United States | Washington, D.C.
Gettysburg was perhaps the most important (and is almost certainly the best-known) battle of the Civil War, due to its strategic importance, brutality (approximately 50,000 casualties), and the Gettysburg Address (Abraham Lincoln’s speech to dedicate the military cemetery about four months after the battle). Gettysburg marked the end of the Army of Northern Virginia’s last offensive and is generally considered the turning point of the war. It’s also one of the best national historic battlefields in the National Park system and a beautiful spot in the rolling hills of southern Pennsylvania. And it’s only about an hour and a half from DC.
While you can see the battlefield yourself, we highly recommend hiring a guide through the Gettysburg Foundation. Your guide will drive your car around the battlefield, showing you the sights, explaining the history, and answering your questions.