Shriver House Museum Gettysburg, PA

Interpreting the Civil War

2011-11-16T07:16:00.000-08:00

We recently came across a blog posting regarding the Shriver House Museum. I think you will all enjoy reading it as we have all been on many house tours. Just follow the link.

http://www.civilwarconnect.com/2011/08/house-where-people-lived-schriver-house.html

Holiday Tour of the Shriver House

2011-11-11T11:57:00.000-08:00

You are cordially invited to take a candlelight tour of the Shriver House Museum decorated for an 1860s Christmas, while hearing the story of the Shriver family and how the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War changed their lives forever. Private tours for groups of ten or more are welcome anytime throughout the holiday season; reservations are required.

Take a step back in time to discover how Christmas was celebrated in the mid-1800s. Enter the 19th century home of George, Hettie, Sadie (7), and Mollie (5) Shriver as they prepare for the upcoming Christmas holidays. See the candle-laden Christmas tree in its place of honor on the parlor table as a fire roars in the fireplace of the handsome room decorated with hand-made holiday greenery. After hanging stockings on the mantle, the girls set out milk and cookies in anticipation of a visit from Santa Claus on that magical night. While soldiers faced the perils of the Civil War, Christmas offered a few moments of cheer that would help brighten the lives of those at home. Learn how families celebrated the holidays while fathers, sons, and husbands were separated from loved ones during this tragic time in American history.

Candlelight Christmas tours will begin on Thanksgiving evening, November 24th and continue Saturday evenings through December 17, 2011.

For additional information on the Shriver House Museum or to make reservations for a Christmas tour, please call 717-337-2800 or visit www.shriverhouse.org.

A Headstone for Sadie Shriver

2011-10-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

Grave to be marked 137 years after young girl’s death.

Gettysburg, PA –
Sadie Shriver was only seven years old when she witnessed the Battle of Gettysburg from her grandparents farm which sits at the bottom of the hills known as Big and Little Round Top. Eleven years later, two weeks shy of her nineteenth birthday, Sadie died of consumption (today called tuberculosis) and was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetary. For reasons unknown no marker was ever placed on the grave of the young girl who was an eyewitness to one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.

In 1860 Sadie’s father, George Shriver, sold his farm south of Gettysburg to build a new home on Baltimore Street for his growing family. George and his wife, Hettie (Weikert), had two young daughters; Sadie was five years old at the time, while Mollie was just three. Their home was large enough to accommodate George’s new business: Shriver’s Saloon & Ten-Pin Alley. Just three short years later the town of Gettysburg was invaded by General Lee’s Confederate army. The Shrivers’ home was taken over by Rebel sharpshooters when Hettie took her girls to seek refuge at her family’s farm three miles south of town. Hettie had no idea she was taking her girls from the frying pan into the fire. When the terror of the conflict ended, Hettie and her family helped tend to the wounds of some of the close to 1000 seriously wounded soldiers left at the farm. At one point the pile of amputated arms and legs was higher than the garden fence. Sounds and images that would certainly leave an indelibe impression any adult, let alone a seven year old child.

On Sadie’s birthday, November 20th, at 10:30 am, 137 years after her death, a headstone will be placed on Sadie’s grave to commemorate the life of one young girl who called Gettysburg home in 1863. Meet at the Shriver House Museum at 10 am to follow Hettie and Mollie to Evergreen Cemetery for the dedication. After the ceremony refreshments will be served at the Shriver House Museum.

The Shrivers’ home was painstakingly restored in 1996 and is now open to the public as a heritage museum. Tours offers special insight into the lives of the people of Gettysburg and how the Civil War, and in particular the Battle of Gettysburg, affected them. The story is told through the eyes of Shriver family who built their home just months before the Civil War began. The tour also gives a glimpse into the lifestyles, customs, and furnishings of the 1860s.

For additional information on the Shriver House Museum, please call 717-337-2800 or visit www.shriverhouse.org.

Event: A Headstone For Sadie Shriver Contact: Nancie W. Gudmestad,

Sponsor: Shriver House Museum Director

309 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 Phone #: 717-337-2800

Date: Sunday, November 20, 2011 Web site: www.shriverhouse.org

Time: 10:30 am Email: mail@shriverhouse.org

Location: Evergreen Cemetary

799 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325

Admission: Free

Book Signing at National Park Bookstore

2011-10-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

Gettysburg, PA – Gettysburg author Nancie W. Gudmestad will sign copies of her book, The Shrivers’ Story - Eyewitnesses to the Battle of Gettysburg, on Sunday and Monday, October 9 & 10 at the Gettysburg National Military Park’s Museum Bookstore from 10 to 2 pm.

The Director of the Shriver House Museum, Nancie, along with her husband, Del, restored the Shriver’s home in 1996. Though the battle has been chronicled from almost every point of view, the history of what happened here is more than just the story of large-scale troop movements and military maneuvers. It is the story of individuals who left their families to serve their country, soldiers like George Shriver, and the families they left behind, civilians like Hettie, Sadie and Mollie Shriver. Their lives - soldiers and civilians alike - were forever changed as a result of the events that occurred on the rolling hills of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1863.

The story of the Shriver family was not well-known until the house George Shriver built on Baltimore Street, which sat abandoned for nearly 30 years, was painstakingly restored to its original 1860s appearance. Today, the Shrivers’ story is one of the most intriguing stories told when it comes to the civilian aspect of the Battle of Gettysburg. In the summer of 1860, when George was 24 years old, he sold off his family farm in order to build a new home in town. He had married Hettie, a daughter of Jacob Weikert who had a large farm on Taneytown Road, and they had two young daughters, Sadie (5) and Mollie (3). Their sizable new home was large enough to accommodate George’s business: Shriver’s Saloon and Ten-Pin Alley. The saloon was located in the cellar and a two-lane, ten-pin bowling alley was situated in the backyard. The Battle of Gettysburg encompassed not only the surrounding countryside but the streets of this historic town as well. The Shrivers’ home was taken over by Confederate sharpshooters during the battle; eyewitnesses confirm at least two soldiers were killed inside the house which was also used as a hospital.

