Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum
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Gettysburg is full of all kinds of attractions, with most focusing on different aspects of the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg. The Beyond the Battle Museum does just that; it takes you beyond the infamous battle to fully understand the role of the town throughout history, starting from prehistoric times to today. There is of course a focus on the events of the Battle of Gettysburg because it left such a permanent mark on the area.
Full of modern exhibits, their 4-D “Caught in the Crossfire” Experience is definitely a highlight. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that will help visitors have a better understanding of the toll of the battle on the townspeople. I hope everyone adds Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum to their Pennsylvania bucket list!
Is Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum Dog Friendly?
The Beyond the Battle Museum is NOT dog friendly, so you will have to make other arrangements for your pup behind when you visit.
See our tips for leaving your dog alone in a new place so you don’t have to miss out on any non-pet-friendly stops.
What is Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum?
The Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum covers the entire history of Gettysburg. It is made up of 12 different galleries that focus on important events and time periods in the region from the natural history of the area and Native Americans to the Civil War and the aftermath. This attraction does a fantastic job showing how the town started and evolved into what it is today.
Where to Stay When Visiting Gettysburg
Gettysburg is a popular tourist stop full of Civil War attractions including its own National Park. This means that there are plenty of options to choose from when you are looking for a place to stay. Keep in mind that because this is a popular destination, you may need to book well in advance during the busy summer months.
Campsites Near Gettysburg Pennsylvania
If you are looking to camp during your stay, there are several campgrounds in the area where you can tent camp, bring your RV, or rent a cabin:
- Artillery Ridge Campground and Horse Park– starts at $80 per night (pet-friendly)
- Drummer Boy Campground– $57 per night (pet-friendly)
- Round Top Campground– starts at $63 per night (pet-friendly)
- Gettysburg Campground– starts at $79 per night (cabins and RV area is pet-friendly)
Hotels Near Gettysburg
Use our booking.com link to find the best hotel for your vacation!
Where to Eat When Visiting the Beyond the Battle Museum
This Gettysburg Museum does have a small food stand with several different kinds of drinks and snacks to choose from. You will find options like chips, candy, and soda. For a full meal, you will have to leave the property to go to a restaurant.
This museum is located about 1 mile north of downtown Gettysburg which has a ton of restaurant choices. If you are looking for something closer, here are the options nearby:
Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum
The Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum just recently opened its doors in the spring of 2023. This museum is dedicated to the entire history of the region, which makes it different from most of the attractions in the area. The exhibits are a fantastic mix of written, audio, visual, and interactive ways to make learning about history more fun.
Made up of 12 different galleries or rooms, each section has its own historical focus. You will find that there are several rooms centered on the events surrounding the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg since it did have a huge effect on the area.
Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum Price and Hours
The Beyond the Battle Museum is $15 a person and like most attractions in the area, the hours do fluctuate depending on the season. During the summer months, this attraction is typically open 10 am – 5 pm every day of the week. In the off-season, the museum may be closed or have limited hours depending on the day of the week.
You can buy your tickets online via their reservation system or at the counter when you arrive. I do recommend reserving a time slot if you are traveling during one of the busier times of the year to make sure you are able to get in. I see this becoming a very popular attraction as more and more people hear about it.
Travel Tip: If you are planning on visiting several of the museums in Gettysburg or are traveling with other people, I recommend purchasing the Value Plan to save money on this stop.
Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum Gift Shop
The museum does have a small gift shop where you can purchase mementos like t-shirts, books, and coffee mugs. It is located in a small room near the concession area. You will walk through it on your way out of the last museum exhibit.
How Long Can You Spend at Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum?
You should plan on spending 1-2 hours at the Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum. This should give you enough time to be able to make your way through each of the exhibits and experiences.
What to Expect at the Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum
The Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum is located about 1 mile north of downtown Gettysburg inside the Adams County Historical Society. The building does have its own free parking lot. When you walk in you will see the guest services desk where you can show or buy your tickets for the museum.
If you walk to the left of this desk, you will be able to get to the concession stand, gift shop, and bathrooms. The doors to the actual museum are just to the right of the desk and further down in this direction are a few more exhibits and displays.
Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum
The Beyond the Battle Museum is made up of 12 different galleries that take you through the history of Gettysburg. Each gallery is its own room and is dedicated to its own time period or theme.
Each gallery has its own audio and/or visual exhibit as well as signage to help you understand the role the area played in American history. This could involve watching a short film, listening to colonists in a tavern speaking about town life, or hearing a girl talk about her family being raided by American Indians.
Some areas also have interactive exhibits making it an, even more, fun and interesting learning experience. The main attraction is the museum’s “Caught in the Crossfire” Immersive Experience. The experience happens inside a small ‘house’ where you will experience what the townspeople went through as the battle of Gettysburg poured into the streets just outside of their homes.
Once inside the townhome, there are seats for you to sit in during the “show”. This was everyone’s favorite part of the museum, and the whole experience was very impressive, from seeing bullet holes appear in the walls of the house to hearing members of the family home decide whether to run or stay put as the soldiers came into town.
The rooms are organized by time period, with the first room covering the “Natural History” of the area including minerals and dinosaur footprints that were discovered nearby. Next is the “Native American” gallery, followed by “Life on the Frontier” and “Revolutionary America”.
The next group of rooms focuses on the times and events leading up to, during, and just after the Civil War. It starts with “A Growing Community” when the area experienced great growth as more and more people moved to the area.
Then the next rooms are “The Civil War, The War Comes Home, and the Caught in the Crossfire Experience”, followed by “The Aftermath”.
“The Address” gallery talks about the importance of Lincoln’s famous address during the ceremony at the National Cemetery. Then you will enter “Preservation and Progress” which talks about how the community of Gettysburg has evolved to balance preservation and tourism so visitors will never forget what gaining freedom for everyone in this country cost.
The last room, “The Recent Past”, covers details about President Eisenhower who ended up buying property and moving here with his wife and a local POW camp during World War 2. It also talks about other recent presidents that have visited the area.
Nearby Attractions:
For ideas of places to visit in and around Gettysburg, check out these stops.
Attractions Around Gettysburg:
Attractions Near Gettysburg:
- Berkeley Springs State Park
- Hershey Park and Chocolate World
- Flight 93 Memorial
- Harper’s Ferry National Park
Dog-friendly Attractions near Gettysburg:
- Gettysburg National Park
- Harper’s Ferry National Park
- Monongahela Forest (areas like Seneca Rocks or Cranberry Glades Botanical Area)
- Trans- Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Why You Should Visit:
Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum was one of my favorite museums in all of Gettysburg! It opened in the spring of 2023 and does a fantastic job going over the entire history of the area with a special focus on the Civil War. The exhibits are made up of a nice mix of audio, visual, and interactive parts. This was important because you are still able to get the main pieces of information in each area even if you don’t want to read the signs. Even if you aren’t interested in anything other than the Civil War, you should visit just for the “Caught in the Crossfire Experience”. This 4d experience gives you a front-row seat into what it would have been like living in town when the battle of Gettysburg brought the fighting outside their doors. This exhibit was everyone’s favorite in our group on this trip!
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