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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question about your visit to Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum? Check out our FAQ below!

General Museum Questions:
Where is the museum located?
The museum is located at 625 Biglerville Road, less than one mile north of the Gettysburg town square.

What is the museum about? 
Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum explores the civilian experience in America’s most famous small town. Through twelve interactive galleries filled with over 1,000 rare artifacts, visitors embark on a journey through time that begins with prehistoric legends and winds through centuries of Gettysburg’s storied past. Highlights include dinosaur footprints, a recreation of the Gettys Tavern, and our acclaimed immersive experience - Caught in the Crossfire - which places visitors inside a home under siege during the Battle of Gettysburg. To view our museum map, please click here.

What are the museum’s hours of operation?
The museum's current hours of operation can be found here.

How large is the museum? 
The museum consists of 12 unique galleries and is approximately 5,000 square feet. 

How much time should I allot for my visit?
We recommend allotting between 60 and 90 minutes for your visit. For those planning on thoroughly reading most exhibits and watching all multimedia features, we recommend allotting at least two hours for your visit.

Is there a fee for the museum? 
Yes, there is a fee for the museum. For more information on current admission rates and discounts, please click here. ACHS members receive free admission to the museum. For more information about membership and benefits, please click here.

What is Caught in the Crossfire?
Caught in the Crossfire, the museum’s premier exhibit, is an immersive experience that uses cutting-edge technology to place visitors inside a meticulously reconstructed farmhouse during the Battle of Gettysburg. Visitors will see, hear, and feel what it was like for one Gettysburg family to be overrun by invading forces and trapped behind enemy lines. The exhibit was recently profiled in The Washington Post and The Boston Globe.

Is this museum suitable for kids?
The museum is built to educate and entertain audiences of all ages and interest levels. Interactive exhibits, such as touchable dinosaur tracks and the colonial tavern experience, were designed especially for younger visitors.

What is there for kids to do? 
Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum features multiple activities for kids including scavenger hunts and regularly-scheduled programming. See one of our front desk associates for more information about our current offerings for kids.

Is there parking on-site?
Yes, there is complimentary parking on site for museum guests. If you have trouble finding a parking space, please call our main desk at (717) 334-4723. 

What amenities are offered on-site?
Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum offers the following amenities to its visitors: an information desk, a gift shop, snacks and drinks, free parking, restrooms, water fountains and water bottle refilling stations, ADA accessibility, baby changing stations, complimentary WiFi, and benches/seating. Additional amenities, such as bus parking and boxed lunches, are also available for groups. For more information about group rates and packages, please click here.

Can I take pictures or video inside the museum?
Non-commercial, non-flash photography is allowed inside the museum. Non-commercial videography is also permitted. If you are a member of the media, please contact our Director of Marketing & Communications, Michaela Shaffer, at mshaffer@achs-pa.org for more information.

Is the museum and history center ADA-accessible?
Yes, the museum is ADA-accessible with handicap parking spaces and elevator access to the second floor.

Does the museum have a gift shop?
Yes, the museum has a gift shop featuring a wide variety of books, apparel, gift items, locally made goods, and more.

Can I host my event at the museum?
Yes, the museum and history center offers multiple options for events, including a seminar room (up to 25 seats) and the Battlefield Overlook Event Center (up to 200 seats). For more information about hosting an event with us, please click here.

Do you have food at the museum?
Light refreshments, including snacks and drinks, are available at the café on the first floor of the building.

Are there visitor guidelines?
Yes, our visitor guidelines can be found here.

What items are prohibited inside the museum?
Food, open drinks (except water bottles), chewing gum, smoking or vaping, backpacks or large bags, and weapons are prohibited inside the building.

Are animals allowed in the museum and history center?
Service dogs are welcome. Our museum follows the guidelines of the United States Department of Justice’s ADA requirements for service dogs. The dog must be trained to provide assistance to a person with a disability. Visitors may not bring emotional support animals into the facility.

Are there places to sit down inside the museum?
Yes, there are chairs and benches available throughout the museum.

What else is there to do during my visit?
Museum staff offer free educational programs every weekend and special evening events each month. For a full list of programs and events, please visit our calendar here.