The Shrivers’ Story - Eyewitnesses to the Battle of Gettysburg details the lives of the Shriver family. It also describes how the museum came to be as well as how the fascinating, yet largely unknown, story of the Shriver family was pieced together over a several year period.

For additional information on the Shriver House Museum, please call 717-337-2800 or visit www.shriverhouse.org.

Celebrating George Shriver's 175th Birthday

2011-07-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

Free tours to those with a Gettysburg Address

Gettysburg, PA – The Shriver House Museum invites you to celebrate George Washington Shriver’s 175th birthday at his home on Baltimore Street in Gettysburg on Wednesday, July 27th. The celebration includes a complimentary tour of George Shriver’s home as well as birthday cake and pink lemonade for anyone with a Gettysburg address. For those without a Gettysburg address, look for the secret password available to those who ‘like’ the Shriver House Museum on Facebook. Thirty minute guided tours of the Shriver’s home will begin every half-hour starting at 10 am; the last tour will start at 4:30 pm. Space is limited to twenty visitors per tour.

George’s grandfather, Lewis P. Shriver, purchased several hundred acres of farmland from the ‘Manor of the Maske’ which was owned by the sons of William Penn. The farm was situated in the area south of Gettysburg known as Greenmount. The beautiful stone farmhouse where George was born on July 27, 1836 still stands today as testimony to one of the original families to settle in Adams County in the 1700s.

The story of George Shriver was not well known until 1996 when the house he built on Baltimore Street, which sat abandoned for nearly thirty years, was painstakingly restored to its original 1860s appearance. Today the Shrivers’ story is one of the most intriguing stories told when it comes to the civilian aspect of the Battle of Gettysburg. In the summer of 1860, when George was 24 years old, he sold off the family farm in order to build a new home in town. He had married Hettie, a daughter of Jacob Weikert who had a large farm on Taneytown Road, and they had two young daughters, Sadie (5) and Mollie (3). Their sizable new home was large enough to accommodate George’s new business: Shriver’s Saloon and Ten-Pin Alley. The saloon was located in the cellar and a two-lane, ten-pin bowling alley was situated in the back yard. The Battle of Gettysburg encompassed not only the surrounding countryside but the streets of this historic town as well. The Shrivers’ home was taken over by Confederate sharpshooters during the battle; eyewitnesses confirm at least two soldiers were killed inside the house which was used as a hospital as well.

The Shrivers’ home was painstakingly restored in 1996 and is now open to the public as a heritage museum. Tours offer a special insight into the lives of the people of Gettysburg and how the Civil War, and in particular the Battle of Gettysburg, affected them. The story is told through the eyes of George and Hettie Shriver whose home was just several months old when the war began. The tour gives a glimpse into the lifestyles, customs, and furnishings of the 1860s.
For additional information on the Shriver House Museum, please call 717-337-2800 or visit www.shriverhouse.org.

# # #
Event: George Shriver’s 175th Birthday Celebration Contact: Nancie W. Gudmestad,
Address: Shriver House Museum Director
309 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 Phone #: 717-337-2800
Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 Web site: www.shriverhouse.org
Time: 10 am - 5 pm; Tours begin every 30 minutes; Email: mail@shriverhouse.org
Space is limited. Photo: George W. Shriver (attached) Admission: Free tours to those with a Gettysburg address or the secret word available to those who ‘like’ the Shriver House Museum on Facebook

A Civil War museum dedicated to the civilian experience at Gettysburg.

Shriver House Reenactment July 2, 2011

2011-06-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

CONFEDERATES TAKE THE SHRIVER HOUSE - TWO KILLED!

Witness the only reenactment to take place in the streets of Gettysburg!

Gettysburg, PA – Confederate sharpshooters will fire their rifles from the attic window of George and Hettie Shriver’s Baltimore Street home on Saturday, July 2, 2011, from 5 to 9 pm, just as they did 147 years ago during the Battle of Gettysburg. This time, however, visitors are invited to join the Rebels to learn “first-hand” what occurred during those three days of terror in July, 1863.

This living history reenactment provides visitors an opportunity to understand what the battle was like for one family who called Gettysburg ‘home’ in 1863. When soldiers appeared in the street in front of her home, Hettie Shriver took her two girls, Sadie (7) and Mollie (5), and her young neighbor, Tillie Pierce, to seek safety outside town only to find themselves deep within the battle lines. Her abandoned home was taken over by Confederate sharpshooters who used the attic as a sharpshooters nest. Visitors will get a chance to speak with Confederate soldiers as they prepare for battle, watch sharpshooters fire muskets from the attic at their adversaries on Cemetery Hill and, in some cases, take their last breath before meeting their maker. Doctors will perform surgery on wounded soldiers in a make-shift hospital in the summer kitchen in the cellar.

At the end of the tour cool off with a root beer in Shriver’s Saloon while younger visitors have a nurse bandage their wounds (a small spurt of blood on the bandage helps make the injury look more realistic) or make whirligigs to take along as a memento of your visit.

The Battle of Gettysburg encompassed not only the surrounding countryside but the streets of this historic town as well. This is the only reenactment to take place in the streets of Gettysburg – in the attic where it truly happened in July, 1863!

