Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center Reviews

A great experience! The film and cyclorama are definitely worth the modest charge. The cyclorama is incredible. It will literally take your breath away! The museum itself is interesting, but the cyclorama was the highlight.

We purchased a combination movie, cyclorama, and museum pass. We were visiting with our son, daughter and 13 year old grandson. The tickets were by assigned time for the movie and the others were at your leisure. We spent over three hours at this location then bought a separate Battlefield Audio tour which we used in our vehicle for the rest of the day. It was a great educational experience for all.

My husband and myself especially enjoyed the film narrated by Morgan Freeman.
We didn’t have time to tour the cemetery.
Definitely allow an entire day for this.

Came on a fieldtrip with my son.
Has a small gift shop and cafe.
But, what they don't tell you at the cafe is that you cannot take your food and beverages in to see the film.

The film was pretty good as a quick reminder of what the war and specifically the Battle of Gettysburg was.
After the film, you are guided up another level to see the cyclorama. The oil painting is indeed pretty and does appear to be 3D. However, with a bunch of people in the room, it was hard to follow along with the script being read over head and to follow around to the locations on the painting as they were talking about it.

There is some memorabilia in the bottom, but not a ton.
I wouldn't waste my time here doing it again.

Best place to start if you don't know where to start. We did the film, cyclorama, and museum and the staff was very helpful in recommending what else to do while there

The Visitor Center/Museum are very good but do not miss the film and cyclorama - together they provide an amazing and so realistic view of the Battle at Gettysburg!

Before doing anything else!! Go the the Museum and Visitor Center. See the movie. See the Cyclorama. The museum is much larger and detailed that we thought.

Easy to spend an hour in the museum alone and not see everything...but it will build a context and knowledge base for everything else to see in Gettysburg.

Stop by the Foundation table and let the good folks there tell you about their role. Drop a dollar in the "Donation by State" box and help your home state shine!!!

We went here first. Got our tix for the movie/cyclorama. Use the 1.5 hours until the movie to see the museum.

GREAT WAY TO START!!

Definitely pay a small, but extra fee, to see the film and cyclorama. We had a great experience. The film was very good & informative. It was appropriate for an 8 year old child. Not too scary. Afterwards, I recommend driving to see the Virginia monument, then climb up Longstreet Observation tower to oversee the battlefields. It’s amazing. It’s 8 flights of steps, but worth it. Then, drive to the Pennsylvania Monument (which you can also climb up a spiral staircase to the top) Lastly, visit the cemetery to see Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Memorial.

This was fascinating. The history hike was very informative, the cemetery was very interesting, and the museum was phenomenal.

Gettysburg can get a little crazy while looking at all the monuments and chronologically the events of this area. With this said, start here and take in everything here. You won't be disappointed! The short film was good, but what impressed us more was the Cyclorama. Wish they would give you more time to view it. It really moved us more than we thought it would.

This is something you just shouldn't miss. It's a little pricey, but it's definitely worth it and I'm sure the fees go to supporting and improving the exhibit. The film, cyclorama, and museum are all very well done and give great insight to this part of American history. It's a bit pricey but worth it and I'm sure the fees go to support and improvement of the facility.

A “must see” visit for the entire family. One of the best museums we have visited. And we have visited here several times. From the entry film “Birth of a New Nation”, on to the Cyclorama and museum is a wonderful experience culminated by our time in the Bookstore. Plan to spend a few hours enjoying the detail of a very well presented history of the Battle of Gettysburg. And, “sit for a picc” with President Lincoln on your way in or out…. We like to visit during weekdays when we can enjoy the museum exhibits and study each with out the more crowded days on the weekend and of course, July 1-3. A definite recommendation for families and school groups.

We visited here this week and what an exceptional experience. We took the two hour battlefield bus tour which was very informative with several stops along the way. The museum buildings were also a great experience where we could have stayed longer. Overall just an incredible experience.

The museum is well laid out and full of history. The diorama is a must, majestic and a full 280 degree of the battle with audio and sound effects. We went on the bus tour and our guide was so informative and friendly. This tour of the battlefield put everything into context regarding the civil war conflict. Bus was clean with spacious seats. There is a toilet break on the bus tour. A wonderful place to visit and soak up the history of Gettysburg.

We downloaded the FREE National Park Service app and drove all around Gettysburg following the auto tour. I also loved the cyclorama painting inside the museum and the exhibition. We went on Wednesday morning and it wasn’t crowded.

Loved that they had free walking tours and that they had so much to see. My family and I learned a lot about the battle that no one really hears about.

Very memorable and educational experience. Our licensed tour guide David D. was great. His knowledge of the park and the different areas of the battlefield and how the battle played out was amazing. David’s passion for the history of this area is wonderful. The cyclorama painting is a must see. Well worth the trip. Highly recommend the guided tour.

Excellent retelling of the story of the battle in a way all ages can folllow. Definitely do the film and diorama. Tremendous presentation that will be clear to all ages.

The movie was terrific, the cyclorama interesting, and the overall presentation excellent. Strongly recommend.

Can’t imagine going through without a guide. Did the combo package with 2hr bus tour, Musuem and the cyclorama and it was worth it!

My expectations for Gettysburg were off the charts. I had wanted to go here since I was 9 years old (and I was in my mid-40's when I finally got there). We did the full experience and I recommend you do that as well. That means the movie, cyclorama, museum, and battlefield tour (though we did ours self-guided). The movie is pretty standard, but it is well done and sets up the context very well for the battle of Gettysburg. The cyclorama show was amazing. The show is fine - just starting at that work of art was the amazing part. The museum is incredibly detailed and interesting. It takes you through multiple areas with tons of information. (It introduced me to a new villain in the Civil War - Dan Sickles. Looks this guy up. He's the WORST!) Not much interactive stuff, so kids might get bored eventually, but I was captivated throughout. We would have spent more time inside but we needed to maximize daylight for the battlefield tour.

On the battlefield, I was surprised to learn that there are over 1400 monuments. Basically every company that fought there has a marker - from both the north and the south. There are also bigger, more ornate statues of some of the bigger names. And because battlefield conservation began so quickly after the war ended, it looks very close to what it looked like in 1863. Some paved roads and power lines are really all that are new. It was palpable to feel the emotion of standing on the very point where Pickett's Charge happened. Or where Chamberlain held off the Rebs. Or staring out over the fields knowing so many fought and died where I was standing. The coolest aspect for me was the statues of Lee and Meade on horseback across the field facing each other directly. That is a cool idea someone and it was amazing to see. We used a YouTube video instead of the recommended audio guide just because we found him to be more interesting, but any additional information explaining why each stop is important will be helpful for context and education.

Gettysburg basically exists for the battlefield in my opinion and stopping here will bring most people to the field, but do the whole experience. You will not regret it.

Although the issue of slavery was one of the major causes of the war, the museum overemphasized its importance to the exclusion of the issue of state's rights. Overall a good experience.

We did a two-week bus tour from Washington DC to New York, and lots of places in between. Gettysburg was my favorite of all the places, and we visited some amazing places. We had a step-on bus guide that shared incredible knowledge while being entertaining at the same time.

What an amazing place to experience and really learn the history of the Gettysburg battle during the Civil War. The introduction video set the stage of the battle, and the restored cyclorama is a treasure for our history. We took the complete package which included the bus tour of the battle field with an excellent volunteer guide who explained each site. We easily spent the entire day in this museum, well worth the entry fee.

We visited the museum, film, & cyclorama on our first day. The film was great and held our attention. I wasn’t a big fan of the cyclorama, but it was interesting. The museum displays were extensive and not just about Gettysburg.
The next day we had the guide driven car tour and it was the best part of the trip! It was with the money to have someone do the driving for you. They know exactly where to go and explained it all in chronological order. I’d highly recommend that.

The film and cyclorama are superb! I only knew the basics about the civil war and the battle at Gettysburg and this museum filled in all the gaps in my knowledge. The exhibits, film and the Cyclorama held the interest of my 8 yr old nephew and he now recites facts that he learned. I recommend buying the audio tour book from the gift shop. My car doesn’t have a CD player but it also came with a code and an app to download. We were able to take our time and explore at our own pace.

Great museum with extensive information. Must see Circle-Rama painting display. I highly recommend a guided tour from a licensed guide, minimum of 3 hours. That will provide all knowledge you would need and address all questions you might have.

The new Visitor's Center is really nice. 1 ticket gets you into the Cyclorama/Movie and then the museum. I did some stuff in town in the morning and came to the Center after lunch hoping that most people would hit the visitors center before going to the battlefield. It was pretty good because the theatre and cyclorama did not have that many people in it so was nice.

The museum is very good with a nice overview covering the whole of the battlefield.

Even those who are not history buffs should take time to be reminded of the grim tragedy that war is--especially when we are fighting among our selves. We were at Gettysburg for a day and a half which worked out to just about the right amount of time. We began at the visitor center with the film and cyclorama, then did the "Day 1" (July 1st) portion of the Park Service Car tour.(Suggestion: use the Park Service app to locate sites on a GPS app on your phone for directions. We had trouble following some of the signs.)
On the second day we began with the 90 minute Park Ranger led hiking tour of the battle field. In our opinion this is the one thing not to be missed. It will allow you to visualize how all three days battles progressed. We followed this will the museum which was excellent and ended with a trip to the cemetery to see where Lincoln spoke.
Final thought: don't miss the 90 minute Ranger tour! We do not regret in any way passing on the bus tour to include this in our itinerary.

First time visiting this very nice facility. Highly recommend the film/Cyclorama/museum ticket plus the 2-hour bus tour. While there is no ticket required to enter the visitor center, you need a ticket to enter the museum portion. The bus was comfortable even in 95 degree weather and you can choose to stay on the bus during stops. Our guide Fred was very informative. Ate in the cafeteria which saved us time.

Great experience. Very in depth museum in the civil war and the Gettysburg battle. If you do the premium package, the show and circular painting first it can get redundant. Then we did the battle field tour by bus and that helped put all the pieces together.

Very informative and the staffs were very helpful. I love the fact that they offer self guided tour and we can just do it in our own pace. The museum itself has a lot of artifacts and mementos from the Civil war although we didn't get to explore the entire place due to time constraints but all in all, it was a very pleasant experience.

The museum is definitely worth the visit. It was the best museum on the civil war. Such unique displays. The cyclorama was amazing! The picture and the sound show was worth the amount to visit it. Only wish they would have let us stay in there longer to enjoy. The bullet holes in the tree inside the museum was a must see along with the uniforms. The museum shop had unique items.

Definitely worth the visit. Made the people come back to life! Wonderful to experience who the people were before you see the graves. Saw the life not just the death. This museum was Wonderfully done!

I would suggest spending a whole day here...but I’m a museum person.

Nice building with good informed staff. Pls note you are not allowed to bring a backpack into the building.

Great experience. We did the film, cyclorama and museum 1st, scheduled a break for 2 hours in between for lunch and shopping, and then did the bus tour. That was a good way to break it up for our group, which consisted of people 10 to 80 years of age. Film was moving and the cyclorama was incredible. The 2 hour bus tour was just right. I thought you would get on and off the bus, but you mostly stayed on the bus. Which was great because it was 95 degrees.

My husband and I with his sister and brother-in-law took the bus tour guide on April 10, 2023. We had Chuck as the Licensed Historian Guide and Nelson as the driver. Both were very professional and prompt. Chuck gave us an spectacular overview of the battle as if it was yesterday. Chuck was very knowledgeable.

I never studied much about the Civil War but always wanted to get to this NP. It was a great visit - the center is nicely laid out, the museum is quite extensive, and the cyclorama is not to be missed!

The movie was very interesting, then the cyclorama was the best, very much updated experience than it was from years ago.
The museum experience will be a disappointment to anyone who remembers the old museum. The old museum had many artifacts from the actual battle field with descriptions. The present displays seem somewhat polished and did not give the feel that they were real.
Also the old electric map of the 3 day battle is no longer at the visitors center, it was very good at giving a visual of the battlefield. I understand the electric map was upgraded with new lights and it is on display in Hanover. The new visitor center is still very nice, and we'll worth the trip.