What is in the Alexander Dobbin Special Exhibit Gallery?
Our current special exhibit is entitled “Early Photography at Gettysburg – The Frassanito Collection" and features stereographic images of dead soldiers on the battlefield, a series of rare views captured at Devil’s Den in November 1863, one of the first outdoor photographs taken in the town of Gettysburg, and the only existing photographic print from the Gettysburg Address ceremonies. The exhibit also features some of William A. Frassanito’s best known discoveries – the moving of a dead “sniper” at Devil’s Den, the location where bodies were photographed en masse at the George Rose Farm, and the elusive “Harvest of Death” photographic series. From photographers Alexander Gardner and Mathew Brady to the Tyson Brothers and William H. Tipton, Frassanito’s collection explores the people, places, and events that shaped the history of Gettysburg. The exhibit is free and open to the public, and does not require tickets.

Where can I follow the museum on social media?
For all the latest information about Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum, join our museum Facebook group here. You can also follow the Adams County Historical Society, the parent organization of the museum, on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. 

Do you have any educational resources for teachers and students?
Yes, we offer multiple resources for teachers and students on our website, including Essential Questions for Students, Hands-On History program offerings, scavenger hunts, and more. Please click hehttps://www.achs-pa.org/visit/teacher-resources.htmlre to view our teacher resources page.

 

Ticketing Questions:
How much do tickets cost? 
Our current admission prices can be found here. Adams County Historical Society members receive free admission to the museum. You can join as a member here.

What discounts are available? 
We currently offer discounts for seniors, veterans, youth, Adams County residents, active duty military, and Adams County students (K-12, Gettysburg College & HACC).

How can I purchase tickets?
Walk-in guests are always welcome at the museum. If you prefer to reserve your tickets in advance, you can do so here.

Should I purchase my tickets in advance?
While purchasing your tickets in advance is not required, it is recommended.

Can I reschedule my visit?
The date of your ticket may be transferable upon request. Please call (717) 334-4723 with any questions about rescheduling.

Do children need tickets?
Yes, everyone entering the museum must have a ticket; however, children ages 5 and under receive complimentary admission, and youth (grades K-12) receive discounted admission. Additionally, Adams County students (K-12 and undergraduates at Gettysburg College and the Gettysburg campus of HACC) are eligible for complimentary admission to the museum.

Do I need to print my tickets at home?
Visitors are welcome to print their tickets at home. Both paper tickets and e-tickets (scanned directly from a mobile device) are accepted at the front desk. Visitors can also provide their name at the front desk to confirm their ticket reservation.

What is the latest time that visitors are permitted to enter the museum?
It is highly recommended that visitors arrive no later than 4 p.m. in order to fully experience the museum. If you arrive late in the day and would like more time to explore the museum, Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum offers a carryover pass that allows visitors to return on the next day the museum is open.

Are tickets refundable?
Tickets are non-refundable; however, carryover passes are available for late afternoon arrivals, allowing visitors to return the next day to complete their visit. The date and time of your ticket may be transferable upon request. Please call (717) 334-4723 with any questions regarding ticket times.

I didn’t receive my ticket via email. What should I do?
If you didn’t receive your ticket via email, your reservation can be confirmed by your last name at the front desk. 

 

Program & Event Questions:
Do you offer regular programming? 
Yes, the Adams County Historical Society offers multiple types of programs, including weekly public programming on most Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to our public programs, we also offer monthly events as part of our Battlefield Overlook Speaker Series. Our current lineup of events can be found here. 

What type of programs do you offer?
The Adams County Historical Society offers Hands-On History programs, presentations, lectures, and more. Our recurring programs include free weekly public presentations most Saturdays and Sundays, monthly research seminars, walking tours, and a monthly speaker series. Topics range from the Civil War to Native American archaeology to the Eisenhowers. For more information about our upcoming programs and events, please click here. 

What is on the schedule for this year?
The Adams County Historical Society is excited to share our full slate of scheduled programs here.

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We are grateful for your donation and support of our organization. If you have made an error in making your donation or change your mind about contributing to our organization please contact us. Refunds are returned using the original method of payment. If you made your donation by credit card, your refund will be credited to that same credit card.

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Ongoing support is important to enabling projects to continue their work, so we encourage donors to continue to contribute to projects over time. But if you must cancel your recurring donation, please notify us.

Any individual who financially qualifies, based upon level of income, may be granted free admission to the museum. The determination will be made by museum staff based upon that individual’s application for free admission.