The Shrivers’ home was painstakingly restored in 1996 and is now open to the public as a heritage museum. Tours offers special insight into the lives of the people of Gettysburg and how the Civil War, and in particular the Battle of Gettysburg, affected them. The story is told through the eyes of George and Hettie Shriver whose home was merely several months old when the war began. The tour gives a glimpse into the lifestyles, customs, and furnishings of the 1860s.

For additional information on the Shriver House Museum, please call 717-337-2800 or visit www.shriverhouse.org.

# # #

Event: Confederates Take the Shriver House! Contact: Nancie W. Gudmestad,

Address: Shriver House Museum Director

309 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 Phone #: 717-337-2800

Date: Saturday, July 2, 2011 Web site: www.shriverhouse.org

Time: 5 - 9 pm Email: mail@shriverhouse.org

Admission: $10/adult; $7 children 12/under Video:

http://youtu.be/yzabTbM0G0o

A Civil War museum dedicated to the civilian experience at Gettysburg

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Candlelight Holiday Tour of the Shriver House

2010-10-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

You are cordially invited to take a candlelight tour of the Historic Shriver House, 309 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg, decorated for an 1860's Christmas while hearing the story of the Shriver family and how the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War changed their lives forever. Christmas tours will take place from November 26th through December 18th. Private tours for groups of ten or more are welcome anytime throughout the holiday season; reservations are required.

Take a step back in time to discover how Christmas was celebrated in the mid-1800s. Enter the 19th century home of George, Hettie, Sadie (7), and Molly (5) Shriver as they prepare for the upcoming Christmas holidays. See the candle-laden Chrismas tree in its place of honor on the parlor table as a fire roars in the fireplace of the handsome room decorated with hand-made holiday greenery. After hanging stockings on the mantle, the girls set out milk and cookies in anticipation of a visit from Santa Claus on that magical night. While soldiers faced the perils of the Civil War, Christmas offered a few moments of cheer that would help brighten the lives of those at home. Learn how families celebrated the holidays while fathers, sons, and husbands were separated from loved ones during this tragic time in American history.

The Shriver House Museum has earned numerous awards including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Historic Preservation Award. The Museum has been used as a filming site for PBS, The Discovery Channel,A&E, HGTV, CNN, BBC, The Travel Channel and The History Channel.

Admission: $10/adults; $7/ages 6-12

For additional information on the Shriver House Museum or to make reservations for a Christmas tour, please call 717-337-2800 or visit

www.shriverhouse.org

Shriver House Videos Now On-Line

2010-08-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Shriver House Museum has now released videos of this years reenactment. The addition of the sound system and expanded cast made this years reenactment the best ever. We hope you enjoy. Just follow the links.

Photos: http://www.shriverhouse.org/Reenactment_2010.html

Videos: http://www.shriverhouse.org/Shriver_House_Reenactment_2010.html

Confederates Take The Shriver House 2010

2010-05-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

Gettysburg , PA – On Saturday, July 3, 2010 , from 5 to 9 pm , Confederates will occupy the home of George and Hettie (Weikert) Shriver just as they did during the Battle of Gettysburg. This time visitors are invited to talk to the soldiers to learn “first-hand” what occurred during those three days of terror in July, 1863. Hear how Hettie took her two girls, Sadie (7) and Mollie (5), and her fifteen-year-old neighbor, Tillie Pierce, to seek safety outside town only to find themselves deep within the battle lines.

This living history presentation provides visitors an opportunity to speak with Confederate soldiers as they prepare for battle. Watch the sharpshooters as they occupy the attic, fire muskets at their enemy on Cemetery Hill and, in some cases, take their last breath before meeting their maker. A make-shift hospital in the summer kitchen is manned by doctors and civilians who stepped up to assist in the aftermath. Children can have their "wounds" bandaged or make period toys such as whirli-gigs or church dolls. At the conclusion of the tour, cool off with a root beer in Shriver's Saloon with some of the Confederates and "local citizens" of the time who have their own harrowing stories to share.

Visitors can also see Civil War medical supplies, live cartridges, and much more, discovered during the restoration of the Shrivers home - 133 years after the fighting ended.

The Shriver's home was painstakingly restored in 1996 and is now open to the public as a heritage museum. Tours offers special insight into the lives of the people of Gettysburg and how the Civil War, and in particular the Battle of Gettysburg, affected them. The story is told through the eyes of the George and Hettie Shriver whose home was just a few months old when the Civil War started. The tour also gives a glimpse into the lifestyles, customs, and furnishings of the 1860’s.

The Shriver House Museum has earned numerous awards including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Historic Preservation Award. The Museum has been used as a filming site for PBS, A&E, HGTV, BBC , CNN, The History Channel, The Travel Channel and The Discovery Channel and has been selected as stop on the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails program.

For additional information on the Shriver House Museum, please call 717-337-2800

View highlights of last years reenactment at http://www.shriverhouse.org/Videos.html

Event: Confederates Take the Shriver House

Contact: Nancie W. Gudmestad, Director

Address: Shriver House Museum

309 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325

Phone #: 717-337-2800

Date: Saturday, July 3, 2010

Time: 5 - 9 pm

Admission: $10/adult; $7 children 12/under

Email: mail@shriverhouse.org

New Roof for the Shriver House

2010-03-02T07:01:00.000-08:00

Finally, the Shriver House is about to get a much needed new roof! If you have visited the museum during a rain storm and you noticed the strategically place buckets in the garret then you know we have had our share of problems with the roof. We have patched it repeatedly with little to no success. That is all about to change. We would like to thank the many visitors who have made contributions and donations to the museum for its continued operation, maintenance and repair. Without your support this project would not have been possible at this time. Again, Thank You!