As per the ironic title.
Another stop on our trip outside the classic tourist routes (intended as foreigners or non-US citizens)
Clearly location is of historical interest following the famous battle that gives the museum its name.
The latter itself has a free entrance and parking (strange for the U.S. ) you then pay separately for admission to a screening room and other specific events inside the museum.
I absolutely recommend checking the times of the free visits Rangers make once a day directly on the battlefield.
Really the explanations and experience are worth the trip (of course if you are interested in the genre)

We stopped by the small visitor center and restrooms off of Hwy 30. The park employee was rude and inpatient. It is May 17 at it was approximately 12:30 pm. I wish I had gotten a photo of his name tag. We were asking about picnic tables and he scoffed at my husband as if it was the most stupid question in the world. You need to hire someone with better people skills!

Wonderful facility! Those who visit need to be sure to take the tour that takes you into the dome. The artwork and depiction of the battle is outstanding. The walk through the museum is also well worth the money. To see all the different artifacts really brought the history to life.

Fabulous educational experience. We enjoyed our visit. It isn't just another museum and visitor center, but a wealth of knowledge and information for any American history buff. It was clean, organized and definitely allow 2 hours or so for a visit to allow for reading and carefully viewing everything.

Getting to see this was quite the experience. So much information about a huge moment in our history. It was a perfect day in October, too. Cold but sunny. I believe in the 50’s. We learned all about the battle at Gettysburg, confederate and union soldiers, as well as the hardships locals faced during this trivial time. It was about 1-2 hours in the visit center and the rest of the day driving through the battlegrounds. In the museum they have the gift shop first thing on your right or last thing on your left. Inside, you can purchase an audiobook that will guide you through the battleground in your car. Do not attempt to walk it, it’ll take you two days. I don’t suggest buying the audiobook at all! It was a waste of money. You have to download an app to use it. It’s with a CD - our dental didn’t have a CD player, and an app - our app never loaded. Later, we realized there are apps you can download independently to show you the grounds. Or simply use the free map they give you. Inside the museum, there was a self-guided tour starting at the beginning before the battle at Gettysburg that leads you up to the final moments after the battle. Throughout, there are videos with clips from the History channel to explain and summarize all the depictions and writing on the walls. There are so, so, SO many historical artifacts here. From weapons, buttons, flags, to the very cots used by the union and confederates to sleep on in battle. We took like 100 pictures. It was a great experience.

Outstanding introduction to Gettysburg. Cyclorama is awesome, museum informative excellent bookstore.

Having been redone in 2008, it is an amazing museum, with great artifacts to explain the battle over the three days! Well done!!

A must do in Gettysburg! Great historical artifacts and the narrative film was awesome! A must see while visiting!

Ms Debbie is such a great tour guide. So knowledgeable. We came on a school field trip and she’s great with the kids quizzing them about the history.

this was amazing place to visit, gift shop prices were a bit pricey, you can see the cool things they dug up and all the different types of guns and bullets too. if you have kids, you should do the Junior ranger Activity my grandkids love doing those

Very worth going to and best place to start to learn about the civil war and the battle of Gettysburg. Film was outstanding! Staff very helpful.

This place is first class and the people who are there are
Very knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you to the folks who are volunteers here. They seem to know more about this place then most others. What can I say, whatever you want to know or see about the Civil War is in this area. The people who fought, the locations, what they did after the war. Information abounds. If you do only one thing come here. There is also information about President Eisenhower who retired in Gettysburg. I would plan 2 days for what you have to see here. The driving tour is a 3 or 4 hour event on its own.

Love the Gettysburg visitors center and cyclorama entry wasn't unreasonable museum was informative with several exhibits, staff was friendly and helpful. I recommend

I can't say enough good things about this place. We bought the ticket that included the movie, the cyclorama and museum. The film was terrific and very informative. The cyclorama was so realistic and very moving. The museum had so many artifacts, this place must have cost a lot to put together. There are at least 6 short videos available to see in the museum. We did not have time to do the self driving tour but would definitely go back and do it.

The Visitors Center at Gettysburg National Military Park features many displays and information about the battle. I would recommend going to the Visitors Center first, then the battlefield. There are samples of the weapons used, items used by support people, uniforms, maps and many other displays. We saw a movie called “A New Birth of Freedom”, narrated by Morgan Freeman, which gave background and insight of the times as well as the battle. We also were able to experience the 45 minute “Cyclorama” presentation. This was made up of an immense and detailed circular mural 42 ft. tall and 377 ft in circumference, with narration, lighting, sound, and special effects, portraying Major General Pickett’s charge on the 3rd day of the battle. The viewers are placed in the center of the theater. I was intrigued by the presence of a wounded Abraham Lincoln in the painting, as he was never there except to give his iconic speech dedicating the cemetery several months later. The docent explained that the artist had included that to symbolize a wounded nation. We had our lunch at the Refreshment Saloon in the Visitors Center. There is a nice bookstore/gift shop, where I bought a Christmas ornament and managed to resist the delicious smelling fresh fudge. 😊 All in all this was a very interesting and informative visit.

The visitor center, museum and cyclorama are amazing. Everything was very well thought out. It is much larger than we expected it to be. They have such a wealth of artifacts…truly an incredible collection for the history enthusiast. Great place to stop by when visiting Gettysburg.

The National Park Service website prominently states that "Masks are required for everyone, regardless of location or vaccination status, in all NPS buildings..." However, the visitor center and cyclorama are run by a private foundation that does not follow these procedures.

Adams County, where the visitor center is located, is listed by the CDC as a COVID hot spot; its rate of new infections is much higher than the state as a whole. Nevertheless, visitor masks are optional and due to the large crowds, distancing is impossible in the center and especially the movie theater and cyclorama. Judging from the license plates in the parking lot, the center could easily spread infection from and to the entire country.

The online ticket site does not warn you of this mask-optional policy. There is only a sign at the entrance that masks are "encouraged". At least half - and probably many more - of the visitors we saw did not wear masks.

We spent about a day and a half at the Gettysburgh visitor center and grounds with our four grandsons ranging in age from 4 to 18 years old. We visited the museum, the cyclorama, saw the movie and did a two hour battlefield bus tour. The movie, museum and cyclorama were all very interesting. Our bus tour guide did a great job and really made history come alive for all of us. There was a rest room break and we were able to get out of the bus to look at a few monuments more closely as well. We were fortunate to be there on a rainy weekend in March so it was not at all crowded, which we really appreciated! If you do all these activities, it is a bit pricey, to be honest. If we were to go back, I would like to do an audio tour in our own vehicle so we could get out on the field more.

The museum, film and Rotundra painting is a must. Then we did the auto self tour. Staff are so nice and anxious to talk and help you. This is the first thing you should do any maybe only.

Totally enjoyed the bus tour. Our licensed battlefield guide, Christina Moon made the tour interesting, informative and made the tour worth taking. Her narrative during the tour gave us an insite to how the battle evolved , the monuments and was very informative.
Thank you for making this day of my trip to PA a historical journey.

one of the many entrances to the park, jut over the small hill you'll see numerous headstones, please pay attention to the small 6" square ones for they are the graves of the "unknown but to God."

The Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center is a Gettysburg National Military Park facility, with a museum about the American Civil War, the 1884 Gettysburg Cyclorama, and the tour center for licensed Battlefield Guides and for buses to see the Gettysburg Battlefield and Eisenhower National Historic Site.

It houses one of the largest collections of Civil War artifacts in existence. The nearby Cyclorama painting will make you feel like you’re immersed in Pickett’s Charge, the climax of the battle. The third exhibit is a film, “A New Birth of Freedom,” narrated by actor Morgan Freeman, which sets the stage for the conflict.

It was a GREAT way to spend a few hours, learning about the history of not just Gettysburg, but also the Civil War. The Cyclorama ticket is a MUST. It's one of the most incredible experiences in that museum!

Anyone visiting Gettsburg should definitely start at this visitor center! It is loaded with useful information and a wonderful see/sound show that is an excellent overview/history of the entire park.
Do not miss -- it will definitely enhance your trip!!

The museum had many interesting things to explore. We have now watched the show, the cyclorama, and enjoyed the bus tour. There were licensed tour guides along the way in the museum also. It was one of the best museums we have ever been to. More than worth the money!

We come to Gettysburg every year and we always come to the Visitor's Center. This year we had a personal tour with guide Roy Frampton who was wonderful. I recommend the bus tours and the personal guided tours. We always learn something new.

A must see......it is a clean and well organized facility. The museum and cyclorama are both interesting. In a time wit Netflix and virtual reality the cyclorama appears dated, but when you consider it was painted over 100 years ago it is pretty amazing. If you are interested in the 2-hour tours it is best to plan a long time in advance. The guide told us during busy weekends she often has people who traveled 3 hours to get there and have to be turned away.

The movie and Circular painting experience was informational and comfortable. The guides were nice. The overall appearance of the guide that was in the circular painting area at the end of the day on 11/15 needs more coaching. Ample parking.

Wonderful experience! The film and Cyclorama are phenomenal. It makes you think about what the soldiers experienced on both sides. This is a must see.

From its introductory movie and cyclorama painting in the round, to the in-depth multi-media exhibits of the regalia of the Union and Confederate soldiers, battlefield photos and documents, this is an absolute must-see museum for American history buffs and families. Immersing ourselves in the winding halls, sitting for short videos along the way, we hardly noticed three hours had gone by, before stepping out into the Visitor Center and gift shop. We were ready for more, meeting our licensed battlefield guide Chuck for a private tour of the battlefields. using our car. So much to learn, to absorb and to pray that we never become a nation so divided again.

We spent 2 hours in the museum but could have spent more. The film with Morgan Freeman and the Cyclorama give a great overview. The exhibits were good. Some closed due to COVID.

We had the value package tour and our licensed guide gave us an interesting tour with a few stops for narrative of the sites and photos along the route of Gettysburg battlefield.

History at your fingertips! Plan more time than you think because there is so much to see and do. The films are amazingly done and very educational. The museum takes longer than you think it might because it has so much and is so well done.

The Cyclorama is a must see. Beautiful and informative. The rest of the museum is very nice as well.

Outstanding service and delicious food. Morning 1-hour history lectures were a plus. Comfortable pet friendly surroundings were a plus. Definitely a keeper. Wife and I will definitely return.

We missed the 10am tour we wanted because my daughter was sick from her hotel breakfast. However, when we tried a different one a 11am that was supposed to be under a tent in the back of the building, but after 15min, there was still no guide or tour. We just walked around aimlessly until a shuttle bus kindly offered us a ride back.

In my opinion you really should come to the Visitor Center and pay to see movie (very well done), see the cyclorama and go through the museum. I thought it was well worth the time and price of admission ($18 for adults). It was very informative. The Visitor Center also has rest rooms, a snack bar, a restaurant and a gift shop.

For the cyclorama its best to get a spot along the rail. Its a little confusing when you first get in there but pick a spot rather quickly if you can. It was pretty full the day I went and spots filled up fast.

The museum has a few decent relics but I'm used to viewing the mountains of relics that used to be displayed in the old museum. Where did all those things go?

This museum pales in comparison and is mostly "interpretive" displays with dogma and slogans one can see online.

And you have to pay to go in there too.

I'm sorry I spent the money.

Go to a private museum or even a local shop to see more history. And save your money.

I would recommend this as a must do if travelling to Gettysburg. When seeing the cyclorama, I would suggest going to the west area. This is where the story of the war mostly takes place in the narration.

Recommended the package deal of the Bus Tour (2 hours), Museum, Theatre, and Cyclorama. You could spend all day. The Battlefield is much bigger than I imagined. So much to see and do and so interesting!

The Gettysburg Foundation has done some great work in and around Gettysburg. We have a family ancestor buried in the National Cemetery and was killed in action July 3rd 1863 at Culps Hill. We visit often and will continue to do so in the future. However, we will not be visiting the visitors center or attending another reenactment at the Daniel Lady farm all due to the Gettysburg Foundations woke policy on not permitting lawful concealed carry gun owners to carry their lawful weapons on their property. This is the result of woke board members from surrounding states bringing their woke beliefs to the foundation and enacting such ludicrous policies. This is sad for us since we had intended to start donating to the foundation. The 2nd Amendment shall not be infringed and this foundation has decided otherwise.

This would have been a stellar experience if they would have had the normal amount of light most museums have on their displays. The lighting was so dim, most of the detail was impossible to read. The content was no doubt excellent but what's the point if you cannot see it. Others around us remarked about this and it was very puzzling that such a big place would not be more cognizant of lighting. The cyclorama was excellent but overall the lack of lighting ruined the experience for us.

