Gettysburg 162nd Civil War Battle Reenactment

Departure Points:

Yankee Trails, Rensselaer - 7:00am
Pet Smart, Crossgates Commons - 7:30am
Catskill, Exit 21 Park & Ride - 8:15am
Kingston Plaza, Kingston - 8:35am

Friday, July 4

Travel south with us today, to our destination, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Upon our arrival, we will visit Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum. View the remarkable story of ordinary eyewitnesses and their extraordinary experiences before, during, and after the Civil War. Through twelve interactive exhibit galleries packed with rare artifacts, the museum explores the story of Gettysburg like you’ve never seen or heard it before. 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. Next we will have time on our own in historic downtown Gettysburg (a list of restaurants will be provided). Before heading to the hotel we will enjoy a “Civil War Spirits” Tour. On this 75-minute walking tour, we will embark on a spooky journey to our haunted headquarters, Gettysburg’s old jail, and a church where the boundaries between life and death are blurred. Encounter unexplained phenomena, ghostly apparitions, and the eerie atmosphere of a place with a dark past. Hear a collection of hair-raising tales of a ghostly hitchhiker, the tragic story of three friends from Gettysburg whose lives were destroyed by the battle, and more. This evening we will check into our accommodations at the Wyndham Gettysburg (717) 339-0020 which is located just outside of downtown. Swim in the heated indoor pool or view the latest movie release in their onsite theater. All rooms are adorned with plush bedding, signature Blue Harmony® bath products, and free WiFi.

Saturday, July 5

A hot buffet breakfast is included this morning at the hotel before we depart for the Shriver House Museum and Saloon. Dedicated to the civilian experience during the Battle of Gettysburg, the Shriver House Museum appears much the way it did when it was built in 1860. Learn what life was like at that time as you tour the home and hear the harrowing story of the Shriver family’s experiences during the battle from a costumed guide. Next we’re off to visit the David Willis House. Best known as the house where President Abraham Lincoln stayed prior to delivering the Gettysburg Address, the home of attorney David Wills also served as a center for compassion and inspiration in the days and months following the Battle of Gettysburg. Next we head to Day 2 of The Gettysburg 162nd Anniversary National Reenactment. We have bleacher seating tickets at the site as we watch history come to life. You’ll have time to stroll through the camps, eat lunch (on your own) and visit living history demonstrations as well as view the 4:00pm battle. We will return to the hotel to freshen up before a buffet dinner (included) at the Carriage House Inn in Emmitsburg, Maryland. After dinner we will visit Christ Lutheran Church for a live performance of Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital. This performance shares the authentic history of how Christ Lutheran Church was used as a Civil War hospital during and after the Battle of Gettysburg.

Sunday, July 6

A hot buffet breakfast is included at the hotel this morning. Following breakfast we will enjoy a 2-hour tour of the battlefields with our licensed battlefield guide. Travel the historic fields of Gettysburg and watch history come alive through the eyes of a licensed guide. Enjoy a truly unique perspective into the three-day Battle of Gettysburg. All guided bus tours are conducted by guides licensed by the Gettysburg National Military Park. Lunch will be on your own in downtown Gettysburg before our departure at 2pm, with an approximate arrival in the Capital District at 8:30pm. Stops will be made each way.