Shriver House On-Line Museum Shop Now Open

2010-02-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

The Shriver House Museum is pleased to announce the opening of its on-line store featuring Gettysburg and Civil War related items.

Beautiful prints by nationally-recognized artist Heide Presse depict Sadie and Mollie Shriver sharing tea in their bedroom and playing in the garden. Renowned portrait artist, Amy Lindenberger, who works in colored pencil, has produced a wonderful series of card and prints on the Shriver family.

Broken-china jewelry (some made of Blue Willow), Victorian “bling”, post cards, candles, Christmas ornaments, tavern puzzles and more will ensure you find just the right keepsake.

Our book selection focuses not on the fighting at Gettysburg but on the civilian aspects of the battle. Our most popular books are The Shriver's Story - Eyewitnesses to the Battle of Gettysburg and What A Girl Saw and Heard of the Battle by Tillie Pierce. We carry several first-hand accounts of the conflict by local citizens in addition to a variety of books describing the aftermath and efforts to clean up after the battle. Other topics range from Victorian etiquette to clothing, toys, herbs and laundry practices of the period.

The Museum shop offers a variety of artwork, toys, cards, books, and more. Your purchases help support the continued preservation and operation of the Shriver House Museum. New items are added all the time.

http://www.shriverhouse.org/Museum_Shop.html

Candlelight Christmas Tour of Shriver House, Gettysburg

2009-10-28T10:11:00.000-07:00

Take a step back in time to discover how Christmas was celebrated in the mid-1800s. Enter the 19th century home of George, Hettie, Sadie (7), and Molly (5) Shriver as they prepare for the upcoming Christmas holidays. See the candle-laden Chrismas tree in its place of honor on the parlor table as a fire roars in the fireplace of the handsome room decorated with hand-made holiday greenery. After hanging stockings on the mantle, the girls set out milk and cookies in anticipation of a visit from Santa Claus on that magical night. While soldiers faced the perils of the Civil War, Christmas offered a few moments of cheer that would help brighten the lives of those at home. Learn how families celebrated the holidays while fathers, sons, and husbands were separated from loved ones during this tragic time in American history.

The Shriver House Museum has earned numerous awards including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Historic Preservation Award. The Museum has been used as a filming site for PBS, The Discovery Channel,A&E, HGTV, CNN, BBC, The Travel Channel and The History Channel.

Admission: $10/adults; $7/ages 6-12

For reservations or more information call (717) 337-2800 or email us at mail@shriverhouse.org

http://www.shriverhouse.org/

Shriver House Museum Reenactment 2009

2009-06-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

CONFEDERATES TAKE THE SHRIVER HOUSE - TWO KILLED!
The only reenactment to take place in the streets of Gettysburg!

Gettysburg , PA – On Saturday, July 4, 2009 , from 5 to 9 pm , Confederates will occupy the home of George and Hettie (Weikert) Shriver just as they did during the Battle of Gettysburg. This time visitors are invited to talk to the soldiers to learn “first-hand” what occurred during those three days of terror in July, 1863. Hear how Hettie took her two girls, Sadie (7) and Mollie (5), and her fifteen-year-old neighbor, Tillie Pierce, to seek safety outside town only to find themselves deep within the battle lines.

This living history presentation provides visitors an opportunity to speak with Confederate soldiers as they prepare for battle. Watch the sharpshooters as they occupy the attic, fire muskets at their enemy on Cemetery Hill and, in some cases, take their last breath before meeting their maker. Visitors can also see where Civil War medical supplies and live cartridges were discovered during the restoration of the Shriver's home 133 years after the fighting ended. After visiting the make-shift hospital in the summer kitchen, visitors can share a root beer with the soldiers in Shriver’s Saloon and meet some of Gettysburg ’s “local” citizens who also have harrowing stories to share. The Battle of Gettysburg encompassed not only the surrounding countryside but the streets of this historic town as well. This is the only reenactment to take place in the streets of Gettysburg - where it actually happened in July, 1863!

The Shriver's home was painstakingly restored in 1996 and is now open to the public as a heritage museum. Tours offers special insight into the lives of the people of Gettysburg and how the Civil War, and in particular the Battle of Gettysburg, affected them. The story is told through the eyes of the George and Hettie Shriver whose home was just a few months old when the Civil War started. The tour also gives a glimpse into the lifestyles, customs, and furnishings of the 1860’s.

The Shriver House Museum has earned numerous awards including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Historic Preservation Award. The Museum has been used as a filming site for PBS, A&E, HGTV, BBC , CNN, The History Channel, The Travel Channel and The Discovery Channel and has been selected as stop on the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails program.

For additional information on the Shriver House Museum, please call 717-337-2800 or visit http://www.shriverhouse.org/shriver_house_reenactment_2009.htm

Event: Confederates Take the Shriver House

Contact: Nancie W. Gudmestad, Director
Address: Shriver House Museum
309 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone #: 717-337-2800
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2009
Time: 5 - 9 pm
Admission: $10/adult; $7 children 12/under
Email: mail@shriverhouse.org

2009 Gettysburg Festival and Fringe Festival

2009-04-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

Often referred to as a town located at the crossroads of history, Gettysburg is now poised at a cultural crossroads. This summer, the Festival offers more than 800 artists and performers for 100 spectacular events, more than half of which are free and open to the public. From America’s best in brass to jazz legend Ahmad Jamal, you don’t have to travel half way around the world to find great music, arts and culture. For ten days in June, it’s right here in Gettysburg, where you’ll discover a side of us you might not know. Our civil side.