We have been to over 20 National Parks across the US and this is the nicest one we've ever seen. It was updated in 2008 and it shows. The film and Cyclorama were both incredible and are must see experiences. There is a small fee, but well worth it.

I am not a huge history buff but I enjoyed this along with my husband who does love history. We bought the package (movie, cyclorama, museum and bus). We did them in the order I typed them out and everything fell into place while on the bus tour!! Definitely a must see! They are making improvements from what our guide told us that will make it even better!

The cyclorama, museum, and show are all very good. That was the tickets we bought and all felt like it was worth it. Felt like we got the gist of Gettysburg history from it.

Very convenient location. You want to explore Gettysburg? This is the place to start. You will never encounter anything like the Cyclorama. The museum will get your history brain moving and the gift shop has the books to keep you going!

You could spend an entire day here and still not get it all in! Definitely make time for the cyclorama. There are videos playing throughout the museum that take you through the entire battle. It’s extremely well designed and very informative, educational and interesting.

Awesome Place to explore. Great for walking. I learned a lot with the Auto Tour and highly recommend you all to check it out. The museum was awesome, the battlefield, the statues it was all incredible on how its all laid out.

So many mixed feelings. First, the signage indicates NPS (National Park Service). Ummm, I think not, but I don't know. We wanted to begin our day at the george Spangler Field Hospital. We found the location, but the gate was closed. We thought we'd just go to the visitor center to see if we could get the hours (I was unable to find the hours on line). Three us us walked about 1/2 way up the hill before we saw a sign - no backpacks. I took our packs back the the car (when I mentioned it, a surly worker said there was a notice at the end of each row). He was correct, however ... the print was small and mixed in with a bunch of other "NOs!!" Upon getting in, I went to the NPS counter. I was told that they did not know the hours. The Spangler Field Hospital was part of the "Foundation" and their hours changed. I would have to go the next table - the "Foundation". I did. There I was told that the Field Hospital was closed for the season. I asked where I would see that information. I finally gave up and we went to the counter to get in to see the movie, cyclorama, and museum. My husband paid for a lifetime parks card. Gee, nope, even though the signs said NPS, this was run by the "Foundation" and his card was no good.

The cyclorama was like nothing I have never seen before but would love to see every single day. The movie was short and engaging. The museum ... oh, the museum ... All told, we were there about 6 hours.

I left with a bad taste in my mouth about the link between the NPS and the "Foundation". This is our third experience of this kind. (The WWII site in Virginia, and the Harriet Tubman home in Auburn, NY were our first two.) It seems my tax dollars paid for the venues, it seems my tax dollars pay for upkeep, and employees to be there, yet ... the parks card doesn't work, the hours are inconsistent and not well advertised. I used to try to go to National Parks, Monuments, and Historical Sites - now before going, I will see if the locations are truly part of the NPS or the "Foundation".

The perfect place to start your trip. Explains the battle in detail and has a great gift shop. A must stop to set up a bus or private tour of the battlefield

Very interesting, but between the entrance hall, film, cyclorama (standing only), and museum, it was lots of walking, restrooms back in the main lobby, and only backless benches to sit on.
I wish we had been told when we purchased tickets about the walking and standing.

This was an amazing place to visit. You must see the move and then the rotunda mural afterwards. The movie laid everything out in an was to understand and informative format. The museum itself was huge. So many artifacts and information to see, it would take hours to read and see everything as the museum kept on going and going. The gift shop was large with so many items to purchase. I highly recommend a visit.

It’s been years since I’ve been to Gettysburg and used to frequent the old visitors center and cyclorama. The new museum tells an amazing story of the battle through artifacts and personal stories. It’s great but I was surprisingly blown away by the cyclorama presentation. It was very well done and captivating. I miss the old visitors center because of nostalgia, but the new one is really well done!

On our first day in Gettysburg, after some exploring on our own, we went to the visitor center and saw the film, cyclorama, and museum. The film was a great introduction, followed by the cyclorama, which is a really unique exhibit. Very impressive, all the more so knowing that it was created in 1883 based in part on interviews with veterans of the battle. The museum was a lot to take in. Too much for me in one day, to be honest. We looked closely at the first 3rd of the exhibits and then quickly browsed the rest. I was expecting a less expansive museum and didn't build in enough time or mental bandwidth to absorb it all. National Parks cancelation stamps for the Battlefield, Eisenhower house, and Journey through Hallowed Ground David Wills house were set up in the lobby near the information desk. On our second day, we had a 3 hour private car tour with a licensed battlefield guide. It was well worth it, and with 6 people a pretty good value. Check-in at will call in the lobby was quick and easy, and there's a waiting area where your guide will meet you. We did the point-to-point tour where we followed the guide in our separate cars, rather than having him drive one of our cars. He was great, particularly in explaining some basics of military strategy (protect the flanks) having us line up to demonstrate points and showing us just how far a cannon ball could fly. Lots of interesting facts from history, as well as covering the 3 days of the battle. He keps our kids (9 and 11) relatively engaged but didn't expect their undivided attention. We ended our tour at the Pennsylvania monument, where I was glad to learn there was a restroom. Covid note: The confirmation said that masks were required on the tour, but I found that wasn't true in practice. Not too big a deal since this was an outdoor tour with the option to drive separately from your guide, however our guide was not too big on social distancing. My kids and I still wore our masks, but our guide did not. I might have taken my mask off, being outside, except that our guide was prone to really projecting his voice, leaning in real close, etc. Keep that possibility in mind if you're weighing the risks of a tour in the current environment.

Be prepared for the security check. There is a lot here, give yourself plenty of time. The film and cyclorama alone will take close to an hour. There are many displays of relics and information about the battle and the civil war in general. The book store very large and had loads of souvenirs, books and clothing. There are picnic tables outside and the bus stops for the various tours. This is the best place to leave your car. Expect large crowds.

Visitors Center staff was friendly and efficient. Assisted in giving you valuable information. Had recommendations for all age groups. The theatre experience was amazing. The boys enjoyed the Cyclorama.

I haven't been to Gettysburg in so many years. So much has changed...a completely new visitors center, museum, and movie.

This trip we purchased all of the things: we bought tickets for the museum, the cyclorama, the movie, and a guided tour guide to drive our vehicle for 2 hours around the battlefield. We did all of that, my boys completed the junior ranger program, and then we had a picnic lunch by 2:30. The movie made me cry (maybe take a tissue).

If you want to do Gettysburg cheaply...watch Gettysburg at home or read Killer Angels before you go. Stop at the visitor center and get a copy of the ranger programs for the day. They are free and you can drive around from one program to the other.

Whatever you do, whether it is a ranger program or paid guided tour, listen to somebody that is excited about the park tell you about it! Our guide really made the battlefield come alive for us.

This museum was one of the best I have ever visited. I recommend watching the movie prior to going through the museum. The artifacts from this battle and the story was told very well. It was a great experience

I didn’t get to fully tour this museum but what I saw was great! We arrived late in the day and only had about 45 minutes. The actual museum part is $12/person. We didn’t realize this and went down a hall and opened a door and was in the museum. We walked through, not knowing that it costed money at the time. We didn’t walk through all of it but the parts I saw were really informative and interesting. This museum is difficult if you have small children. My children were 3 and 1 and mainly wanted to climb the stairs. We did a tour through the gift shop and they have books for all ages. We did not have time to see the movie. I think the movie is an additional charge.

You can pick up your tours of the park here. There is also a movie to see. We got our map here to do our self tour of the Park..

Wonderful visitors center. The movie and Cyclorama are top notch! We visited here and then did the audio auto tour. Great experience!

My wife is a big Civil War researcher, so we decided to hire a private guide to show us around the park, graveyard and all the historical points of interest. 2 hours of most interesting and informative history learned walking and driving through, not reading a book. Highly recommend this approach.

We went on one of the free park Ranger led tours. It was excellent! If you get a chance to go on one definitely do it.

Great visitor center. Museum, videos, and cyclorama were a great time. Definitely something to do when you go to Gettysburg.

This is the best place to begin your tour of Gettysburg, PA.

Check the website to ascertain if they're open; we all know things can change daily in this covid world.

Be sure to see tbe Cyclerama painting here.

Super experience! This is the new and expanded museum. Everything is reasonably priced and the exhibits are numerous and very informative. We took the bus tour and it was an eye-opener and put so much of the battle in perspective. Our guide was a fountain of knowledge coupled with a great sense of humor. If you are an antique weapons aficionado, you will not be disappointed. Highly recommend!

This is an amazing Visitor Center, and Civil War Museum. But, after parking in the Handicap lot and struggling uphill to the doors, we were frustrated to discover that there is a separate handicap drop-off location at the doors. However the access road to the drop-off enters from a different location, and it's so poorly marked that it's impossible to find from the handicap parking lot! Another big miss: at least 50% of the museum displays are so poorly lit that we gave up trying to see the wonderful detail we'd hoped to see. Not sure why they set it up this way. One plus: the bathrooms are spotless.

This is a interesting place. Several different options on things to check out. Highly recommend the movie, cyclorama, and museum package.

Honestly, if you’re visiting the Gettysburg Battlefield, you really need to visit here too. Paying the extra to watch the film and view the Cyclorama.
The Cyclorama is a stunning piece of art that takes your breath away.
The rest of the museum has so many interesting things to look at, it really goes into the depths of the civil war (not just Gettysburg),
I could have easily spent all day looking through all the exhibitions. But sadly time and my partners patience ran out.

We also stopped for a coffee and sandwich, which was very tasty!!!

Film and Cyclorama were very good and well worth the time and expense. Museum also excellent and very worthwhile. Lunch: we went to the larger “lunch counter.” Very happy, great choices with fairly reasonable prices. We liked the bookstore which had one of the largest book selections we have seen at a museum bookstore. Parking very easy particularly the handicap area…not sure how many spots, perhaps 50-75…biggest one we ever seen and the drop off very easy for those with mobility issues.

The prices in the gift shop are outrageously expensive. I mean way out of proportion to other NPS gift shops.

Seriously, the prices being charged are a total scam and rip off.

It is a disgrace.

The leaders at this location should be ashamed of themselves.

This is a must see if you are traveling to Gettysburg! Be sure to purchase the Film, Cyclorama & Museum pass, it’s well worth it! My 3 teenage girls were amazing at all the incredible artifacts, very cool! If you do the Battlefield Bus Tour prior, then you can skip through most of the “reading material” in the museum and just enjoy the artifacts.

We enjoyed the film and the social distance created by the venue at the film. Unfortunately we felt uncomfortable at the museum and cyclorama as people did not respect the social distance rule.
We hired a private guide which was set up as a caravan with him in his car leading us in our car stopping about 10 times in the 3 hour tour. Our guide Howard was a real history buff and it showed in his presentation at each stop. His willingness to entertain questions was much appreciated. The only problem we encountered with the guide was that we had a 12:30 tour set up and that guide did not show up. The will call people were able to find Howard to guide us at 1:15 forty five minutes after our original scheduled tour.

The cyclorama is simply a 360-degree wall mural. You stand stationary in a crowded room as the mural is lit-up at various places during narration. It's extremely hard to see many of the indicated scenes due to crowd obstruction. It's actually a confusing mess. And, as such, is a complete rip-off. Opt for the off-site "diorama". The museum itself is a decent starting point for a first-time visitor if you can stand the out-of-control kids from school field trips engaging in scavenger hunts and running all over the place - thus, I raise this from a one to a two.

Visit the museum and gift shop before going on battlefield so you understand things better. This is truly a gem

Must see to any trip to Gettysburg. I recommend this place as your first stop before you enter the battlefield. The video narrated by Morgan Freeman is a must do. The museum is incredible and expertly placed. It’s very family friendly and informative. If you are active military your visit is complimentary. As a Veteran, I received a discounted rate which is always appreciated. The staff here are friendly and engaging, so if you have any questions they’ll be so happy to share information.

There is a lot to see and do here! The museum is very interesting but it does get crowded easily and it is about a war so there were some parts I didn’t want my kids to spend too much time looking at. But it’s very well laid out and interesting! They do such a good job giving you good details about the war especially that battle. The park is huge! It’s hard to believe how huge the battlefield was. So there is a lot to see and my kids got a little tired of all the walking we did! What happened there was so terrible but was very interesting!

The visitor center was so educational. You can learn so much. The movie, Clyclorama, and museum are must do! Some might not want to spend the money but it is worth every cent.

