Gettysburg, PA — Gettysburg Foundation invites families and the local community to Family Day at Spangler on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event kicks off a series of fall programs at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, offering opportunities to explore the historic site through living history, demonstrations, guided tours and special evening programs.
Fall at a Glance
From Sept. 12 through Oct. 24, visitors can experience two free Family Days, guided tours and special Evening Programs at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital.
Family Day at Spangler | Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m. –3 p.m.
Family Day activities will include:
- Living historians from the 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery, 2nd United States Sharpshooters and Of the People Living History Association.
- Non-firing artillery and small arms demonstrations.
- Historic barn preservation presentations with Historic Gettysburg Adams County.
- Historic wool textile making with Danza Antiqua, a local living history organization.
- Free ice cream from Cone Sweet Cone, while supplies last.
- Tours of the site with National Park Service Ranger Dan Welch at 11 a.m. and author Ron Kirkwood at 1:15 p.m.
Once a thriving family farm, the property became a Union Army field hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg, where more than 1,900 wounded soldiers received care. Today, the 80-acre historic site preserves the history of the Spangler family, soldiers and medical personnel who lived and worked there, and the experiences of those affected by the battle.
The George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital is located at 488 Blacksmith Shop Road, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Family Day visitors may drive directly to the property; limited on-site parking is available. No tickets or reservations are required.
Guided Tours | Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25–26
Guided Tours at George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital will be offered Sept. 25–26 at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. These in-depth tours explore the history of the site and the individuals connected to it. Timed shuttle and admission tickets are required, with shuttles departing from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center at 9:40 a.m. and 1:10 p.m.
Evening Programs are offered on select Fridays and provide opportunities to explore additional stories connected to the Civil War, Civil War medicine, the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital and the people whose lives were affected by the Battle of Gettysburg. Tickets are required in advance, and on-site parking is available for ticket holders.
Clara Barton & The Missing Soldiers Office | Friday, Sept. 25, 6–8 p.m.
Madeleine Thompson, Site Manager of the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum, will explore Barton’s Civil War career, her work at the Missing Soldiers Office and her humanitarian legacy.
Fall Family Day at Spangler | Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Families and the local community can enjoy Fall Family Day the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital. The free event will feature demonstrations, hands-on activities and living historians.
Activities will include:
- Living historians of the Blue & Gray Hospital Association, Officers for the Union & Ladies for the Union, Patriot Daughters of Lancaster and Battery B, 1st Rhode Island Artillery.
- Non-firing artillery demonstrations.
- Historic barn preservation presentations with Historic Gettysburg Adams County.
- Free ice cream from Cone Sweet Cone, while supplies last.
At both Family Day events, visitors can explore the historic grounds, including the barn and summer kitchen, and interact with living historians while learning about the people and experiences connected to the George Spangler Farm during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Evening Program | Friday, Oct. 16, 6–8 p.m.
“The Fog of War at Gettysburg”: Leadership in a Time of Crisis
Historian and Licensed Battlefield Guide Rob Abbott will examine how uncertainty, communication and decision-making affected Union and Confederate commanders during the Battle of Gettysburg, using Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz’s concept of the “fog of war” as a framework.
Tickets are required in advance, and ticket holders may drive directly to the property where on-site parking is available.
Guided Tours | Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23–24
Guided Tours at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital will be offered at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Timed shuttle and admission tickets are required, with shuttles departing from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center at 9:40 a.m. and 1:10 p.m.
From free Family Days to in-depth guided tours and evening programs, fall programming offers visitors multiple ways to discover the history preserved at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital.
Outdoor programming is dependent on favorable weather conditions and may be subject to change without notice. Updates to programming will be posted at GettysburgFoundation.org and the Gettysburg Foundation’s social media channels.
GETTYSBURG FOUNDATION is a 501(c)(3) non-profit philanthropic, educational organization operating in partnership with the National Park Service to preserve Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site and educate the public about their significance. The Foundation operates the Museum & Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park, as well as the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, Children of Gettysburg 1863® and the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad StationTM. The Foundation offers customized professional leadership development on the Gettysburg battlefield through its Higher Ground Leadership at Gettysburg programming. For information about visiting Gettysburg or how you can become a Friends of Gettysburg member in support of the Gettysburg Foundation’s preservation and education mission in partnership with the National Park Service at Gettysburg, visit GettysburgFoundation.org or call 877-874-2478. Proceeds from tickets and other purchases in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center and donations to the Gettysburg Foundation benefit Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site.