Shriver House Restoration Tour Part of Fringe Festival

An Inside Look at the Restoration of a Historic Home in Gettysburg

Walking into the Shriver House Museum today is to take a step back in time to see what life was like in 1860’s Gettysburg . The Shriver House Museum Restoration Tour will tell the story of how the Museum came to be and what it took to restore the home of George and Hettie Shriver to its 1860’s appearance - saloon and all.

The Shriver House Museum Restoration Tour is part of The Gettysburg Fringe Festival complementing The Gettysburg Festival - Celebrating America’s Cultural Arts which runs from June 18-28, 2009 .

The Shriver House Museum is a two-story brick house built just months before the Civil War began with a saloon in the cellar and a bowling alley in the back yard. Nearly 136 years later, the house had missing window panes, no electricity, water or heat and a serious leak in the roof. At one time, thirty cats lived in the house which had been abandoned for nearly thirty years. The house was restored, down to the smallest detail, to be used as a backdrop to tell the stories of the civilian side of the Battle of Gettysburg. While the house was undergoing a major restoration, many questions arose. Who built the house? What was the owner’s occupation? What happened to the residents during the battle? It was difficult to find information about the house or its original owners, but after countless hours of research, George and Hettie Shriver’s story gradually began to unfold.

Restoring the house began in January, 1996. That winter brought record-breaking low temperatures, more than a hundred inches of snow and two major floods which made national news. The work was a grubby, back-breaking, eight-to-ten-hour-a-day, six-day-a-week undertaking; but, it was definitely a labor of love. The rewards, however, far outweighed the obstacles because each day brought about new discoveries. Research revealed Confederates commandeered the house during the Battle of Gettysburg establishing a sharpshooters’ nest in the attic. More than 140 years after the conflict, CSI investigators confirmed the presence of blood residue where eyewitnesses described at least two soldiers were killed. Hundreds of artifacts were discovered during the restoration - live Civil War cartridges, percussion caps, medical supplies, and much, much more!

The Shriver House Museum has earned numerous awards including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Historic Preservation Award and has been used as a filming site for PBS, A&E, HGTV, CNN, BBC , The History Channel, The Discovery Channel and The Travel Channel.

Restoration tours will be conducted at 5 pm , Monday through Friday, June 22-26 ($10/adults; $7/ages 6-12). For additional information or to make reservations please call 717-337-2800 or visit http://www.shriverhouse.org/. For a complete listing of events associated with The Gettysburg Fringe Festival and The Gettysburg Festival, visit http://www.gettysburgfestival.org/.

Museum to Open in Honor of Barack Obama’s Inauguaration

2009-01-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

Shriver House To Open Inauguration Weekend

Gettysburg, PA – In honor of the presidential inauguration, the Shriver House Museum will be open on Saturday and Sunday, January 17 and 18, 2009.

The Shriver House Museum tells the true story of one family who called Gettysburg “home” in 1863 and how the Civil War dramatically changed the Shrivers’ lives forever. The story of George and Hettie Shriver, although certainly fascinating and unique in its own way, is more typical of the average Gettysburg citizen’s, and by extension, provides a fuller picture of the overall civilian experience itself. The Shrivers’ were a young family with hopes and dreams common to most young families then and now. They dreamed of peace and prosperity, of a safe place in which to raise their family, and for success in their economic endeavors. But the Shrivers’ expectations were abruptly interrupted by the coming of the Civil War and by one of the most significant battles of that war. Afterwards, the world as they knew it would never be quite the same. The Shrivers’ story is the story of a house and a home, of family and friends, of expectant dreams and intruding realities, of citizens in a time of peace and civilians in a time of war. The dramatic and moving story of George and Hettie Shriver and their daughters, Sadie (7) and Mollie (5), describes their experiences during the Civil War, and more specifically, the Battle of Gettysburg.

Very little was known about the Shriver family prior to the award-winning restoration of their home in 1996. To enter the Shrivers’ home today is to step back in time. Those who walk through all four levels of the house - from cellar to attic and some seven rooms in-between - are able to visualize what life was like back in mid-1800, south-central Pennsylvania. From the time George and Hettie built their dream home in 1860, six families have called this house their home. But how many people have walked these same floors and climbed these same stairs without knowing the story of the young family who built this house and the history that took place within these walls?

The Shriver House Museum was painstakingly restored in 1996 and since then has been open to the public as a heritage museum. Tours, narrated by docents in period attire, offer special insight into the lives of the people of Gettysburg and how the Civil War, and in particular the Battle of Gettysburg, affected them. The Museum has earned numerous awards including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Historic Preservation Award and has been used as a filming site by PBS, A&E, HGTV, BBC, CNN, The History Channel, The Travel Channel, and The Discovery Channel. The Museum is proud to be included as a site in the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails program.

For more information contact:

mail@shriverhouse.org

Restoration Tour in conjunction with David Wills House Grand Opening, Gettysburg, PA

2008-12-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

Shriver House Restoration Tour
Tour Will Give An Inside Look at the Restoration of a Historic Home in Gettysburg.

Gettysburg, PA – After a major restoration and in honor of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday on February 12, 2009, the David Wills House in downtown Gettysburg will celebrate its Grand Opening, offering visitors a world-class museum experiences that tells the story of Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. In honor of the restoration of the Wills House, the Shriver House Museum is offering restoration tours the Shrivers’ home at 7 pm on Friday and Saturday, February 13 and 14, 2009.

Located just a few blocks south of the Wills House, the Shriver House Museum was restored in 1996. The two-story brick house was built just months before the Civil War began but 136 years later, the house had missing window panes, no electricity, no water, no heat and a serious leak in the roof. At one time nearly thirty cats lived in the abandoned house. The house was restored to be used as a backdrop to tell the stories of the civilian side of the Battle of Gettysburg.