This visitor center is amazing and it's so big we didn't even have time to see it all. It's a perfect place to start your Gettysburg experience. The ranger staff at the information desk were helpful in guiding us towards what we wanted to see and do while we were there. We bought out shuttle tickets to the Eisenhower farm while were were at the visitor center. It had a cafe and a really nice gift shop. I wish we'd had more time to explore the museum.

Here's a tip--don't try to cram all of Gettysburg into one day like we did (it was just a short stop on our way to Philadelphia). Take the entire weekend there to really better experience it.

Movie was a good overview to start.
Cyclorama was a favorite.
Museum was very well done, stepping through chronically. Great displays and information. Teen son was as expected, bouncing back from "This is cool" to "I'm kinda bored."
At the end, in the resource room, you can search family names for possible veterans who fought.
Definitely recommend.
There for about 3 hours.

Must do if you are going to Gettysburg - the cyclorama is very impressive, and the museum is full of detailed history of the Civil war

The museum is easy to understand for those who don't know the full story of Gettysburg, and is interesting & enjoyable for the history buffs. It's beautiful & well put together. The staff is friendly & knowledgeable. The battlefields are right across the street, so we went there afterwards. Great experience!

There were nice facilities at the Center. There was a HUGE gift shop with tons of merchandise. There is a downloadable app through NPS for free. There is a museum, cyclorama and gallery museum offered for a price. Battlefield will take at least 4 hours to drive through - I would schedule an entire day and make sure it is a clear day for weather. Lot of statues out there!

Outstanding representation of the Gettysburg Battle as well as events leading up to and after the battle. Very thorough and detailed exhibits. To read most of the material takes approx 3 hours just in the museum. The movie provided a great introduction and the cyclorama presentation was great. We would've like a little more time in the cyclorama. You're sort of rushed out after a few minutes. Unfortunately the Cafe was closed on Sunday.

A visitor centre run by the NPS which gives context and information about the battlefield and the theatre of the war before you venture out. The film, cyclorama and museum are well worth the $20 pp, expect to spend at least two hours doing this bit.
Facilities are good and clean and it’s the only start you need to your visit to Gettysburg.
PS the NPS app to get the auto tour is also very good (and free!) and you will need this to make sense of what happened and when.

We bought a package at the visitor center. Started with the museum, a film, cyclorama, 2 hours bus tour. Very informative and moving. Really enjoyed the day from 9.30 to closing time at 17.00.

The entire Battlefield site was interesting and informative. The most devastating part was the thought of and seeing where so very many soldiers died. Tragic. I enjoyed the museum, the diorama and especially enjoyed the display discussing and showing the evolution of the end of slavery and the rise of blacks. Overall an excellent experience.

This was a very well designed museum, with tons of information, and artifacts to take in. We all really enjoyed it

We visited Gettysburg in 2004 and a lot has changed since that visit. The visitor Center was built in 2008. We enjoyed the Civil War Film, Civil War Museum, and the Battlefield Bus Tour. It was a wonderful
Experience with lots of interesting facts/stories about the Civil War. Our tour guide was fabulous! We also ate Apple Dumplings with ice cream at a the cafe on site!

The grounds are massive with dry bing Frails everywhere. The visitors center is very nice but the charge for the movie and diorama a bit much.

The center is well laid out and full of interesting content about the Civil War and specifically the Battle of Gettysburg. Good lunch sandwiches and outdoor dining away from the inside noise. My only complaint is that I had trouble reading a lot of the detailed museum information due to either poor lighting or location of the information which made it hard to see. Not sure how they could fix this. Maybe I should have rented an audio tour through the museum if they had it.
The film and cyclorama painting show was wonderful.

This was amazing experience for everyone, especially the history buff in our family. We did the movie, the cyclorama, the museum, and then a guided car tour. The movie did a great job of laying everything out before experiencing the museum. The cyclorama was my son's favorite part. The museum is expansive and full of information. We really enjoyed taking our time there. The guided car tour left something to be desired. Our guide was not as passionate about the war as we had hoped. The museum and the experiences provided there were wonderful. The gift shop was also great! Highly recommend!

Now, my husband and I are "History" people. We took the driving tour on our own and spent about 5 hours touring the Center, the battlefield, and the diorama in town.
We had NO idea it was such an amazing place!
Take the time to visit. Send a wonderful day!
We didn't have room in my truck for a tour guide. I know we would have loved hearing a guide!

Kind of disappointed that a lot is privately owned and has a fee there are discounts for AAA, military etc, this is a place for good information from the park rangers and definitely a needed starting point for the battfields

We really enjoyed our visit. The museum was full of many artifacts, and tales of the people who were there, not just the generals. The video program had me in tears, and the cyclorama was amazing; almost felt like you were there. My husband is a veteran, and the sounds of battle got to him a bit, they were very real, just be forewarned! All staff were friendly and very good at keeping to the mask/distancing mandates.

After taking a two hour guided bus tour of the battlefield, I asked our tour guide what else we should see and he recommended this to us. We are thankful he did. After our tour, everything we saw at the museum and the Cyclorama made more sense to us!

Great museum. The diorama was very interesting to see. There are a lot of exhibits to see, and all the information was very interesting. My family went through the museum first and then did a battlefield tour with a licensed guide and would highly recommend doing both in that order. The food at the museum is expensive.

This was worth the visit because there was some good information. We didn't get to see all of the areas because we didn't have tickets so I highly recommend purchasing tickets for the museum. Also, Covid restrictions made it difficult to see everything we wanted. The whole building and grounds were clean and well kept. The walk from the handicapped parking was too long and it wasn't until we were leaving that I realized I could have dropped my husband off at the door and then gone to park. The self-guided driving tour was well worth the cost and would recommend it to everyone.

The museum was very interesting, The exhibits informative and well thought out. So many interesting bits of information and artifacts. To me the most interesting part was the many quotes and pictures of the people who actually lived in Gettysburg or were part of the military on both sides. It gave a very complete picture of all the events that happened during this important battle.

Strongly recommend visiting here to see the cyclorama and movie before touring the battlefield. I have never enjoyed history until I saw these, toured the museum, then did the downtown guided walking tour and the guided tour bus.

Worth a stop for information on events. The staff are very helpful. The museum portion has a fee, so we skipped that part. There were a few exhibits to see without paying for the museum, which were nice.

We only had the day so decided to go to the "Film, Cyclorama & Museum" in the main building. The 1st movie and then the film upstairs in the Cyclorama bringing the war to life with the painting was AMAZING!! I am not a history buff but loved this and the museum on the whole first floor. It gives a whole new understanding of the civil war.
Afterwards we drove to and walked the Gettysburg National Military Cemetary where there are 3000 plus soldiers buried along with 979 unknowns just from the Civil War along with many more from other wars. Many monuments also.

Well kept facility. Easy parking. Reasonable distance from parking lot to front doors. Good variety of food and drink choices, The museum was excellent. Overall, it’s a nice facility and worth seeing.

We stopped here on our first day. This place is well maintained, and wonderfully laid out. It is a must see for anyone visiting Gettysburg.

We went to visit two of our grandsons in Ocean City, Maryland, in the summer of 2024 where they were working as lifeguards.
We took the opportunity to see Washington again, and following this visit, on our way back to Montreal, Canada, we stopped at Gettysburg, this mythical place in the history of the Civil War, which pitted the states of the South against those of the North from 1861 to 1865.
Since the events of this conflict took place here in various places of envy of this Pennsylvania town, it would have been very useful and informative for us to visit the visitors' centre.
The few bucks on the entrance ticket were worth it.

The collection of items related to these fights is informative and interesting: guns, pistols, equipment, clothes, bugles etc...
There are also tables and maps describing the battle sites.

There is free parking near the center.

What a GREAT experience my visit to the battlefield was. All of the National Park Service (NPS) personnel and other volunteers were very knowledgeable and respectful, regardless of how much or how little you may have know about the battlefield. The museum was very clean, rest rooms well marked and clean, and there’s plenty to keep you busy on a rainy day! With the information available FREE from the NPS, you really don’t need to buy anything. We had a guide drive us through the battlefield and it was well worth the money!! Little back stories and other minutia about the battle filled our 3 hour time with the guide and it seemed to go by too fast! WONDERFUL DAY!

Everything about this place gets a top rating. The visitor center is well staffed, the museum was very educational but the best thing we did was show up on a rainy day to take a walking tour of the park with Ranger Tom Holbrook. Since we were the only two people to show up (deluge of rain) Ranger Holbrook decided to just have us sent under a huge tent and he gave us a two hour history lesson of the battle of Gettysburg complete with maps. Ranger Holbrook is very knowledgeable about the battle and we came away with a very good understanding of what happened, the failures and successes of each General and some military strategy regarding the battle. Just a great experience.

We had an excellent experience with our private museum tour guide at the Gettysburg battle grounds. Thank you, Roy Frampton! The three of us were driven in our car as Roy took us step-by-step following the three day battle. He noted details and many facts along the way, stopping to point out more of the story or to let us out to photograph. It was as if one of the soldiers walked us through the battle. Roy was humorous as well. If we wanted special topics covered Roy accommodated. Prior to our tour we visited the museum's cyclorama and actual museum to have knowledge fresh in our minds. The museums $82 fee was worth it. We tipped a total of $40 but realized later it should have been more. Wish we would have done so since he went beyond the 2 hour time. He was an amazing, experienced guide! Be generous if you are lucky to have Roy as your guide.

Museum and cyclorama were excellent. Very educational and meaningful. We only had 2 hours to visit , but could have used 3-4 to see the battlegrounds.

My college age daughter and I first took a 2 hour bus tour of the battlefield before walking through the museum. It made the artifacts, commentary, and short movies more understandable since we had just been to the areas, and seen where the items might have been used or worn. We enjoyed our time immensely!

Very nice and updated museum and very clean. All the information you need concerning the battle in Gettysburg. Fair price for the Film Cyclorama & Museum. Able to see everything at your own pace.

Enjoyed our time here so much we joined! Can't wait to go back and explore more of what the museum and battlefields have to offer. Definitley get tickets for the movie and cyclorama. We didn't even know what a cyclorama was but it and the process was fascinating.

An older couple, she drives, but cannot walk up the hill from the parking spaces. He is blind and cannot drop her off at the door then drive to the parking spaces.
Yet teenagers on a tour bus get off the buses at the door. I have complained about this for several years and yet management does nothing. I am told they are not required to follow ADA regulations. This is not right!!!!

There is so much to see here, you can spend the whole day. We started with the film about the Battle of Gettysburg. Then on to the Cyclorama, a huge 360 degree painting, with props and sounds and flashing lights to enhance the 'show'. Next, a walk through the Gettysburg Museum itself.
Each of these 3 venues provides the same basic information about the battle, but at the same time each exhibit is unique and with a little a bit of a different focus. The museum you can also do at your own pace, reading as much, or as little, as suits you. Makes you so sad to think of how many lives were lost or shattered (on both sides) and how hard it must have been to fight this battle.
After this education we drove around the site, following the provided map. Due to rain, we didn't get to walk around outside, this was disappointing. Will have to plan to come back.

Great place to go. A Lot of information that I didn't know. The cyclorama picture was amazing. I would visit there again.

The Museum was the highlight of our stop in Gettysburg. We spend more time here than originally planned. Make sure you see the Cyclorama show it's phenomenal. That ticket also provides entry into the museum.

We did not do the must tour just drove on our own.

There is a TON of info here, and all so interesting. We were here parts of two different days. An unbelievable amount of actual artifacts from the Civil War. It's hard to believe some of this stuff even exists after all this time. It's amazing. You could easily spent 4 or 5 hours here. It's worth the time. The movie you see first is very good, the information is displayed in formats that keep it from being boring or repetitive. The gift shop at the end is first class too. Be sure and allow plenty of time at this museum. Makes you appreciate the sacrifice of so many in the Civil War.

The visitor center and museum is an attraction all in itself. Admission is $20.75 but worth it.
The admission price includes the museum, a movie and the Cyclorama painting. The movie and the museum are outstanding. The Cyclorama painting is amazing but the presentation has you standing in one spot and you can't see everything. You do get a chance to view the entire painting at the end of the presentation. This is also the place to go for park info and National Park Passport cancels.

This is a must do. Make sure you visit the museum and view both films. It is well worth the time. The employees are friendly and very knowledgeable. There is ample parking. I would suggest visiting during the week. Make sure you get a copy of the map of the battle field.

