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This small, private museum is located in a home constructed in the 19th century that was home to four generations of a family that traces its Gettysburg roots back to 1818. The current owner decided to convert his inherited property into a museum to display historical artifacts that he collects and sells. The museum operates by selling a variety historical artifacts. While these items are not limited to the Civil War era, most of them are related to military history.Currently, the Gettysburg Museum of History has several exibits, including on the American Civil War, Major Dick Winters Collection, Pop Culture Icons, Presidents, World War I, World War II, and Vietnam	On the museum's website, https://www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com/ , the curators of this musuem sell various historical artifacts, including parts of Civil War military unforms such as breast plates, belt plates, and buttons, Confederate money, and bullets used during the war.

The Gettysburg Museum of History opened in 2009 and displays and sells artifacts related to military history. 

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This small, private museum is located in a home constructed in the 19th century that was home to four generations of a family that traces its Gettysburg roots back to 1818. The current owner decided to convert his inherited property into a museum to display historical artifacts that he collects and sells. The museum operates by selling a variety historical artifacts. While these items are not limited to the Civil War era, most of them are related to military history.

Gettysburg Museum of History

A walk through the city of Gettysburg that goes through several museums and monuments

The Eternal Peace Light Memorial is a commemorative monument erected to honor peace and brotherhood on the site of one of the bloodiest and most significant battles of the Civil War. It is in this proximity that Confederate General Robert E. Lee brought his Northern Virginia army to battle the North on its own land. Lee’s hopes were to relieve his battle ridden home state of Virginia and dishearten the Northern support for the war by being victorious in a battle on northern land. Having heard of Lee’s advancement towards a small Pennsylvanian town with a population of 2,000, newly appointed General George G. Meade positioned his Union troops between Lee’s army and Washington, D.C. Lee congregated his army in the fields of Gettysburg ready to battle Meade. Two days of bloodshed ensued within the surrounding area of Gettysburg and on the third day the battle continued on Culp’s Hill while cavalry battles continued to the east and south. The third day of the Battle of Gettysburg is referred to as the main event. It was on this day that 12,000 Confederate soldiers launched an infantry assault on the Union line in an attempt to split the line and conquer the divide. This assault is referred to by historians as Pickett’s Charge and took place at a location now known as Cemetery Hill. The Union retaliated with heavy rifle and artillery fire and the Confederate Army suffered great losses. Lee retreated and led what was left of his army back to Virginia. After three days of fighting on the lush farm fields of Gettysburg 51,000 soldiers from both armies died, were wounded, captured or went missing. Months afterwards President Abraham Lincoln visited the battle site where he delivered his now infamous Gettysburg Address, honoring all of the soldiers who made the greatest sacrifice. On the day the Eternal Peace Light Memorial was dedicated it was draped in a 50 foot American flag and unveiled by a veteran of the Confederate and Union army. Pulling back the American flag revealed a granite and limestone monument that was designed by French Architect Paul Philippe Cret and sculpted by German sculptor Lee Lawrie.  Atop the 47 foot lime stone shaft sits a one ton bronze torch, powered by natural gas. The intent was for the flame to always burn signifying peace. Designed to stay lit during heavy rains and strong winds an auto relight was built into it in case it would happen to extinguish. Although the torch was designed to ward off natural occurrences, it could not withstand the decision to shut the flame down to a dim pilot light level during World War II so as to hide its light from any possible enemy aircraft attacks. Snuffed out in 1970 as a conservatory measure during the energy crisis the light was converted to electric in 1979. Nine years later, in 1988 it was restored to a natural gas torch which is how it is fueled today.Memorializing the soldiers who fought in both armies at a time when a country was in unrest and recognizing the sacrifices that were made, leaves a battlefield, once a farmland with scars and ghosts that are softened and tamed by the inscription “An Enduring Light to Guide Us to Unity and Fellowship”. The Eternal Peace Light Memorial serves as a constant reminder to the importance of peace and the significance of honor.

The memorial was created to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and dedicated at a ceremony featuring Union and Confederate veterans on July 3, 1938. The memorial can be found at the top of Oak Hill, northwest of Gettysburg. The monument is made of granite, stands 47 feet, and features an eternal flame dedicated to peace and reconciliation. The monument's dedication ceremony was attended by 250,000 people, including 1800 Civil War veterans, President Franklin Roosevelt said “All of them we honor, not asking under which flag they fought then – thankful that they stand together under one flag now.” The unveiling marked the completion of an idea that began when Civil War veterans met at Gettysburg to mark the 50th anniversary of the battle. Desiring to erect a memorial that reunited the nation, funds were donated by states from both sides to finance the $60,000 project. Symbolic of the union of north and south, materials used to create the Eternal Peace Light Memorial included Maine granite for the base and Alabama limestone for the shaft. The inscription reads “Peace Eternal in a Nation United”.