While the house was undergoing a major restoration, many questions arose. Who built the house? What was the owner’s occupation? And what happened to the residents of the house during the battle? It was difficult to find anyone who knew much information about the house or its original owners, but after countless hours of arduous research, George and Hettie Shriver’s story gradually began to unfold.

Restoring the house began on January 2, 1996. The work was a grubby, backbreaking, eight-to-ten-hour-a-day, six-day-a-week undertaking, but it was definitely a labor of love. That winter brought record breaking low temperatures, more than a hundred inches of snow and two major floods that made national news. But the rewards far outweighed the obstacles, because each day brought about new discoveries. In addition to learning more and more about the Shriver family, countless treasures were found within the house - inside walls, underneath fireplace hearths and under floorboards. Among the artifacts discovered were six Civil War cartridges, a number of percussion caps and Civil War medical supplies which had been hidden inside the house, and much, much more!

The Shriver House Museum has earned numerous awards including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Historic Preservation Award. The Museum has been used as a filming site for PBS, The Discovery Channel, A&E, HGTV, CNN, BBC, The Travel Channel and The History Channel. For additional information on the Shriver House Museum or to make reservations for a Restoration Tour, please call 717-337-2800 or visit http://www.shriverhouse.org/.

mail@shriverhouse.org

Shriver House Staff visits Rob Gibson Studio

2008-12-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

The Shriver House Museum staff recently gathered for their first formal group photograph at Gibson's Photographic Gallery in Gettysburg . It was an exciting experience to watch Rob Gibson create a photograph employing the same process used in the 1860's. The authentic camera lens Rob uses originally belonged to a Civil War photographer named Walzl. This same lens may well have been used to photograph Jefferson Davis, John Mosby and the Confederate capital. Gibson's methods are authentic and true to the art as well. “We try to make the entire process as authentic as possible . . . we are sticklers for authenticity” said Rob.

Rob’s photographs have appeared in the movies " Cold Mountain ," "Gods and Generals," and "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge " as well as Civil War Times, American Profile, and numerous documentaries and films. He has become widely recognized as one of the foremost experts on wet-plate photography in the world. Rob has the uncanny ability to transport his subjects through time with the magic of his artistic skills and technical knowledge of antique photography.

The next time you visit Gettysburg , stop by the Shriver House Museum to take a look at the Shriver House “family” portrait. Also plan to visit Mr. Gibson's studio on Steinwehr Avenue and learn more about this amazing process.

http://www.shriverhouse.org/
www.civilwarphotography.com/gibson/index2.html

Candlelight Christmas Tour of Shriver House Gettysburg, PA

2008-10-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

Beginning November 29th through December 20th candlelight tours of the Shriver House will be conducted each Saturday evening at 5 pm, 7 pm, and 9 pm. The Saturday evening candlelight tour costs $10/adults and $7/children 12 & under. This includes cider and holiday treats in the Museum Shop.

Groups of ten or more are welcome at any time during the holiday season with advance reservations. The cost of the tour (without cider and holiday treats) is $7.95/adults and $5.95/children 12 & under.
For reservations or more information call (717) 337-2800 or email us at mailto:mail@schriverhouse.com .

Travel Channel to visit Shriver House Museum

2008-09-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

TRAVEL CHANNEL SENDS ITS POPULAR ‘MOST HAUNTED’ SERIES TO GETTYSBURG FOR A LIVE, SEVEN-HOUR GHOST HUNT

--- MOST HAUNTED LIVE: GETTYSBURG Takes Viewers on a First-Ever Live Paranormal Investigation of One of America’s Most Haunted Towns --

( Gettysburg , Pennsylvania ) - Travel Channel is gearing up for a historic and unprecedented live television event, MOST HAUNTED LIVE: GETTYSBURG, on Friday, October 10th from 8:00PM – 3:00AM (ET/PT). This seven-hour live, interactive broadcast from Gettysburg , Pennsylvania will mark the team’s most significant U.S. investigation to date. MOST HAUNTED LIVE presenter Yvette Fielding and the rest of the team will conduct an in depth paranormal investigation at five historic locations in Gettysburg .

Fully-equipped with night-vision cameras, thermal-imaging devices and other paranormal investigation tools, the team will conduct experiments at key historical sites and buildings in an attempt to communicate with the supernatural. The chosen sites have a unique connection to the Civil War and specifically the Battle of Gettysburg, bringing the town’s rich history and numerous accounts of paranormal activity to life.

MOST HAUNTED LIVE: GETTYSBURG will be completely interactive. Along with watching the drama unfold live on television, viewers can go online to www.travelchannel.com/mosthaunted to participate in the investigation directly. During the live event, eight webcams will stream live action on the Travel Channel website. Text messages from viewers sharing personal messages, webcam sightings and other input regarding the investigation will scroll across the bottom of the screen, and psychic art, predictions of what will unfold in the investigation, can be faxed in.

For more on the series and the special seven-hour live broadcast of MOST HAUNTED LIVE: GETTYSBURG, please visit www.media.travelchannel.com

New Book Released by the Shriver House Museum

2008-07-31T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Shriver House Museum announced the release of a new book entitled The Shrivers’ Story – Eyewitnesses to the Battle of Gettysburg. It was written by the Director of the Museum, Nancie W. Gudmestad, who, along with her husband, Del, has been involved with the museum since its inception in 1996.

