Steeped In History And Mystery, Gettysburg Is A Great Student Destination

Growing up in PA, I spent many wonderful summers exploring Gettysburg. It didn’t occur to me that a national treasure was practically in my backyard. I took for granted that a day trip tromping through battlefields was practically a rite of passage for Civil War enthusiasts. Steeped in history and mystery, Gettysburg is a great student destination as well.

Civil War Stops

Gettysburg National Military Park

If you are traveling to Gettysburg with students, a stop at the Gettysburg National Military Park is probably at the top of the trip checklist. The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the Civil War and the inspiration for Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Programs are available for all ages, as well as free, ranger-led tours of key battlefield moments. There’s really nothing quite like the experience of walking on these hallowed grounds to truly make history come alive for students!

Gettysburg Diorama

A fully-narrated light and sound show, the Gettysburg Diorama has the entire 6,000-acre battlefield in one place. Students will be amazed by the incredible detail of the display during the 30-minute presentation of the three-day battle.

Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital

Christ Lutheran Church is the oldest building in Gettysburg in continuous use for worship and served as a hospital from the first day of battle and for 5 weeks. It also is home to the Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital program. You’ll hear the true stories of both Union and Confederate soldiers, doctors and nurses who worked valiantly to save lives.

Read soldiers’ actual journal entries and a citizen-nurse’s touching diary. Listen to civil war music and the poetry of Walt Whitman (fun fact – he served as a civil war nurse for 3 years!) 

In addition, students are assigned the name of a soldier who was a patient at the hospital and whose fate is revealed at the end of the program (did he live or die?)

Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight Walking Tours

Don’t miss a chance to get up close and personal with some of Gettysburg’s best haunts and eerie sightings! The Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight Walking Tours have been around since 1994. They’re based on true stories from Mark Nesbitt’s Ghosts of Gettysburg book series and have been featured on Unsolved Mysteries.

Shriver House Museum- The Civilian Experience

The Shriver House gives students a different lens through which to view the battle- a civilian perspective. This 1860 home in the heart of the historic district has been meticulously restored and frozen in time. It features members of the Shriver family sharing their experiences of life before, during and after the war.

Don’t “Forget” Mr. Ed’s!

Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium

Ok… maybe elephants aren’t top of mind when thinking about Gettysburg as a great student destination. But Mr. Ed’s has its own captivating story to tell!

Mr. Ed’s started as a quirky roadside attraction selling snacks, candies, and unique merchandise in 1975.  The store closed in 1983, only to be reimagined in a new location just outside of Gettysburg.

Here it grew to include a collection of roughly 10,000 elephants, along with all sorts of other goodies.  Mr. Ed’s became a visitor favorite for people from around the world and featured an incredible selection of candy and (of course) fresh roasted peanuts.

In 2010, a fire destroyed much of Mr. Ed’s impressive storefront, but volunteers rallied around their favorite purveyor of pachyderms and helped the owners re-open just 7 months later.

Fast-forward a few more years and Mr. Ed’s business grew exponentially (thanks to some savvy business decisions and national media coverage.) Even more space was required to display its unusual offerings and first-rate candy confections.

Groups can now visit the beloved Mr. Ed’s 1700 ft. addition with wholesale space and a candy kitchen!  Much like an elephant, it’s a stop your students will never ‘forget!’

Student-Friendly Dining

General Pickett’s Buffet

If you need a quick, home-cooked meal to fuel those insatiable teen appetites, General Pickett’s Buffet is a perfect choice. Reasonable group rates (which include beverages and gratuity), two complimentary meals per bus and great food make General Pickett’s a group favorite. It also has a gift shop to satisfy students needs to spend ALL their trip money (goodness knows they won’t take any home!).

Historic 1776 Dobbin House Tavern

Historic 1776 Dobbin House Tavern provides comfortable group accommodations, gracious hospitality and delectable dishes in a charming and historic setting.

Students can tour the oldest and most historic home in Gettysburg, check out the secret underground railroad hideout or visit the Country Curiosity Store.

Plan with a Pro Partner

Gettysburg is a great student destination packed with student-friendly must-dos. Make it super easy and plan your student trip to Gettysburg with Kaleidoscope Adventures!

Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning outstanding student travel for more than 30 years. Online registration and payments, convenient crowdfunding options, and an expert team make your planning simple and efficient.

They’ll work with you to plan an exceptional travel experience for your seniors from start to finish!

Plan Your Gettysburg Student Adventure