Gettysburg

Gettysburg is a borough in Adams County, Pennsylvania, best known as the site of the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 during the American Civil War.

Gettysburg is a borough in Adams County, Pennsylvania, best known as the site of the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 during the American Civil War. The battle is widely regarded as a turning point in the war, and Gettysburg later became closely associated with Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and the preserved battlefield landscape.

History

Gettysburg was founded in 1786 and named for James Gettys, an early settler and tavern owner. The Borough of Gettysburg was incorporated in 1806. It grew from an early settlement into a town later defined internationally by the Civil War battle fought there.

Battle of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg took place from July 1 to 3, 1863, and ended in a Union victory after three days of intense fighting. The battle resulted in more than 50,000 combined casualties and is commonly described as the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. It is widely treated as the turning point of the American Civil War because it halted Robert E. Lee’s invasion of the North.

Gettysburg Address

On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln spoke at the dedication of Gettysburg National Cemetery. His Gettysburg Address later became one of the most famous speeches in U.S. history.

Preservation and memorialization

Concern over preserving the battlefield led to the creation of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association in 1864. The land was transferred to the federal government in 1895 and later designated as Gettysburg National Military Park.