Gettysburg, PA – Gettysburg National Military Park launches its annual winter programming in January 2026 with family-friendly Reading Adventures and a Winter Lecture Series. These programs take place in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. The events are free and open to the public.
“We are thrilled to announce this lecture series and family-friendly programming in partnership with the National Park Service,” said Jackie Spainhour, president and CEO of the Gettysburg Foundation. “During the America250 commemoration year, these programs offer opportunities for visitors of all ages to reflect on their roles in preserving our nation’s history.”
The 2026 lectures feature presentations by National Park Service rangers, historians and authors from across the country. One-hour lectures are held Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 10. Free tickets are available in person on the day of each lecture. Seating in the theater is first-come, first-served.
Lecture topics explore a wide range of Civil War themes, including the ideals of 1776 versus the realities of 1861; stories of Union and Confederate prisoners of war captured at Gettysburg; the experiences of residents in the National Capital Region; international diplomacy during the war; the history of Gettysburg National Cemetery; and personal stories connected to artifacts preserved today.
The final lecture in the series takes place Saturday, March 8, 2026, and features a unique audiovisual experience. Historian and musician Tyone Cornbower will narrate original slides projected with an 1890s stereopticon, accompanied by music performed by his wife, Sue, on an 1880s portable parlor organ.
The History Kids Reading Adventures Club, designed for children ages 4 to 10, features the “250 Years of Change-Makers” in recognition of the America250 commemoration. These sessions include book readings led by a park educator and hands-on activities. Programs take place Saturdays at 11 a.m. through February 28 in the theater.
For ages 7 to 12, the Time Travelers Reading Adventures Club focuses on the young adult Civil War novel, Charley Skedaddle, by Patricia Beatty. Participants meet on Saturdays in March at 11 a.m. in the Ford Education Room to read aloud and take part in activities. Activities include a library research project and behind-the-scenes experience learning about the care of Civil War artifacts and historical buildings.
Details and Updates
For more information on the winter programming in 2026 at Gettysburg National Military Park, including inclement weather or other updates, visit nps.gov/gett or GettysburgFoundation.org.
For those unable to attend the lecture series in person, each presentation will be recorded and shared on the Gettysburg Foundation YouTube channel in the weeks following the lectures.
The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center is located at 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg. For the complete listing of programs and events, visit GettysburgFoundation.org.
GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK preserves, protects and interprets for this and future generations the resources associated with the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War, the Gettysburg National Cemetery and their commemorations. To learn more about Gettysburg National Military Park, visit nps.gov/gett.
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 to join the Friends of Gettysburg as a member in support of the Gettysburg Foundation’s preservation and education mission in partnership with the National Parks 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.