The museum and Visitor Center is very well equipped, essential before starting the tour of the battlefield and learning details of the conflict and this battle in particular.
The tour begins with a documentary film that gives us all the historical information to start the tour, then it moves to another sector where the wonderful Ciclorama is located, which is more than 100 years old and was recently restored. It is a 360-degree circular painting that can be enjoyed from a central platform and is accompanied by lights and sound, while light games are played highlighting different areas of the painting, a narration tells us what is happening in the battle.
Finally, you can tour the museum where you can see hundreds of elements used in the Battle of Gettysburg and during the Civil War with detailed information about them.
I recommend it to start the visit to this city, understand the conflict and understand how this battle developed and ended.

So disappointed!
No welcome, no how are you, but we were "greeted" with are you carrying any pocket knives or firearms? Privately owned visitor center obviously built by charlatans and carpet baggers with staff compelled to ask Intrusive questions about personal belongings.
**Stick with the free self-guided tour**
I have ancestors that have fought for America in every war including the Revolutionary War. I am sad to see what our country has bowed their knee too.

Absolutely a must see for every American! The historic value is overwhelming! The Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama painting and the movie “A new Birth of Freedom” was excellent. Many historic artifacts displayed, as It was amazing to go back in time with every part of this museum. We downloaded the app for the car tour of the battlefield, as this took us through every monument placed and through the entire battle on this Hollowed Ground. A must see for every American.

My friend and I booked a tour with a private guide for a car tour of Gettysburg. For the private guided tour, I had to call and book the reservation over the phone. The operator was friendly and efficient. I received a confirmation email with the tickets shortly after.

Since we were visiting the area, we spent the night in Gettysburg at a hotel the evening prior to our tour so we could meet our guide early at the visitor’s center. Our tour was scheduled for 9am to noon. We arrived at the center and went to the “meet your guide here” area. A few others were waiting for guides as well. The guides came out and introduced themselves to their assigned guests. Our guide was Ed Guy.

Ed explained that he could drive us in our own vehicle (instead of following him) if we were okay with that. Ed said he was Covid-19 vaccinated so we agreed. Ed walked us out to our car and we were off. Ed explained that we would be learning about the battle day by day as it was three day battle. As we drove, Ed pointed out sites around town and the area that were related to the battle.

As our tour moved along, we stopped at several key sites along the route. We took short walks where Ed explained the progression of the battle to us. Ed was able to recall intimate details of the battle and related history from memory. He was able to answer complex questions with ease. There were plenty of opportunities to take photos. It was truly moving to see the areas where the battle occurred. Many buildings, barns, cannons, and structures were still standing from the time of the battle.

As our tour came to an end, Ed drove us back to the visitor’s center. There, we toured the museum.

If I could do this tour again, I would book the guide for an entire day with a lunch break. There was so much more I would love to ask, know, and view… but only so much can be accomplished in a few hours.

Thank you to Ed and the foundation for a memorable and meaningful experience.

This was a wonderful experience. Especially liked the film and cyclorama experience. You can take a guided tour for a fee or your own auto with a map. The park has about 24 acres. Different monuments and plaques explain what occurred at each location. Humbling experience to see how many men were lost in the battle of Gettysburg and to think what this country’s history could have been if the outcome had been different.

This is an amazing museum if we want to learn about the battle of Gettysburg. Start with the film and move onto the Cyclorama. It is a phenomenal representation of the final battle. The are and story transports you to July 3 1863.
The museum is easy to navigate with its chronological layout. The items on display are period pieces that help tell the story.

Start your Gettysburg experience here. There is a ton to see and learn about so you have to take your time - if you have the time. We spent 3 whole days in Gettysburg, so we took our time and digested everything. It was a fantastic trip for us first-timers!

If you are here for more than one day then plan on a bus tour the following day to get the most out of your visit.

***By the way, this place DOES NOT give the daily double-decker bus tour, which I which I very disappointedly found out.

***Daily double-decker bus tours are given from in-town by the Jennie Wade House. I recommend the early in the day tours.

Movie and Cyclorama was great. The Museum was good.

We bought the auto audio tour at the gift shop and did it in 3 leisurely segments over two days.

We only had 2 hours to spend here so the ticket agent suggested the movie, cyclorama and museum pass. Perfect! Visually amazing and educational. Time we’ll spent!

Definitely should be your first stop if visiting Gettysburg for the historical aspect. It is big, clean, has restrooms, food, and big staff to assist with questions and you can buy individual or package tickets for many things to see/do.
The cyclorama, movie, and museum are great, as was the bus tour from there.

The museum and visitor center is spacious, well run and well organized.
There is ample parking, good signage for a big park with shuttle buses and tours.
Staff is friendly, museum flow is smooth.
Cyclorama experience is quite unique with light and sound show.
Museum is extremely detailed, lots of artifacts, excellent audio visuals, a delight for visitors interested in American history and civil war.
Give at least two hours, three if time allows.

got the package that included the film, cyclorama and museum. This was so well done. The film was only 20 minutes and summarzied the 3 day battle. The cyclorama was amazing to see. The museum was overwhelming, but so well done and full of so much information. Highly recommend doing this and then doing the "driving tour" after, that the museum has a map. It makes all the stops make so much sense.

Worth it to get the admission to watch the film, cyclorama, and museum. This is just a small portion of Gettysburg but easy to get wrapped up in since there is so much history.

Really enjoyed the whole experience! We spent 4 hours there and could have spent lots more time. Great documentary, presentation and exhibits! Great for all ages!

Our family of 5 enjoyed our time at the Gettysburg National Military Park and Visitors center. The Visitors center is well maintained and clean with many helpful employees. The movie was interesting, and the cyclorama was very neat to see. There are many interesting artifacts in the museum, and the gift shop is top notch with tons of books and souvenirs. Our favorite activity was the double decker battlefield bus tour. The operators were nice, and the tour guide was excellent. We got a good overview of the battle and monuments. I highly recommend visiting and especially doing a battlefield bus tour.

A fantastic museum. Decent short movie at the beginning followed by the Cyclorama - that was so interesting and it was over 100 years old. The best part of the museum was just looking into the eyes of pictures of people who took part in the war and wondering about their individual lives. Very moving. Clean bathrooms and modern. Need several hours to be able to read all the exhibits.

This is a must visit for anyone living in or interested in American History. The foundation does an excellent job providing many perspectives on the Civil War and more specifically the Battle of Gettysburg. We did the audio car tour this time which was yet another perspective.

The highlight of this visit was how accommodating they were with my limited mobility. I did not have to ask, they saw my needs and the walker that I was using and they took it upon themselves to make sure that my seating in the auditorium was adequate and they escorted me to and from the cyclorama with the elevator. I was quite impressed with how in tune the workers and interpreters were with the needs of their guests. Another benefit was that they had benches spread out through the museum which was very helpful.

We did not get to go to Eisenhower this time, but I kept hearing that only the grounds were open. They were not doing tours yet. My one concern for someone who may have limited mobility is the parking. If I didn't have my husband to drop me off I would have had a problem. The parking lot was packed and from our other visits here, always is.

My wife and I think the park is generally well kept and managed. It’s clean and visitors respect the area. Park rangers don’t harass visitors and frankly I don’t think I’ve ever seen one other than at their HQs. Anyway, my wife and I come there a lot from Virginia. We enjoy the B&Bs there and quite frankly the people of Gettysburg are all so very kind and thoughtful. We have never had a bad experience supporting the many businesses there. The one exception and great disappointment to us is that the museum. It’s greatly supported by taxpayers and private funds from our fellow citizens…many of them from Southern States from people with Confederate kin. It no longer sells confederate items but there shops are filled with Union items for sale. It’s sad to see this. This park is visited and supported by many thousands of Southern people who have had their kin fight in that conflict. We know the Confederacy lost and we are reminded of this throughout our entire lives. This omission diminishes them, and their families. I don’t think anyone comes to Gettysburg to “celebrate”. It’s a place of honor and reverence and Southern people who honor their kin’s service are very respectful. Yet, the Park Service and the museum’s benefactors all want to see thousands of confederates battle re-enactors and historical enthusiasts perform for them in July. We also notice the people who ride around Seminary ridge and pull up the Confederate flags. It makes us wonder if they are asked to volunteer to do this. Yet I see US flags on Cemetary ridge un-disturbed every time we visit there. These omissions in the museums sales shops are distributing to Southern visitors and to almost all of my friends and colleagues from Union states with Union kin. Many of these people are my Mates who served with me in the “US” Army…and I gave 21 of my best years to this nation. These acts and sales omissions of confederate items and memorabilia only serve to widen and divide the social fabric of this country…and it’s really never been worse than it is now. You cannot “cancel” history or it’s memory. It must be studied, honored and respected in its proper context. ..and we are not seeing “healing” in certain Battlefield venues.

This is a must see for anyone who visits Gettysburg PA. Take the time to read, and experience everything the visitors center has to offer and then take the tour of the Battlefield. You will leave wanting to come back more and see new things each time. Gettysburg is one of our favorites and never gets old visiting. It gets better and better with each visit.

This is very well done. The film is good the cyclorama is unbelievable and a must see. The museum was really good. Just didn't have enough time to justice to the museum tour. Coupled this visit with a self-drive audio tour.

Very informative, the sacred grounds where so many American soldiers were killed is so well preserved. We took an excellent 2 hour bus tour around the whole battlefield

Make sure to see the 20 minute film, cyclorama and the museum. It’s a great first stop to get acclimated. We also took the two-hour guided car tour. Mr. Guy was amazing!! He is so knowledgeable and he is a great storyteller!!

I'd read from others how great this was, and they were right! It was an excellent place to start out as a first time visitor to Gettysburg! We saw an excellent film first... very good overview of battle. Then the diorama... oh my goodness. Way better than I'd imagined! So compelling!
Then the museum! It was just wonderful... very well done, and the artifacts well explained and displayed.
We were able to eat lunch right there- can also just get snacks. The soup we chose was great!
The bookstore and gift shop was so nice!!! Very well stocked and lots of variety for all tastes- the book section was excellent!
Would tell anyone to go here on there first day in Gettysburg.

Four of us stopped to visit the visitors center. Spent more then an hour and could have done more, had we not all been exhausted. It’s worth the stop.

Excellent! The 10:30 tour at the Gettysburg Museum was wonderful ! The tour guide Matt Atkinson was both informative and entertaining! We learned so much. He was an amazing storyteller !

Mike Rupert was our private guide. We give him 5 stars! He was very knowledgeable, personable , He encouraged questions. We felt like the battlefield was alive when he was talking!
Excellent guide and wish him well.

Wow--we spent 3 hours here and had to go back another day for an additional 2 hours. This is an amazing museum. We had no idea what a cyclorama was, and it is a beautiful piece of history...worth going just to see that.

Would definitely recommend visiting the museum and doing the film and cyclorama. The Civil War is complicated so if you're not an expert, starting your Gettysburg trip at this museum will provide a comprehensive overview of the major happenings, the who's who of the battle of Gettsyburg and how it played into the overall war.

Very educational and entertaining. You can pick up the map for the driving tour and buy souvenirs. For an additional cost, you can stay for their movie about the war.

The Visitor Center is an important stop to get an understanding of the battlefield and what happened there. The cost is steep ($35.50 for 2 people) because although the battlefield itself is administered by the NPS, the Visitor Center itself is privately run. So that expensive NPS Annual Pass you bought doesn't help you at the visitor center sadly. The museum exhibits at the visitor center are some of the best preserved artifacts you'll find on the subject, and worth seeing for that reason, and the fully restored Cyclorama is definitely worth the price of admission. The food at the Snack Bar and Cafeteria are priced ridiculously high even for tourist rates and the quality is only average at best. If you are a student of history and know the story of the battle in any detail you can save some money by skipping the Visitor Center, but if you're an average Joe, pay the money, you're on vacation, and enjoy. But definitely pack a lunch of eat elsewhere.

The visitors center was great, we were limited on time so we hard to kinda rush through. They had old weapons, uniforms, and a gift shop with loads of civil war history books and gifts. We will be coming back though we live 8 hrs away.

Very beautiful facility with lots of interesting items to look at in the museum and short film extra option to learn more. Very clean as well. Staff was very helpful.

