July 1-3, 1863 | Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
The Battle That Changed the Course of the Civil War
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought over three days in July 1863 and became one of the defining battles of the American Civil War. Union and Confederate armies clashed across the fields, ridges, roads, farms, and hills surrounding Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Today, Gettysburg remains one of the most visited and studied battlefields in the United States. This site helps visitors, students, teachers, families, and history readers understand what happened here, why it mattered, and how to explore the battlefield with context.
Image Source: Currier and Ives
Why Gettysburg Matters
Gettysburg matters because it was a major military, political, and human turning point in the Civil War. The battle ended General Robert E. Lee’s second invasion of the North and came at a moment when the future of the Union remained deeply uncertain.
The fighting left enormous casualties on both sides and transformed the town of Gettysburg into a landscape of memory, mourning, and national meaning. Months later, President Abraham Lincoln came to Gettysburg for the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery and delivered the Gettysburg Address, one of the most important speeches in American history.
Dates
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Location
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Commanders
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Result
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Significance
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Aftermath
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Learn MoreExplore the Battlefield
The Gettysburg battlefield is not a single monument or one viewpoint. It is a landscape of connected places: Seminary Ridge, McPherson Ridge, Culp’s Hill, Cemetery Hill, Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, Cemetery Ridge, and the ground remembered for Pickett’s Charge.
Each place tells part of the story. Together, they show how terrain, leadership, timing, courage, confusion, and loss shaped the outcome of the battle.
Gettysburg at a Glance
Dates: July 1–3, 1863
Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Source: Library of Congress / Wikimedia
Union Commander:
Major General George G. Meade (Army of the Potomac)
Source: Library of Congress / Wikimedia
Confederate Commander:
General Robert E. Lee (Army of Northern Virginia)
Result:
Union victory; Confederate forces repulsed and retreated to Virginia
Significance:
Ended Lee’s second invasion of the North; major turning point of the Civil War
Aftermath:
Creation of Soldiers’ National Cemetery; Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address delivered November 19, 1863
Source: Currier and Ives
The Battle:
Understand the three days of fighting, from the first clash west of town to the final assault across open ground.
Source: Library of Congress / World Digital Library
Interactive Map:
Use battlefield locations to connect the story to the ground. Explore key landmarks, routes, and historic positions.
Source: Library of Congress
Plan Your Visit:
Prepare for a meaningful visit with practical planning guidance, suggested itineraries, and reminders to verify current conditions before traveling.
Source: MET Museum
Gettysburg Address:
Learn why Lincoln came to Gettysburg, what he said, and how the speech reshaped the meaning of the war.
Source: Library of Congress
People & Stories:
Explore the commanders, soldiers, civilians, and stories that shaped the battle and its memory.
Source: John B. Bachelder
Shop & Downloads:
Get printable guides, self-guided tour PDFs, timelines, classroom worksheets, and more.
Little Round Top
Devil’s Den
The Wheatfield
Peach Orchard
Cemetery Ridge
Seminary Ridge
Culp’s Hill
The Angle / High Water Mark
Soldiers’ National Cemetery
First-Time Visitor Guide
For first-time visitors, Gettysburg can feel overwhelming. The battlefield covers a large historic landscape, and the story unfolds across many locations. A good first visit should combine orientation, a battlefield route, time at major landmarks, and space for reflection.
Begin with the broad story. Learn the sequence of the battle, then visit the ground where the major actions took place. The more context you have before you arrive, the more meaningful the landscape becomes.
New to Gettysburg?
Start with the one-day visitor route and battlefield overview.
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Gettysburg Address
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People and Stories
Abraham Lincoln
George G. Meade
Abraham Lincoln
Robert E. Lee
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
John Buford
Winfield Scott Hancock
James Longstreet
George Pickett
Civilians
Elizabeth Thorn
Jennie Wade
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