Mar 19 2009
Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center
If the last time you visited Gettysburg was previous to fall 2008, you’ll have a different experience next time you go. Last fall, the National Park Service opened a large new Visitor Center, just down the road from its previous site. Judging by the size of the parking lot, this place can get very busy, although it was quiet when we visited just before Christmas.
The entry hall to the visitor center is large, and we thought somewhat confusing. Most prominent is the ticket sales window, where you can buy tickets for the exhibit area, film, and cyclorama. (One ticket covers all three items.) It was only when we were ready to leave that we found the National Park Service information center at the end of the entry hall, too late to complete the Junior Ranger Guidebooks. (Note about the Junior Ranger books–they also include sections from the driving tour, so if you can manage to stop at the visitor center to pick up the books before you do the driving tour, the kids will have activities to complete along the way.)
Your ticket will include a time for entrance to the film about Gettysburg. This film is well-done, and not too long. It held the kids’ interest and was informative. Then you’ll be ushered up an escalator to the Cyclorama. This caught us somewhat off-guard, as we didn’t know what it was. Suddenly we were in a room with a mural all around it; the lights were dimmed, and sounds and flashes started coming at us from the mural. We didn’t know that the cyclorama is actually very old and was formerly housed in a different building. It is a hand-painted depiction of the battlefield area, and the lights and sounds show where the battles took place. Once we knew the history of it, it was very interesting, but our kids were frightened by the loud cannon sounds.
Back on the lower level is the museum exhibit. This is a modern exhibit area, mixing artifacts and touch-screen tv’s where you can look up information such as the involvement of troops from your home state, or watch the movement of the troops. There really aren’t any hands-on activities except for these touch-screen stations, but if you’ve picked up a Junior Ranger guide before entering, the kids will be able to look for things in the exhibits.
Also in the Visitor Center are a gift shop and cafe.
Altogether, the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center is a comprehensive look at the events that occurred in this town during the Civil War. In conjunction with the driving tour, you can learn a lot about history in a day. The key to enjoying the Visitor Center more, however, is to know what you get for your ticket price, and that the park ranger information area is separate from the ticket sales window. Once you know what you’re doing at the Gettysburg Visitor Center, you’ll have a multimedia learning experience ahead of you.
Oh how I love a good visitors center! I swear I make my family go into every visitor center I see becuase they are just so interesting and informative. Looks like they have a pretty fabulous one at Gettysburg now!
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[...] you’re traveling to Gettysburg with kids, be sure to pick up a Junior Ranger guidebook at the National Park Service desk in the Visitor [...]
Recently (June 8,2009) my husband and I visited the new musuem at Gettysburg Nat’l. Military Park. We have visited the old museum 3 different times over the last 15-20 years. We were disappointed in the new museum because it had too many large open spaces with no displays and no seating for people. The old museum had more guns on display and many artifacts found in the nearby fields by the residents….what happened to all those displays? We think you eliminated some of the most interesting exhibits and displays; we don’t know why, because there is plenty of room for them.
The cyclorama was confusing. People didn’t know where to look during the narration. Perhaps a guide is needed to explain or point where action is would help.
Thank you for listening………..
Florence, thank you for your comments regarding the new Gettysburg Visitors Center. My visit to the old site was many years ago, so I hadn’t remembered the differences you mentioned.
I hope you’ll share your concerns with the people at Gettysburg; perhaps they can add them to a list of improvements to make in the future.
I recently visited the new visitor center & museum and was disappointed that the display from the old museum had broken down that displayed with lights the way the engagement took place. Made understanding the way the battle was fought more interesting and very formative. Seems like the old doesn’t have a part of the new anymore. Just my opinion.
[...] learning. Now, as we travel, it’s easier to make the connections–the battlefield at Gettysburg, stops along the Underground Railroad, Civil War encampments at Minnesota’s Fort [...]