You must see this museum. Movie and diarama is very informative. Lost to see and read. Do this before going to battlefield tour. There is a snack area inside and a restaurant/cafeteria which was closed down. Gift shop has lots of items about gettysburg

Anyone could spend a whole day there. Did the movie and the panoramic painting. well worth the money.

The Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center is top notch. If you are a Civil War enthusiast you may not want to leave. If you are a novice you may be overwhelmed, but in a good way. The museum not only tells the story of the battle at Gettysburg, it also helps vistors understand what lead to the war and why two armies clashed for three bloody days in a small town in Pennsylvania. You will see artifacts from the battle, weapons, items from houses that show battle scars. The video narrated by Morgan Freeman is a good starting point. After it ends you enter the cyclorama. This was one of my wife's favorite things we saw on our trip. There is so much here that you can easily need a second visit. I would suggest becoming a member of the Gettysburg Foundation. With a membership you get unlimited visits for a year and you help with battlefield preservation.

Loved this stop, great for a good understand of the battle and awesome packages. Should've come here first!

great place to start your gettysburg visit.

the cyclorama is extremely worth seeing. i wasn't going to visit it but am so very glad i did. it's amazing. not only in scope of talent and subject matter but the feeling that you get and the reality of what took place on that hallowed ground. the bus tour guide was excellent.

I really like the new display and light sow they do with the Painting on the upper level. great place to learn some history.

So much history, exhibits seem to go on for ever. Did not see the movie. Bought 2 coffees and a pop $15. So just do museum.

This was well worth a visit. I recommend watching the movie and the Cyclorama, and I took the bus tour of the Battlefields. The guide was very knowledgeable, but I would have liked to hear more personal stories about what happened there in addition to who won this battle, etc. I stopped at the Cemetery on the way out and so glad I did...nice exhibit on Lincoln's Gettysburg Address site, which was moving. I wish I had more time to explore the town...looked very interesting.

This museum does an wonderful job of showing so many aspects of the battles that were fought as well as all the things that went into it. The people, politics, soldiers experiences, etc. Everyone was very nice and helpful at the museum.

The visitor center is a great place to go when you are in Gettysburg. They have park information and ranger programs. We stopped here so my kids could earn their Junior Ranger badge. Its an additional cost to see the movie, Cyclorama and museum but they are worth the cost. We especially enjoyed the Cyclorama, the lights and sounds really bring the painting to life. Instead of one time tickets, we bought the family pass which is good for a year and provides unlimited free admission for up to six family members plus other discounts and benefits and it was cheaper than buying individual tickets.

We spent about 3 hours doing the film, cyclorama, and museum. It is well done and really shows the progression of the war during (as well as before and after) those three July days.

The Gettysburg National Park visitor center should be one of your fist stops in the area. The rangers at the information desk can help point you in the right direction if you’re unfamiliar with the area and there is a large books store and gift shop. The museum features plenty of in depth displays and artifacts, plus there is a movie and the huge cyclorama painting. Our only disappointment is you can’t freely walk around to view the cyclorama painting. Visitors are packed into one spot, the lights dimmed, and a narrated show talks about the battle. As soon as it’s over, you are ushered out, which means you only are able to see a small section of the 360 painting.

Parking is located nearby and battlefield bus tours leave from here. The visitor center also has a cafe and restaurant, though we did not have time to explore their options.

I'd recommend the extra $6 for the movie and diorama show, both of which I liked very much. The museum had a very nice mix of artifacts and information. I liked the videos they had playing which demonstrated how infantry and cannoneers would load and fire their weapons. It helped clarify several misunderstandings I had about weaponry at the time and how the battle would have been conducted. Overall, a nice experience.

FYI re currently going there - I arrived as they opened, and found it wasn't crowded, and almost everyone respected the mask request, making the museum feel fairly safe.

From start to finish, this is excellent. The museum is comprehensive and very well done. The movie is excellent as well as the cyclorama painting.

Then we hired a private guide to drive us around the battlefield for three hours to explain how the events unfolded. Jack, was great. Very informative, knowledgeable and personable.

Could not believe how fast 3 hours went by.

Highly recommend you spend st least 2 days here, taking advantage of all the walks and activities on this hallowed ground.

A must see when visiting Gettysburg. Download the NPS (National Parks) App. Drive through the park which is 26 miles route. Highly recommend starting at stop 1 and go in order only because most routes are one ways. A total of 16 stops, listen to narration at each stop. Plenty of places to pull over and take pictures. On a hot day it’s great to drive in car. There are trails to hike as well.

You surely can not cover this museum in a day, so if the weather isn't great for extended time outdoors, you will NOT be disappointed with this incredible place.

This is the perfect starting point when visiting Gettysburg. Entrance is free to gather maps or information and stroll through the gift shop. Admission fees are required to the museum, the movie and the cyclorama and I recommend all three!

This is a beautiful museum. You watch a short film and view the cyclorama before entering the museum. The film is very well done and the cyclorama is impressive. The museum is organized in such a way that the information and number of artifacts is easily digestible and not overwhelming. It carries you through all three days of the battle with insight from Confederate and Union soldiers as well as the residents of Gettysburg. If not taking a guided tour, I would highly recommend visiting the museum before going on a self-guided tour.

The Visitors Center was fascinating and very informative. Those working there were interesting and knowledgeable. Took a guided car tour for 3 hours. Never had a dull moment. The guide was very helpful...took us to the Military Cemetery as well as all the normal stops. It poured all day, got wet, didn't mind. Would recommend to everyone

This is a good place to visit, however it is privately owned by the Gettysburg Foundation. There is nothing free to see here. All the movies and museum cost money to see. It's apart of history and something should have been free.
We did take the bus tour was good and our guide was wonderful. This was the best part of the whole place.

I did not pay to see any of the films but it is a very large place with people manning the information counter ready to help answer questions. This is probably a good place to start your trip to Gettysburg if you haven't already researched where you want to go and set an itinerary (which I suggest you do before your trip). There is a very large gift shop with shirts, souvenirs and books on just about anything to do with Gettysburg and the individual battles. Nice if you want to get information and view the museum and cyclorama, those were just things I myself didn't want to pay admission for and take the time to see.
.

I had been here years ago before this facility was built. My grandsons are being homeschooled and this Visitor Center was a great experience. We bought our tickets on line.
First we viewed the movie and it was a great way to start our day. The cyclorama was next. They thought it was so interesting and led to good discussions
We spent a few hours wandering through a magnificent museum and ended learning a dance near the gift store.
We sat down to answer the questions posed in the Junior Ranger Book

Must see reasonably unbiased film introduction to the precursors to battles, followed by incredible cyclorama reliving Pickett's charge experience, nice book store, and finally a 2 hour bus tour with extraordinarily well informed guide named Christina.

Please don't try and do the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center in one trip because if You do You will miss a lot. Take Your time and enjoy the Museum & Center at an appropriately slow pace. There is so much to see and enjoy that You owe it to Yourself to plan two days or schedule another trip soon. The Cyclorama, the short films, the memorabilia, the souvenirs, the bookstore, the displays all deserve a slow respectful time allotment. We did the Musuem & Center after 3:00 pm and so we were entitled to come back the next day and that return trip was well worth our time. Even with this return trip, the next day, we felt like we had missed some important facets of the Museum & Center, but we will plan another Spring trip to Gettysburg. We didn't visit the battlefields because the weather was bad, but we made up for that time by slowly enjoying the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center.

What an amazing experience. Every American should go here once in their lives. The museum is fantastic, get the app and do the self guided tour. The bus tour only stops in 2 points of interest.

There is not enough words to describe this experience. We went through the museum and wow,the historical artifacts are amazing!!! The cyclorama was breathtaking.I recommend this and plan on being there a while ,but so worth it!!

A must in Gettysburg - the film, cyclorama, and museum - very thoughtful and wonderfully curated. The sequence makes sense as it puts in the mindset of what this battle must have been like from the perspectives of the Union and Confederates. It was a balanced approach -- stressing the respect that the opposition had for each other as people, even if they didn't agree. Moving and well done. I especially loved the bugle challenge and thought the map features that showed the census of each state in the North, South, and West was quite interesting.

We went on a 3-hour private tour with Dave. He was fantastic so knowledge and nice. It was great to be able to tour at our own pace and spend extra time where we wanted. It was the highlight of our trip. The cyclorama is not to be missed. The museum is overflowing with interesting artifacts and huge.

This is a ‘must see’ facility. Very educational. Many artifacts on display. The ‘Cyclorama painting’ experience is exasperating.

I really recommend getting the film, Cyclorama, and museum package. I was skeptical, but it was a fantastic deal - all three were impressive.

This was hands down the best visitor center I’ve been to in all of the parks I have visited in the National Park Service. The building was super beautiful, and everything was clean and tidy. The store was very large and also has a lot of books in addition to merch. The Park Rangers and volunteers that I interacted with at the center were all extremely friendly and helpful. I was traveling with a dog, so the museum was out of the picture for us.

Even the history buff will learn something new. I recommend starting with the movie then do the cyclorama before the museum. The cyclorama is a sad visual of what Gettysburg would have looked like during the battle. If you have kids who are sensitive to load noises you will probably need headphones or not attend these two attractions. The museum is huge with lots to take in. You can read and interact throughout the museum, time really depends on you.

I would put this on your do not miss list. The film, museum, and the cyclorama were fantastic. I could go back again and again.

A definite must see! We planned to spend one day of our vacation at Gettysburg.
It is so amazing that we ended up spending 4 & 1/2 days here, & still didn't see it all.
Words cannot describe the experience!
The town, the visiter's center, the battlefield, the cemetery, the monuments, the stories, the people, and the history are second to none.

A fabulous museum! From the introductory movie, the cyclorama, exhibits, and battlefield everything is well done. The Park Rangers were very knowledgeable and the opportunity for the kids to learn what it was like to enlist in the army was great. I visited with my 7 year old and my 11 year old, and they enjoyed the half day we spent learning about the battle and the Civil War. Adults alone easily could spend an entire day taking everything in.

This is a very nice visitor center with nice restrooms & food options. They have displays. You can take your time to view. The cyclorama is pretty cool. There is a nice movie explaining events of the war. Be sure to take the guided tour, it is worth it!

This should be the first stop on your battlefield tour of Gettysburg. The movie and cyclorama explains the complicated nature of the three day battle, The museum has a huge amount of artifacts from the battle and 3 short films, one for each day of the battle.

Well run and well done, Don't miss it.

This museum does an excellent job of explaining what led up to the battle at Gettysburg and why it happened in that location at that time, as well as its impact on North and South, the local region, the civilians, the war, and long-term issues like identification and burial of war dead, notification of kin, national memorials, etc. And, of course, the Gettysburg Address, possibly the greatest statement ever made about American ideals. We visited the museum first, then the battlefield, and it made a huge difference in how we viewed and understood the battlefield itself. Don't miss it!

The museum itself is worth every penny and worth every second of your time. The artifacts are simply amazing. Security is the only constant negative to my multiple trips to the museum. They're just too aggressive for the environment. They need to relax and stop being so rude. Still, I strongly encourage everyone to visit and give yourself plenty of time to see everything. The store itself is also amazing. There is nothing like it anywhere else in Gettysburg or even at any of the other military parks I've visited.

I had been here before many years ago but much has changed for the better. I am a history buff and knew most of what occurred before and during the battle developments.I visited with family on a very warm day. We did sign up for the museum and file/cyclodrama all of which were very well done. The cyclodrama was done over a long period by someone from Europe but is excellent. The events leading up to the war are covered and the various important military leaders and events/battles are discussed. You can download the tour of the battlefield and get a map with the locations (by the way, make sure you know your Apple ID which I did not, if necessary). My sister downloaded the talking tour and it was very good. We did not stop at every stop, but did a few. We went up on the viewing tower and also Little Round Top. Every State involved has various monuments. Great if you are a history buff like me.

At first not a cheap day out but wow so much to see and look over let alone learn about .
From the introduction film through to the final place with the amazing art rotunda it will leave you astounded at the sacrifice and futility of war. Just mind blowing.

We stopped here as a break during our drive and our boys (7 and 11) loved it. The set up of the museum was fun for the kids. They liked moving through the museum following the timeline, and they loved the small interactive parts of the exhibit. The staff was able to answer our questions about the park and there were plenty of brochures available with maps and monument locations.

Film was so true to life, felt like you were reliving the war. Videos and artifacts were many and brought everything to life.

My family loves American history. Our trip to Gettysburg was educational and really fun. It was really hot so we didn’t do much walking around, but still a great site to check out.