The Eternal Peace Light Memorial

Seeking to force Lincoln into considering a negotiated peace on Confederate terms, General Robert E. Lee moved his forces out of Virginia and into Pennsylvania in late June, 1863. Lee's invading army was pursued by Major General George Meade who was appointed to replace General Joe Hooker that same month. The two forces collided in Gettysburg on July 1st and the Confederate forces secured a position on Cemetery Hill. Seminary Ridge ran perpendicular to the Union stronghold and the building Schmucker had constructed forty years earlier was captured by Confederate soldiers during the early stages of the battle and provided cover and a lookout for Confederate forces as the war raged until Confederate forces withdrew.Samuel Simon Schmucker, the son of a Lutheran pastor and a devote Lutheran, established the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg in 1826 and served as its president. A firm believer in the education of both women and more liberal towards the education of people of color than most whites in the antebellum era, Schmucker founded several girls’ schools and admitted the seminary’s first Black student in 1837. When the war came to his doorstep, many people used the school to take shelter from the fighting and Schmucker’s personal offices in the building were ransacked by Confederate soldiers upon its capture.The main building became a useful tool for the Confederate forces during the battle. Prior to the Confederate army taking control of the structure, U.S. Army Brigadier General John Buford and Lieutenant Aaron Jerome, an officer with the Signal Corps, hoped to use the Schmucker Building as a base of operations where they could view movement of troops. After being captured by Confederates, officers for the South made the informed decisions that helped to lead to a significant setback for the Union forces on July 1st. While in the shadow of Seminary Ridge, Lee chose to continue the fight beyond that first day. However, by July 3rd and following Pickett’s unsuccessful charge across the battlefield, the Union was able to reclaim Seminary Ridge and the Schmucker Building. After the battle, the building became a hospital which housed and treated hundreds of soldiers from both sides of the conflict until mid-September.When Schmucker was able to finally return, he along with several others began the process of buying the land where the battle took place in hopes of preserving the site of the battle. This land later became what was known as Battlefield Park and this museum preserves the history of the effort to preserve the battlefield and the former seminary in addition to the battle itself. The museum offers interactive programs and also shares what life was like for civilians and soldiers in the Civil War.

Gettysburg's Seminary Ridge Museum was founded to interpret and share the history of Seminary Ridge and its role within the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the major turning points of the Civil War. Museum professionals restore artifacts and offer exhibits that share the history of this place within the larger history of the American Civil War. The museum is located in a building constructed in 1826 by Samuel Simon Schmucker and the name of the ridge is related to this area's use as the first seminary in the area. This building was held by Union forces headquarters at the start and end of the battle, and was the site of a massive military hospital in the months that followed the battle. U. S. Army Brigadier General John Buford used the domed cupola atop the building to view the battlefield during the first day of the battle. The museum opened in 2013, the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum

The Shriver house was the home of George and Hettie Shriver and their children in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Out of the home, George also ran his business, the Shriver’s Saloon and Ten-Pin Alley; the saloon was part of the house cellar and the back yard was where George operated the bowling alley. Prior to the war in 1860-1861, the Shrivers lived comfortably as Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 presidential election and the war started in April of 1861. George’s business was final and prepared to open by the middle of August, but the war interrupted their plans and George enlisted on August 27, 1861. Like many people in the country at the time, George and Hettie believed that the war would not last long; they even believed it would stop by the end of 1861 and that they would be opening their business then. The war lasted longer than what the Shrivers and others believed and in June 1863, 2 years after George left, Confederate troops marched through Gettysburg.When the Battle of Gettysburg started on July 1, 1863, Hettie and her two children and a neighbor’s child fled to Hettie’s parents’ home located three miles outside of the city. Hettie thought her parents’ home would be a safer place for her and the children to be during the battle, however it was more dangerous. Hettie’s parents’ property was located between Big Round Top and Little Round Top, the site of some of the battle’s most catastrophic skirmishing. The fighting was so loud here that Hettie, her family, and the children had to yell in order to hear each other. After the battle was over, Hettie remained on the property to help the numerous wounded troops.On July 7, Hettie and the children went back to Gettysburg and discovered that her house had been used by Confederate troops during the battle and that it was now being used to nurse wounded soldiers. The Confederate troops had used several of the Shriver’s belongings to construct a barricade in the road in front of the house. The troops also stole the Shrivers’ food, supplies, household items and materials, money, and liquor. One of Hettie’s neighbors said he saw the Confederate troops using the Shrivers’ attic window as a location for sharpshooters to shoot Union troops. Five months later, George was allowed to spend Christmas with Hettie and the children. After this he rejoined his unit and continued fighting for the Union until January 1864 when he was captured as a prisoner of war by the Confederates and sent to Camp Sumter, also known as Andersonville.Restoration of the Shrivers' home began in January, 1996. Aside from learning more about the Shriver family, countless treasures were found within the house during the restoration - inside walls, underneath fireplace hearths, and under floorboards. In addition to miscellaneous household items, children's toys, corset stays, letters and pictures, these finds include Civil War Medical supplies, live Civil War ammunition, and a child's shoe believed to belong to Sadie or Mollie Shriver.