The Shrivers’ story is not solely that of an historic building. More importantly, it is the story of the family who called this house their home. They were a young family with hopes and dreams common to most young families then and now. They dreamed of peace and prosperity, of a safe place in which to raise their family, and for success in their economic endeavors. But the Shrivers’ expectations were abruptly interrupted by the coming of the Civil War and by one of the most significant battles of that war. Afterwards, the world as they knew it would never be quite the same. The Shrivers’ story is the story of a house and a home, of family and friends, of expectant dreams and intruding realities, of citizens in a time of peace and civilians in a time of war. The dramatic and moving story of George and Hettie Shriver and their daughters, Sadie (7) and Mollie (5), describes their experiences during the Civil War, and more specifically, the Battle of Gettysburg. In addition the book details how the Shriver House Museum originated as well as the trials and tribulations encountered during the restoration of the Shrivers’ home.

The Shriver House Museum was painstakingly restored in 1996 and since then has been open to the public as a heritage museum. Tours, narrated by docents in period attire, offer special insight into the lives of the people of Gettysburg and how the Civil War, and in particular the Battle of Gettysburg, affected them. The Museum has earned numerous awards including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Historic Preservation Award and has been used as a filming site by PBS, A&E, HGTV, BBC, CNN, The History Channel, The Travel Channel, and The Discovery Channel. The Museum is proud to be included as a site in the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails program.

For additional information on the Shriver House Museum, please call 717-337-2800 or visit http://www.shriverhouse.org/.

Shriver House Reenactment 2008

2008-06-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

Gettysburg , PA – April 25, 2008 – On Saturday, July 5, 2008 from 5 to 9 pm Confederates will occupy the home of George and Hettie (Weikert) Shriver just as they did in July, 1863. Visitors are invited to talk to the soldiers to learn “first-hand” what occurred during those three days of terror in the streets of Gettysburg . Hear how Hettie took her two girls, Sadie (7) and Mollie (5), to seek safety outside town only to find herself deep within the battle lines.
This living history presentation provides visitors an opportunity to speak with Confederate soldiers as they prepare for battle. Watch the sharpshooters as they occupy the attic, fire muskets at their enemy on Cemetery Hill and, in some cases, take their last breath before meeting their maker. Visitors can also see where Civil War medical supplies and live cartridges were discovered during the restoration of the Shrivers’ home 133 years after the fighting ended. After visiting the make-shift hospital set up in the summer kitchen at the conclusion of the tour, visitors can share a root beer with the soldiers in Shriver’s Saloon and meet some of Gettysburg ’s “local” citizens who also have harrowing stories to share. The Battle of Gettysburg encompassed not only the surrounding countryside but the streets of this historic town as well. This is the only reenactment to take place in the streets of Gettysburg .

The Shrivers’ home was painstakingly restored in 1996 and is now open to the public as a heritage museum. Tours offers special insight into the lives of the people of Gettysburg and how the Civil War, and in particular the Battle of Gettysburg, affected them. The story is told through the eyes of the George and Hettie Shriver whose home was just a few months old when the Civil War started. The tour also gives a glimpse into the lifestyles, customs, and furnishings of the 1860’s.

The Shriver House Museum has earned numerous awards including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Historic Preservation Award. The Museum has been used as a filming site for PBS, A&E, HGTV, BBC, CNN, and The History Channel. For additional information on the Shriver House Museum , please call 717-337-2800.

The Civilian Experience During the Battle of Gettysburg

2008-06-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

The civilian experience during the battle of Gettysburg
By The Travel Professor(The Travel Professor)

The Shriver House Museum is a Gettysburg attraction that interprets the unique perspective "The Civilian Experience". Costumed guides tell the story of the battle and in particular, the story of one family, the Shrivers'. ...

The Travel Professor - http://media.herald-dispatch.com/blog/travel/index.asp

Virginia Teachers Celebrate Lincoln

2008-05-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

Virginia Teachers Celebrate Lincoln

Kindergarden through fifth grade teachers from Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Caroline Counties, in Virginia visited the Shriver House Musuem during their recent visit to Gettysburg as part of a Teaching American History grant program called People and Moments in Time. Since their students learn something about Lincoln as part of each year's curriculum, these teachers decided to "dress the part"!

Shriver's Story to be Published

2008-02-28T11:01:00.000-08:00

The Shrivers’ Story
Eyewitnesses to the Battle of Gettysburg

Due to be introduced during our ninth annual “Confederates Take the Shriver House” living history program on July 5th, The Shrivers’ Story: Eyewitnesses to the Battle of Gettysburg is the true story of one family who called Gettysburg their home in 1863 and how the Civil War dramatically changed their lives forever. The story of George and Hettie Shriver, although certainly fascinating and unique in its own way, is typical of the average citizen, and by extension, reveals the harrowing civilian experience itself.

Very little was known about the Shriver family prior to the restoration of their home in 1996.
But after twelve years of researching the family, though there are still many unanswered questions, much has been learned about George and Hettie Shriver and their two children Sadie and Mollie.

To enter the Shrivers’ home today at 309 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg, is to step back in time. Those who walk through all four levels of the house - from cellar to attic and some seven rooms in-between - are able to visualize what life was like back in mid-1800, south-central Pennsylvania. So much more is now known than can be told during a thirty minute tour of their home. In response to numerous requests over the years for more information about the Shriver family, we are happy to announce the up-coming publication of The Shrivers’ Story: Eyewitnesses to the Battle of Gettysburg.

http://www.shriverhouse.org/

Gettysburg Remembrance Day Parade 2007

2007-11-27T12:53:00.001-08:00

November 17th: Thousands of spectators lined the streets of Gettysburg to view Abraham Lincoln (portrayed by Jim Gettys) make his way to the Gettysburg National Cemetery to honor the Veterans of the Civil War. Reenactors representing both the North and South marched behind Lincoln down Baltimore Street to the cemetery for the annual wreath laying ceremony and "Gettysburg Address."
As last year, the ladies, gentlemen, and children of the Shriver House Museum also participated in the parade and considered it an honor to be included.

