard
Where: Auto tour stop 10
What: The linchpin of the forward line established by General Dan Sickles’ 3rd Corps. It was overrun by troops of Longstreet’s corps in furious fighting late that afternoon.
Presented at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Station 5 – High Water Mark Area
Where: Near the Copse of Trees and at Auto tour stop 15
What: Late in the afternoon of July 2, Confederate attacks nearly broke through the Union line on Cemetery Ridge.
Presented at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Station 6 – Spangler’s Spring
Where: Auto tour stop 13
What: In the early evening of July 2, Confederates of General Richard Ewell’s 2nd Corps moved forward to attack Culp’s Hill. The battle that spread across the hill’s slopes lasted until 10 p.m.
Presented at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Park along Colgrove, Geary and East Confederate Avenues.  No shuttle service is available to Culp's Hill. 

Station 7 – Cemetery Hill 
Where: - Baltimore Street entrance of Soldiers’ National Cemetery
What: Confederate troops of Ewell’s Confederate 2nd Corps struck Cemetery Hill at nearly the same time the battle for Culp’s Hill opened. The fighting that ensued was at some points hand to hand.  
Presented at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Park in the visitor parking lots along Taneytown Road near the Soldiers' National Cemetery and walk through the cemetery to the Baltimore Street entrance.
 

July 3
Parking and shuttles will be available from 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. from the Museum & Visitor Center Bus Lot to Spangler's Spring. Shuttles will pick up every 15-20 minutes. 

Station 1 – Spangler’s Spring
Where:Auto tour stop 13
What: The battle for Culp’s Hill was renewed at daylight. Men of Confederate General Richard Ewell’s 2nd Corps launched repeated attacks upon the entrenched Union troops of the 12th Corps. The fighting continued until nearly 11 a.m.
Presented at 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

July 4
The Cemetery Hill, Meade's Headquarters and Brian Farm stations can be reached by foot from the Museum & VIsitor Center. Shuttles to the George Spangler Farm will run 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Station 1 – Soldiers’ National Cemetery: Commemoration & Rededication
Where: Inside the Taneytown Road entrance to the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, Auto tour stop 16
What: In the months following the battle, the Soldiers’ National Cemetery was established as the final resting place for 3,556 Union soldiers who lost their lives in the battle. On November 19, 1863, President Lincoln helped dedicate this hallowed ground and defined, with his Gettysburg Address, what was at stake for the country in the war.
Presented at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Station 2 – The George Spangler Farm & Treating the Wounded
Where: George Spangler farm. Access to the George Spangler farm, which is owned by the Gettysburg Foundation, is available by shuttle bus only. This is free and will run regularly from the park Museum and Visitor Center.
What: The Henry Spangler farm served as a Union corps field hospital, treating over 1,600 wounded Union and Confederate soldiers during and after the battle. Today, the Spangler farm is the best preserved example of a field hospital that exists on the battlefield.
Presented at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.  

Station 3 – The Civilians’ Story
Where: Brian farm on Hancock Avenue
What: Civilians were more than innocent bystanders to the battle. They helped house and care for the wounded and bury the dead, and struggled to rebuild and restore normalcy to their lives following the greatest battle ever fought in North America. Presented at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Station 4 – The Prisoners’ Story
Where: Meade’s headquarters
What: Nearly 17,000 men became prisoners of war during the battle. This is the story of their experience from the battlefield to prison camp.
Presented at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.