Yes, this is a National park of sorts and no it does not accept the America the Beautiful pass. However, the battlefield is free to drive and there is a very good free driving app. available on the park web site. The visitor center can provide a map and there are ranger tours as well. If you only have a few hours, take the driving tour. You can also hire a tour guide or do a bus tour for a fee. I suggest the app. as you can spend as much or as little time as you want at a specific spot and can adjust timing so you aren’t in the midst of bus loads of others- feels more respectful. If at all possible…DO the movie, cyclorama and the museum. They are extremely well done and truly give so much information and a true sense of the intensity of the battle along with seeing actual relics that no verbal description can fully describe- the tree full of metal from the battle for one. This is well worth both the time and price. Wear comfortable shoes and plan on a full day.

We decided to have a "brotherly" reunion in Gettysburg, and my compatriot suggested a guided tour of the Battlefield. Superb notion. We reserved a three-hour version and were fortunate to be placed in the capable and knowledgeable hands - and words - of Christina. We had toured the hallowed ground many times but Christina provided ample new nuances about the three-day struggle. While there are multiple companies in the touring business, we suggest - and recommend wholeheartedly - securing the services of a Guide under the Foundation umbrella. And if you happen to get Christina, wish her a happy 17th (yep) anniversary as an ambassador of Gettysburg Battlefield history. A+

My only regret is that I only had time to stay for 2 and a half hours! You could easily spend the better part of a day here. The movie, cyclorama, and displays were phenominal.

I was in Gettysburg for three days and started my visit here, to obtain an overview of the battle and combatants. The Morgan Freeman narrated film was very useful in explaining how the battle came about and evolved. The Cyclorama "Sound and Light" was awesome. The tour of the museum then added the details. Alow 3 hours. Well worth it.

The museum, video, and the circular visual are a great introduction to the battle. This is meant for the novice. If you are more interested in specifics and the ability to ask questions to a guide, do the car tour.
Sadly, portions of the battlefield have been sold to corporations--even McDonald's is at the site of Pickett's Charge. And because of the vastness of the battle, one cannot walk the area. Driving by yourself would seem to be cumbersome. So, either do a bus tour or a car tour. Then, you can actually understand what is presented in the museum.

The museum and in particular the film and the cyclorama! Oh the Cyclorama! So wonderful! We were both a bit freaked out with all the people in close proximity and lots of people not wearing masks but I guess after the last year, that was our problem and no one elses.

Our visit to the Visitors Center and Museum couldn't have been better. We purchased the Movie, Cyclorama and Museum package (STRONG recommended) and it was absolutely incredible. The effort that went into the entire experience was breathtaking - it captureed the significance, drama and solemnity of those three days in July 1863.

The Visitors Center prepared us most appropriately for the Auto Tour - which we embarked upon immediately our visit.

Gettysburg, in my option, is a MUST SEE for any citizen or visitor of the US - and this is a great place to start.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

This is such a great place to visit. I can’t believe it took me so long to get here. I picked a perfect weekend because it was remembrance weekend. So, there was a lovely parade in town and I got to see lots of culture.

I love history museums and wanted to check this one out while I was here in Gettysburg. The building is huge there is so much to see. There is a information center and people that can help you with whatever you may need in regards to the park. I went into the museum and it was amazing. So much history and artifacts and some interactive displays. I spent at least a couple hours looking at everything. It was an amazing experience. So much artwork to look at, many artifacts to look at as well. Beautiful building. Really nice gift shop as well. Picnic tables by the parking lot. Absolutely loved it. I would definitely come back. So much to see. 5/5 for sure.

In many ways this, for me, is the starting point in Gettysburg. We a a member of the Foundation (which gives you discounts on the tickets). The Museum, the cyclorama, and the bus tours that depart from this location are superlative! This year they added an ability to do genealogical research on family members in the Battle. I CANNOT praise this place enough! The newly expended kitchen area was a welcome reprieve after our tours! GREAT job AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA++++++++++++++!

Webco Industries participated in a Leadership Event at the Military Park in Gettysburg the week of October 10, 2022. Both Rob Abbott, Battlefield Guide, and Britt Isenberg and Amanda Markle, Gettysburg Foundation were awesome. Rob's individual knowledge of the battlefield, previous military experiences, and leadership lessons were some of the best we have ever seen in our 53 year history as a company. We would give Rob Abbott and the Gettysburg Foundation 5 out of 5 stars. If you are looking for an outstanding leadership event for your company please contact Britt or Amanda and have them book Rob Abbott as your licensed Battlefield Guide.

Very well maintained park. Would like to come back when I have done more research to know a bit more of the history. I didn't look into getting a guide. But would be interested in do that next time.

I highly recommend you get the combo package that includes the movie, the cyclorama and the museum. It is worth the cost. And talk to the rangers and the staff you find stationed at the activities- they are a wealth of information about the cyclorama and the park. If you are short on time- the rangers can help guide you in visiting something that interests you. This facility is nicely maintained by a private party. Be generous and throw a few dollars in the states display- the money goes towards maintaining this gem of a National Park.

Particularly enjoyed the Cyclorama--wished I had taken more pictures. It was beautiful! The gift shop was a little pricey.

My dad and I have been visiting Gettysburg every year (pandemic excluded) and we always have said we should do the ranger tours where they take you around in your car but we just never did. Well this year we did and I will say its one of if not THE best way to experience Gettysburg. We had the best tour guide, Ed Guy and he really made the tour enjoyable and well worth the money. We did the 3 hour tour and enjoyed every single second. Like I said my dad and I are no strangers to Gettysburg but Ed was able to tell us things and explain to us things we never knew. If you are thinking of doing the guided tours do it! its a great way to understand the battle especially if you aren't already familiar with it and ask for Ed Guy!

A wonderful display of the history behind the Gettysburg Battle. Very enjoyable couple of hours spent exploring all they had to offer. Highly recommend for all ages.

Really informative experience. I recommend doing the museum, film, and cyclorama package. We had the next time for the film which worked well. Seeing that and giving you a quick history of the war gives you the necessary information for the rest. The cyclorama was amazing. Felt like you were actually overlooking the battle.

After that we went to the museum. It was jam packed and it just kept going. Was maybe a little overload for some (others in my group), but I really enjoyed it. We didn’t watch the little shows they had in the museum itself, and it still took us over an hour to go through. A lot of artifacts and info. Some background before the war, the war, and after. Different artifacts throughout. All together we were there about two hours. Had an enjoyable afternoon.

the place took you back to a time of sadness in our country history . Brothers fighting against each other . I pray that this never happens again and they have done a great job in preserving history

The museum was very informative and helped to put a face to the information we obtained on the previous day’s bus tour of the battlefields. We began with the film and then went up to the area where the cyclorama is located; spectacular and very moving. The artifacts and displays take awhile to get thru so plan to spend several hours. We did not need to purchase tickets ahead of time as it was the off season but I would recommend it if visiting during the summer and fall if you plan to see the movie. You can select your time and plan your day around that.

This is an amazing place that really puts so much perspective on the battle that took place here. It really gives you a sense of the seriousness of what took place. Then you get to see this amazing mural to the war and as the story unfolds parts of the diorama light up to help explain what was going on. Truly amazing.

Overall, this was so valuable to put it all into perspective. They also have a great gift shop and some very friendly staff. Outside the guy taking tickets to the diorama, he was down right grumpy. Getting snippy with people for getting tickets out and then getting snippy with people for not having tickets out seemed a little over the top. I get that everyone has a bad day, so I could overlook this and still enjoy the experience.

Would recommend this museum to anyone that wants to learn about the battle of Gettysburg. The Cyclorama was amazing! A must see for sure!

Plan on spending at least 2-3 hours just touring the museum. We did not pay extra for the movie or the cyclorama & found after touring the museum we didn't need to, as the museum has many 5-minute movies throughout each section that you could sit down to watch, it was very helpful. The museum has a huge gift shop which was packed the day we went with long lines at checkout. HINT - if you go farther into the gift shop by the bookshop there is another cash register with very little line!
The museum has beautiful grounds you can walk through. I'd highly recommend this as your first stop before you tour the battleground. Also, if you download the National Park Service app on your phone & follow the directions for the Auto Tour of Gettysburg you can tour the battle grounds for free using your phone/Bluetooth at each stop to hear the history. There are also signs all along the way that show you that you are following an Auto Tour. There are also bus tours & private tours that you can purchase @ the museum.
We did the battlefield & the museum in one day. The next day we toured the National Cemetary. You cannot drive into the cemetery you have to walk but it's all paved & there are restrooms available.

Planned to only go in to purchase the audio tour for the self guided battlefield tour and ended up spending a couple hours inside. Got tickets to the shows and museum inside and so glad we did. It is very well done and gives you a very good background of the battle and the war. Great displays of artifacts throughout

The visitors center is full of information and the cyclorama is spectacular- what a masterpiece! The museum has numerous short videos about the war and the displays are very informative. A very interesting museum and a must visit when in Gettysburg

What a beautiful and informative place. Make this your first stop on your visit to Gettysburg! The film, cyclorama and museum experience were great! Especially the museum. I didn't expect it to be so great. You could spend half the day in there.
There is also a giant gift shop book store not to be missed and even a snack bar/cafe.

The Gettysburg Museum and visitor center is not to be missed when traveling through the city. It is filled with so many amazing exhibits, gift shop, and civil war attractions. The staff that work here are very knowledgeable on the park and will assist with making the best suggestions for the amount of time you are able to spend visiting the museum and grounds.
We had a great experience with an employee named Phyllis about purchasing our movie tickets, cyclorama and the museum. She was able to advise us when these were the least busiest as to avoid the most crowds and get the most in for a day's visit. She also advised us to purchase the tickets the day before, as the theater tickets can fill up quickly the day of and many times may not be available.
I would also advise downloading the free NPS app that provides a detailed car tour of the battlefield and cemetary. This allows you to take the time you need to visit each stop and get out of the car to explore further.

Excellent experience!! We learned so much!
The cyclorama was my favorite part, my 2nd favorite was the cannon ball that was believed to have been shot through the barn. Great stop for you and old.

You must take an hour or more to see all there is at the Museum and Visitor Center start your battlefield tour. A very good orientation and overview of the three days of battle before traversing the actual sites.

This museum was very well organized and easy to follow. The information was brief and enough to summarize the events that occurred here.

We watched a movie about the Gettysburg battle,, how it effected the people who lived there and why they invited Lincoln to speak at the dedication ceremony. Then we got to see the 370' diameter cyclorama oil painting that told the story of Picket's charge and other events of the battle that were enhanced by lighting that simulated explosions and gun fire.

Begin your trip here… watch the movie, see the Cyclorama and look at the museum. Then buy the audio tour in the gift shop if you’re not going on a tour with a guide.
Fantastic experience. Audio tour added so much more to the drive through the battlefield than just reading the plaques and by all means get out of the vehicle and go look at things up close.
This is a beautiful park… we’ve been here three times and will come back again I am sure.

Downtown Gettysburg has become a bit cheesy with too many low budget souvenir shops and paranormal tours. Would like to see this town classed back up with more antique stores, bakeries, higher end retailers and more cafes/coffee shops etc.
When we visited in August there were zero places allowing people to use restrooms and we were pointed to stinky portable toilets that smelled like they hadn’t been pumped out in weeks.

The museum gives a really good insight on the battle, including the cyclorama that shows what Gettysburg looked like during the battle, and stories from Gettysburg Citizens that were effected by the battle.

We found ourselves in the area with a little time and are so glad we decided to make a 2 1/2 hour visit. Without a stop at the Visitor’s Center we would have missed so much. The movie is brief but enlightening and the Cyclorama is much more impressive than we had imagined. The guide explained that cycloramas were very popular in pre-movie days and they traveled around the world. This artist was French but came to Gettysburg for research, built a platform in the midst of the battlefield (some 30 years later), had photographs made and interviewed veterans, returning to France to paint. We downloaded the free National Park audio tour and followed that afterward. A very worthwhile few hours.

The museum is very thorough and interesting. We only had half a day on our visit, but we could have stayed in the museum the entire time.

This is a MUST!! The park rangers where so helpful! Answered all my questions! Gave the best Recommendations on how to best experience the battle field! We watched the movie, amazing, saw the giant painting! Even better in real life, words and pictures do it no justice! And toured the museum! We could have spent hours looking over everything!! This is a great place for all ages!!

