Exhibits
Museum and Visitor Center exhibits chronicle the Civil War, from what caused it to its bloody end, with extensive displays on the battle of Gettysburg and the personalities who served in the armies as well as the civilians who were affected by the war. Artifacts from one of the largest Civil War collections in the world are showcased throughout the center bringing the exhibits to life. Additional resources on individuals who served in the war can be found in the Resource Room at the end of the museum galleries, offering computers to further research and to help answer questions about the soldiers who served at Gettysburg and elsewhere.
A New Birth of Freedom
Gain a better understanding of how the events of the Battle of Gettysburg fit into the larger context of the Civil War and American history during the Museum and Visitor Center’s exclusive film, A New Birth of Freedom. Narrated by Morgan Freeman and featuring the voices of Sam Waterston and Marcia Gay Harden, the 20-minute film will set the stage for the Gettysburg Cyclorama.
Gettysburg Cyclorama
Admire the detail of the Gettysburg Cyclorama, created by French artist Paul Philippoteaux and his team of assistants. Philippoteaux spent months investigating the Battle of Gettysburg with the help of veterans, a battlefield guide and photographer, before completing the work of art. Today the breathtaking canvas is displayed in the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, measuring at 377 feet in circumference and 42 feet high. With an overhead canopy and three-dimensional diorama foreground with realistic stone walls, broken fences, shattered trees and a cannon, the Gettysburg cyclorama allows you to immerse yourself into the bloody battle of Pickett’s Charge during the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Shopping at Gettysburg
Be sure to stop by the Museum Bookstore. A wide selection of gifts, keepsakes and educational materials related to the Battle of Gettysburg, the Civil War and Pennsylvania are available to purchase including books, DVD’s and postcards.
- Start or end your visit to Gettysburg National Military Park in the Museum and Visitor Center’s Refreshment Saloon, offering a selection of snacks, sandwiches and drinks.
- A New Birth of Freedom is shown every 15 minutes during the Museum and Visitor Center’s opening hours.
- The Gettysburg Museum and Visitor is ADA compliant.