This museum offers exhibits related to the experience of civilians who lived through the Civil War and also offers period furniture and artifacts throughout the Shrivers’ home that has been meticulously restored to its 1860 appearance. During the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate sharpshooters took over the Shrivers’ home and fired on Union troops from the attic window. Confederate soldiers also confiscated furnishings from the house to build a barricade in the street. The house and grounds were also used to treat the wounded when the battle ended. The home and the town was left in total devastation after the war. Residents faced extremely poor conditions as the water was contaminated and there was no food for miles. In addition to approximately 12,000 dead men and horses, more than 21,000 seriously wounded soldiers were left behind when both sides departed. Taking care of the wounded and cleaning up the devastation was left to local citizens.

Shriver House Museum

President Lincoln gave
his now-famous speech on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers
National Cemetery. Lincoln's position as President assured that he would speak last, but he was&nbsp;not the featured speaker. That honor belonged to&nbsp;Edward Everett, a celebrity orator in an era when Americans would travel for miles to hear a great&nbsp;speech.&nbsp;Everett spoke for his allotted two hours, which was followed by the singing of a&nbsp;hymn and&nbsp;Lincoln's short speech.&nbsp;Unlike the speech Everett gave before him, Lincoln’s
Gettysburg Address lasted approximately two minutes and his speech consisted of only&nbsp;ten
sentences. The crowd was somewhat shocked by the President's brevity, and most early accounts of the event&nbsp;focused&nbsp;on&nbsp;Everett's speech. In future generations, however, the President's speech would become required reading and even the subject of memorization drills given its brevity and verve.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The bust of Lincoln at this memorial was made by Henry K.
Bush-Brown.&nbsp; In addition to this bust,
Brown made the equestrian sculptures of Generals Meade, Reynolds, and Sedgwick
that are present at Gettysburg.&nbsp;The memorial is not situated at&nbsp;the exact spot where Lincoln delivered the speech. That location can be discovered by walking around 300 yards north, where there is a small&nbsp;plaque that also commemorates Lincoln's speech.

Though not the exact site of the Gettysburg Address, this memorial commemorates the speech given by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863. It is located in the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The memorial consists of a bust of Lincoln flanked by two plaques. Lincoln's speech was part of a day-long dedication ceremony at the cemetery, an event that local planners hoped would promote the city of Gettysburg. Although the event's planners anticipated that the event's main event, a two-hour a speech by famed orator Edward Everett would be the highlight of the day, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address would become one of the most cherished well-known speeches in American history.  

