Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center facts for kids
Sign near main doorway
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| Established | April 2008 |
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| Location | Gettysburg NMP, Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Visitors | 2 million |
| Founder | Gettysburg Foundation |
| Owner | National Park Service |
| Public transit access | Gettysburg National Military Park, rabbittransit |
| Nearest parking | Entrances from Baltimore Pike |
The Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center is a special place in Gettysburg National Military Park. It teaches visitors about the American Civil War. You can see the amazing 1884 Gettysburg Cyclorama painting here. It's also where you can find guides and buses for tours of the Gettysburg Battlefield and the Eisenhower National Historic Site.
Inside the museum, you'll find many cool things. There are real cannons, old firearms, and uniforms from the war. The center also has an exhibit area and a theater. You can use computers to learn more, visit a bookstore for gifts, and grab a bite to eat at the restaurant.
Contents
History of the Gettysburg Visitor Center
Early Museums and the Cyclorama
One of the first museums in Gettysburg opened in 1881. It showed off a collection of historical items from J. Albertus Danner. Later, in 1894, the huge Gettysburg Cyclorama painting was shown in a large tent. A building for it started being built on Cemetery Hill in 1912.
Growing Visitor Numbers and New Centers
After World War II, many more people started visiting Gettysburg. To help with this, the National Park Service made improvements. They built the first visitor center for the battlefield in 1962. It was called the Cyclorama Building.
The Gettysburg National Museum became the main visitor center in 1974. Over the years, technology and other services were improved.
The New Museum and Visitor Center
The old Cyclorama Building was taken down in 2013. A brand new, modern Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center was finished in 2008. This new building now proudly displays the restored Gettysburg Cyclorama painting. It offers a great experience for everyone who wants to learn about this important part of American history.
Images for kids
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Display of the Gettysburg Address
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Displays in the new gift shop.
