Past Lane Plus is an extension of Past Lane Travels, the #1 history and travel blog in the U.S. Past Lane Plus tells the story with additional never-before-seen photos.
Some links in this post may be affiliate links.
Welcome to all the new subscribers who recently found me. And welcome back to all the long-time readers! I used to post weekly, but have switched to the second Tuesday of each month.
Today, we’re taking a look inside the Visitor Center on the Gettysburg Battlefield. You can check out my Gettysburg posts on Past Lane Travels if you want more information. (It’s my hometown).
As you can see, the you’ll be greeted by Abe Lincoln when you stop at the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center at 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg.
Take A Look Inside The Visitor Center
The National Military Park at Gettysburg owns more than one million artifacts, including archival materials, military arms, accoutrements, and relics discovered on the battlefield.
Unusual and Interesting Artifacts
I love artifacts that are part of a personal story and there are lots of them at the Gettysburg Visitor Center.
These four tavern chairs are just such a story.
According to records, General John Reynolds and other Union officers met at Moritz Tavern on the night of June 30, 1863. Many years later, the tavernkeeper’s daughter reported that Reynolds lay down across these chairs and slept briefly during the night.
Visiting Gettysburg? Check out these tour options.
Riddled with Bullets
The sample of this tree trunk from the Gettysburg battlefield shows the aftermath of the battle. It is riddled with bullets, balls and fragments of artillery shells. During the Battle of Gettysburg as many as 7 million rounds of iron and lead ammunition were fired, leaving a scarred and desolate landscape.
The tree trunk was displayed at the famed Chicago Columbian Exposition of 1893.
The Gift Shop
The gift shop/book store at the Visitor Center is worth the visit if you’re looking for a souvenir or a book relating to the Civil War. It’s massive and has a wide selection of snacks, t-shirts and Gettysburg trinkets.
Here’s a quick look.
Next month I’ll share photos of the Cyclorama painting. It’s incredible!