This huge welcome center is beautiful. The Cyclorama was fantastic, 40’ high and 377’ all the way around, a great presentation of the war.

Over the past 50+ years I've been to Gettysburg about a half-dozen times; two as a kid; two as a middle-aged adult; and now, as an elder. I liked it better before the 'NEW' facility. If, for no other reason than the topographical, overhead visual lighted map (of old) was not there. THAT made it very simple to orient yourself to the features and actions of the battle when your Licensed Battleground Guide points to things.
Worse, during this trip I was in the Cyclorama twice - once with a 'class group', and once with my wife. I got to see the Cyclorama show with the group; my wife didn't get to see it because it wasn't working - and, worse, they didn't tell us it was broken when we got our tickets.

Great history!
This is place is great. Got a better understanding on how the civil war came about! Awesome place. Love how President Lincoln did a speech at the train station. Lots to see in downtown Gettysburg.

as an ex park ranger i find visiting frustrating. i am 100% disabled and have the access card. valid everywhere, but it seems gettysburg. it's expensive to visit the museum. i use a service dog and was severely challenged at the door by the guards. yes, i know the questions etc. i spent thousands to get him trained, so yea, he's a real live service dog. let him have entry. the museum is difficult to maneuver through (i would imagine even without the dog) . parking is difficult find as well. i miss the old visitor center. it was chock full of artifacts related to the battle. it's a shame that those relics will now be buried in a basement never to be seen again...thanks to the foundation.

i visit every year...and while i would like to do the museum, the cost is prohibitive. it really would be nice to be able to use the access pass.

The movie was very well done, we thought. This was followed by the Cyclorama, which was a whole lotta "wow!!" It's relatively quick, but it's very impressive and worth seeing. They've done a great job with the restoration, and the added foreground really gives depth and highlights how realistic the painting is. The museum - if you are a civil war history buff, I think you could spend days in there. Lots to read, several films you could stop and watch, many things to look at. Do not do the museum when you're tired or hungry, it really goes on and on.

This was my second time visiting the cyclorama and Gettysburg. The movie and cyclorama do an amazing job of laying out the war for you to see, and it makes you feel very immersed.

Amazing artifacts, friendly staff and a fairly large (though expensive (but what isn't these days) souvenir shop with a wide variety of memorabilia.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an avid fan of anything related to the Civil War period, have visited various museums and battlefields, but was unprepared for the experience my wife and I and another couple had when visiting the Gettysburg Visitor Center and battlefield. The short film narrated by Morgan Freeman followed by the mind-blowing cyclorama really provided a full overview of the political climate at the time and how those three days in July, 1863 made a significant impact on the outcome of the war.

The frosting on the cake was when we reserved a “guided tour” of the battlefield for the following day. Roy Frampton was our licensed guide and drove our vehicle while providing a detailed account of what occurred during the three day battle. It was almost as if we were transported back in time 150 years…. Roy’s descriptions of key moments were so vividly described, one could almost smell the gun powder and hear the sound of cannon fire. We especially enjoyed hearing the stories of personal accounts and little known facts you wouldn’t hear in your typical history class. Though our tour was to be two hours, Roy added nearly 90 minutes and for that we were truly grateful. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of this type of tour, you won’t be disappointed!

Not our first visit and won’t be our last. Always a great history lesson. Everyone at the visitor center was so friendly and helpful.

I visited the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center in April. I bought my tickets in advance online. On the day of my visit (it was on a Saturday), I got there early at about 8 am. The parking lot was already beginning to fill up and there were already around 6-7 tour buses lined up. Backpacks are not allowed in the Museum and Visitor Center so if you have a backpack leave it in your car. I passed through security and then waited in line to pick up my ticket at the "Will Call" window. First was the 20-minute film narrated by Morgan Freeman. The film lays out the history of the Civil War, the events leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg and the battle itself. Next was the Cyclorama. The Cyclorama was a fantastic painting. My only criticism is that it was too crowded on the viewing platform. I went through the Museum quickly. It had Civil War weapons, the history of the Civil War and the periods before the Civil War, and the history of the Battle of Gettysburg itself. Finally, the Bookstore and Gift Shop is fantastic. There is an excellent selection of Civil War books and gifts. The Bookstore and Gift Shop sells the guidebook and CDs for the self-guided driving tour which costs about $30. All in all I spent around two hours in the Visitor Center. It was a Saturday and very crowded. Maybe it is less crowded on a weekday.

Great movie, cyclorama and museum. Wonderful snack bar with outside seating and lots to buy in gift shop. Although we stayed for a couple of hours, we easily could have spent another whole day in the museum. The information / displays are many ...and excellent. We seemed to glance at all vs reading each plaque. There is a tremendous amount of information in the museum. The valor... the heartbreak...with such losses!

You need at least an hour or more to take it all in. The photos, movies and artifacts. Very well put together and easy to understand.

Best place to go when you get to Gettysburg!Movie,cyclorama,a nd museum are great!Did not much care for the cafe but the refreshment stand is good!

We only stopped briefly as we were scheduled to take a bus tour of the battlefield, but will do the museum/film & diorama next visit. grab a map of the self guided tour!

Stayed at the Hilton Garden for 3 nights. This is more then enough time to see everything. Took the 2 hour bus tour and it was very informative. Also visited the visitor center. You need at least 3hours for this exhibit. I would highly recommend the museum and theater combo. Had dinner at the Dobbin Tavern the experience was awesome. I would recommend getting their onion soup. They also have a great shop attached.

Part of the Gettysburg park that you really need to explore. It has interesting historic items and events shown in a number of displays.

The old visitor's center was head and shoulders above this one. The new one displays maybe 15% of what you could see in the old viz across from the Soldier's National Cemetery. Disappointing and way too commercial. Vegas meets Gettysburg!

Run in joint venture between the Gettysburg Foundation and the National Park service, both will treat you well and helpful with the recommendations. Book signings are a regular event, and sometimes, even a celebrity or two. Don't forget to tell the Foundation where you're from and find your local connection to the Civil War. No matter where you're from - all roads lead to Gettysburg.

Film and cyclorama were excellent. Visited here prior to doing the auto tour of the park. The museum itself was a bit underwhelming, but I know exhibits were closed (ugh, due to Covid).

We allowed 1.5 hours to see the film, cyclorama and read about the artifacts. Well worth the price of admission.

We went thinking it was the wax museum but we were pleasantly surprised by the tour you get there. It was inexpensive, full of history and well worth the price. We all the loved the "Cellar" experience. It was the best part of the tour! The people who work there are very pleasant and the gift shop is full of fun and historical things. It's a must do while in Gettysburg.

We purchased the 2 hour guided bus tour of the battlefield. Our tour guide, Fred, was very knowledgeable and made the battle come alive for us. No matter how much you read about the battle, seeing it and having someone explain exactly where the troops were made it all come alive and made you feel like you had travelled back to those historic 3 days. Unfortunately, what I really wanted to see- Devil's Den and Little Round Top, has been closed to the public for a year- supposedly for repaving the road, but in a year's time they haven't laid down an inch of tar. My parents used to take us to that area when I was little and I wanted to see it again, but couldn't get close. Still enjoyed the tour though and highly recommend it to all. Had an amazing bus driver too- Linda. She is the best!!

Our first day in Gettysburg was a rainy day so we chose to spend half the day at the visitors center. The film was very well done and gave us a good introduction to the war and specifically Gettysburg. Our favorite part was the cyclorama. I wasn't sure what to expect with this experience but was really surprised how much we enjoyed the lights and sound show highlighting the cyclorama. There is so much detail in the cyclorama! I could have spent more time there taking it all in. Also enjoyed the next day seeing placards on our walk on Cemetery Ridge showing us where we would be standing in the cyclorama during Pickett's Charge. We spent considerable time in the museum trying to cover all of the exhibits. It was a lot of information. We've been to numerous military and battle site museums and we found this one a little boring. It did not help that all interactive displays were shut down. I would have been disappointed if we had only visited the museum, but combined with the film and cyclorama it was an excellent experience.

The NPS portion of the experience was phenomenal and my kids enjoyed doing the Junior ranger book. We followed parts of the self-guided battlefield tour (on the NPS app) after our museum visit to enjoy just a few of the many monuments and historic sites. However, I found the non-NPS workers in the museum and gift shop to be pretty dismissive and unhelpful, which is ironic given that we paid $80 to their employer to enjoy the privately run museum. The museum itself is excellent and extremely educational. My kids aged 7-15 all got a lot out of it, especially the short videos throughout. We did not have time for the cyclorama or film, but I’ve experienced those before and they are worth the extra fees if you have time (at least 2-3 hrs in the museum itself with at least 1-2 more to drive around the battlefield).

We went to the museum and also stopped afterwards for a pop in the cafe. The visitor area was helpful in pointing out a trail nearby. We also bought a cup at the shop.

Great facility to learn. Film was good introduction, then cyclorama is just an amazing piece of work. Museum artifacts helped you get the full picture of uniforms to weapons used to even a cannon and sleep quarters. A normal gift shop with plenty of stuff for kids. Would NOT recommend eating there. Way expensive and food wasn't tasty. $22 for a plain burger, soup and a water. Snack crackers would have tasted better than this lunch. Still giving it a five star rating though, just excluding the eateries.

The Gettysburg Museum has objects from one of the largest Civil War collections in the world, the museum features relics from the Battle of Gettysburg and personalities who served in the Civil War, interactive exhibits, and multimedia presentations describing the Battle of Gettysburg and its terrible consequences.
A 20-minute film is shown in the room on the ground floor. Then you go upstairs where a cyclorama painting, thanks to lights and sounds, projects people back in time, taking them to the battlefield.
On the ground floor you can visit the museum. A rather large duty free area is available.

The movie about the Civil War was so informative and it was narrated by Morgan Freeman. And the cyclorama painting was recently restored and was very cool with a narration about different parts of the battlefield

This facility is run by the Gettysburg Foundation, so they charge a fee to see the museum and cyclorama. There is a NPS desk in front staffed by park employees where you can get maps and information without paying a fee.
The museum is worth every penny, though.
There is a great film about the battle, narrated by Morgan Freeman. It was very informative. There are lots of exhibits, too, and a great gift shop with lots of books.
The cyclorama show is fabulous. It is an historic oil painting of the battlefield that was sent on display around the country. It was rescued and restored and given a good home here. I remember seeing it when I was a child in another building, so I really appreciate how great it looks now.

Our family of four visited in June on a Wednesday. Our documentary entry time was 9:15. When we emerged from the cyclorama, the visitor center had exploded with school groups, but within the museum itself, it was quiet, somber, and the crowd was very comfortable. It’s an emotional place. You need about 2 hours to take it in, but you could spend an entire day there. The collection of artifacts and memorabilia is very impressive, as you would expect for the most famous Civil War battle. Once I read the ordinance of secession for my state, which was displayed in an interactive touch screen, I knew the misinformation about “state’s rights” was a veil. And there were many other discoveries and moments for pause. It’s a thought provoking place. Such attention to detail. Go see for yourself. The complexity of the battle and the Civil War itself is thoughtfully presented. Every American should go.

It's not a regular NP visitor center. It's a joined venture with a private foundation. You pay for activities like the museum, the film they show or a bus tour. It isn't cheap either. The ranger program for the kids was free but short and not that exciting. The feeling we had is that it is a tourist trap. Sad. Better make that clear at the entrance and publications.

TONS of artifacts from the soldiers and citizens of Gettysburg! What an amazing exhibit. We went through it 2x and still could have learned more. Very educational for my boys. The Jr. Ranger program was a highlight as well.

Very informative Museum and Visitor Center. There are two movies that were interesting as they provided information. Museum pieces were interesting and overall a great experience at the visitor center. Of course there is a gift shop with tons of souveniers etc...

We are a family of 4, kids ages 7 and 9. We found this entire center to be very well- organized. We especially enjoyed the Cyclorama. The film and museum were also well done but we didn’t spend much time in the latter. The exhibits were great but not accessible for the kids. They did really enjoy the VR experience so I would recommend that for kids their age. The staff were mostly very helpful and kind. Nice cafe. Families with slightly older kids could easily spend several hours here. Note: This is a great place to visit before going to the battlefields and cemetery to get your bearings.

Worthwhile paying the money to learn of the history. We were with three 13 yrs old girls and they enjoyed it. They do have a family discount if your subscribe