Gettysburg Address Memorial

On July 1, 1863, General John Buford, and his cavalry spotted Confederate troops marching down the Chambersburg Pike. He dismounted his soldiers, taking position behind fenceworks; they opened the Battle of Gettysburg. There were more skirmishes during the first day than actual strategic battles. However, during the fighting, Major General John Reynolds was shot in the neck and died shortly afterwards. The Union took the high ground and dug in, and continued to attack the Confederates throughout the day. By the end of the day, the Northern troops were forced to retreat back through the town. The army regrouped and was resupplied to get ready themselves for a long battle the next day.The 2nd day brought more fighting. Possible opportunities were gained and lost by the Confederates. By this time the Union was dug in, around the town and the Confederates began launching attacks on the flanks of the Union line. General Richard Ewell’s brigade was to attack the Union flank on Culp’s Hill. General Lee told him he was to continue attacking the hill all-day and if necessary, even into the night: to “Take the hill if practicable”. This line “if practicable” in the communication from Lee, gave Ewell more latitude in the orders than Lee had intended. Furthermore, General Lee ordered General Longstreet to storm and take Little Round Top. If it weren’t for Colonel Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine, Longstreet’s attack on Little Round Top would have succeeded. Little round top was crucial to the Union. It was the end of the Union line and if they failed the rest of the line was doomed. The Confederates attacked uphill in waves, hitting the 20th Maine the whole day. Colonel Chamberlain’s troops were running low on ammo and without an end in sight; Colonel Chamberlain pulled one of the most drastic moves of battle. He led a ‘swinging door’ charge downhill, pushing the Confederates off Little Round Top. Because of the Confederate mishaps, the Union ended up taking the victory that day, and sent the Confederates back to regroup and prepare for the next day. The 3rd day of battle would become the most controversial battle of all.           The night of July 2, General Robert E. Lee drew up a plan that he thought would break through the Union line. The plan was a three-prong assault on the Union line, called a ‘fishhook, because of the shape of the defensive position. The first part was to send 15,000 men from Longstreet’s Corps, over a mile of open ground to break through the center of the Union line. Lee planned to focus an infantry attack, historically referred to as Pickett’s Charge, on the center of the Meade’s line, because he knew the middle would be the weakest point, given the fact they fought the day before. The middle of the line consisted of two regiments that used to be on the flank of the line because they had been severely beaten up. The Confederate plan was to open the battle early in the day with an artillery barrage intended to weaken the Union line, followed by the infantry attack, (but the attack was delayed until 1 in the afternoon). At the same time, on the eastern part of the battlefield, General J.E.B. Stuart, and his cavalry, was assigned to go to the rear of the Union line and hit Meade from behind. Simultaneously, with the infantry attack, Gen. Ewell's Corps, reinforced with three brigades, was to continue the assault on the Federal right at Culp's Hill, which would fail miserably with heavy losses.           On July 3, 1863, approximately 15,000 men, 9 brigades, from three different Confederate commands, were poised to attack the Union line at Cemetery Ridge. The defending Union army numbered around 6500 well-positioned Federal soldiers, supported by cannon. “Lieutenant General James Longstreet thought the plan futile and only reluctantly agreed to it, telling Lee "no 15,000 men who ever lived could take that position." (1) The assault was preceded by an artillery bombardment of 150 Confederate guns, possibly the largest artillery battery ever assembled on the North American continent. 75 Union cannon returned fire. The majority of the Confederate explosions overshot the targets and did little, if any, damage. Confederate infantry moved out of their cover in a one-and-a-half miles long line and began their advance across a mile of open ground. The field was lined with broken fences that stalled their attack. The Confederate artillery was supposed start up again to support the infantry advance but the canon crews had run out of ammunition.           Longstreet’s orders to Pickett were to head toward a ‘copse of trees’ on the Union line. The lines of attacking Confederate soldiers were told to use the trees to guide their movement across the field. They would shift the their ‘march’ in unison, closing ranks, and filling in gaps in their lines. Canon, minie ball, and rifle shot took a deadly toll on the Rebel forces. Confederate dead and wounded lay scattered on the field, but forces under the command of General Lewis Armistead, breeched the Union line, but they were too few to do any damage. Armistead was mortally wounded. The remnants of the original 15,000 Confederates retreated in in disorder, falling back to the trees from which they came.               Longstreet prepared the reserves and every able-bodied soldier for the expected counterattack by the Federal army, but Meade, fearing a trap did not push his advantage. Unaware that the Confederate artillery had no ammunition, and Longstreet had loss all 15 of his regimental commanders and 3000 men, and Brig. General James Pettigrew had lost half of his command. Another missed opportunity for the North was lost.Several historians believe that Lee might have been planning a tremendous coup; something that could have ended the war that day. Unfortunately for Lee, what did occur that day, was the slaughter of thousands of Confederate soldiers. General Lee’s plan to was penetrate the Union line with a frontal attack; draw Union attention away by striking the Union right with Ewell, and Stuart’s cavalry would trap the Union from behind. In essence, the plan was brilliant; in execution, it was filled with flaws. General Stuart was to fire off two cannon shots to let the Lee know he was in position. When those two shots rang off, General David Gregg the commanding General of the Union Calvary sent General George Custer to investigate the cannon shots. Custer’s Michigan Cavalry Brigade was great outnumbered by the General Stuart’s cavalry. Custer immediately engaged Stuart. The battle lines between the two combatants exploded and Custer was relentless with his attack against Stuart, leading his men from the front, Custer was able to turn General Stuart back. The union cavalry lost 219 men during the battle. Had General Custer lost the battle Stuart would have rolled through the Union defense, causing the Union Army to break and run, as they did at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Pickett’s Charge would have worked. The Confederates lost the day, the battle and changed the tide of the war. General Lee retreated back down south. General Meade followed for a little but didn’t make a huge effort because he wanted to let his soldiers be able to rest after three days of battle. General Custer and his Cavalry ended up perusing General Lee to the Potomac River, and then he was ordered to cease and go back.

The Gettysburg campaign marked the second time that Confederate General Robert E. Lee tried to invade the North. The Last time he moved up North, Union forces met the Confederates in Maryland, at Antietam Creek. That was a one-day battle, and there was no clear winner during the battle, but the Confederates ended up retreating. Gettysburg would be different. This battle would mark the turning point in the war, and the victor would win the war. The Gettysburg Campaign lasted three days, and was deemed the bloodiest battle in the whole war. Over the three-day battle, fighting broke out in different places around town

Gettysburg historical walk

Gettysburg Museum of History

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Additional Information