To view photos of the parade visit http://www.shriverhouse.org/Remembrance%20day%20parade%202007.htm

Candlelight Christmas Tour of Shriver House

2007-09-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

Christmas offered a few moments of cheer that would help brighten the lives of those left at home. See how Christmas was celebrated during the Civil War while fathers, sons, and husbands were separated from their loved ones. Walk through the Shrivers’ home decorated for an 1860's Christmas and learn about holiday traditions and decorations of the period. After the tour enjoy hot cider and holiday treats in the new Museum Shop. We are delighted to have Civil War artist Amy Lindenberger who will presenting several pieces of her work. You might find just the right Christmas gift for that special someone.
Beginning November 24th through December 15th candlelight tours of the Shriver House will be conducted each Saturday evening at 5 pm, 7 pm, and 9 pm. The Saturday evening candlelight tour costs $10/adults and $7/children 12 & under. This includes cider and holiday treats in the Museum Shop.
Groups of ten or more are welcome at any time during the holiday season with advance reservations. The cost of the tour (without cider and holiday treats) is $7.95/adults and $5.95/children 12 & under.
For reservations or more information call (717) 337-2800 or email us at mailto:mail@schriverhouse.com .

Family Donates Artifacts to Shriver House Museum

2007-08-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

In 1996 a home in the historic district of Gettysburg was selected to show mid-19th century home life and to tell the Battle of Gettysburg story from the civilians’ point of view. The house that was chosen sits on Baltimore Street – just a stone’s throw from the base of Cemetery Hill. The house had been abandoned for close to thirty years and not much was known about its history except that it was built at the end of 1860, just months before the Civil War broke out.

To enter the Shriver House Museum on Baltimore Street today is to take a step back in time. Those who walk through the museum view rooms authentically furnished to the mid-1800’s and can visualize what life was like back then in south-central Pennsylvania . But the museum’s story is not solely that of an historic building.

After extensive research, the story of the family who built the house started to come to life. George and Hettie Shriver, both 24, built a beautiful, two-story brick home to accommodate their family of two young girls Sadie (5) and Mollie (3). But it was also to house George’s new business venture – Shriver’s Saloon & Ten-Pin Alley. The saloon took up the north half of the cellar and the two lane ten-pin alley was situated in a separate building behind their home.

The Adams County Historical Society, the National Archives, military records, and civilian accounts of the battle helped to piece together the story of this young family and their experiences during the battle. Unfortunately, though, no furniture, photographs, letters, or personal items belonging to the family were able to be tracked down. That is until after 6 years of telling the Shriver’s story when a great-great granddaughter was located. Anne Nemeth-Barath is a retired school teacher living in Winchester , Virginia . After numerous emails and telephone conversations, Anne and her husband, Dan, came to visit the museum to hear the story of her great-great grandmother. Anne was astonished by the tale and has been sharing family stories with the museum ever since. On her first visit, Anne brought photographs of George, Hettie, Sadie & Mollie. How wonderful it was to put faces to a story that had already been shared with thousands of people.

On a recent visit, Anne donated several more family relics for display in the Shriver House Museum ’s artifact collection. Anne graciously donated an ivory pen that belonged to Hettie Shriver. The pen comes with one of Anne’s delightful anecdotes:

In first grade Anne’s school desk had a glass inkwell filled with a blue-black ink where she was taught to write with a straight pen. On special occasions, however, Anne’s great grandmother, called Mombaugh, would let her practice writing with her mother’s (Hettie Shriver, called “Nannie” by the family) gold, ivory-tipped straight pen. Unlike cheap school pens which always snagged and splattered on an upstroke, Nannie’s pen, with its smooth gold point rode smoothly on the upstroke. Anne loved using it. After each practice session her great grandmother would have Anne wash the pen and put it into a little box she kept by her desk.

When asked by Mombaugh what she wanted to remember her great grandmother by, Anne immediately asked for her great great grandmother’s gold straight pen and her two “opera fans”.

Hettie Shriver’s gold straight pen, the two fans, and two handkerchiefs will be put on display in the Shriver House Museum alongside the civil war bullets and medical supplies discovered in the house during the restoration. www.shriverhouse.org

Shriver House Museum Reenactment 2007

2007-08-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, July 7, 2007 from 5 to 9 pm, Confederates occupied the home of George and Hettie (Weikert) Shriver, just as they did in July, 1863. Over 250 spectators gathered in front of the museum to witness a short play recreating what occurred on this day of 1863. This time visitors were invited to talk with the soldiers of the 7th Tennessee, Company B & C, to learn “first-hand” what occurred during those three days of terror in the streets of Gettysburg.

Visit our website For reenactment photos and video clips.

PHOTOS click HERE

VIDEOS click HERE

http://www.shriverhouse.org/

Confederates Take The Shriver House

2007-06-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

Gettysburg , PA – April 25, 2007 – On Saturday, July 7, 2007 from 5 to 9 pm Confederates will occupy the home of George and Hettie (Weikert) Shriver just as they did in July, 1863. This time visitors are invited to talk to the soldiers to learn “first-hand” what occurred during those three days of terror in the streets of Gettysburg . Hear how Hettie took her two girls, Sadie (7) and Mollie (5), to seek safety outside town only to find herself deep within the battle lines.
This living history presentation provides visitors an opportunity to speak with Confederate soldiers as they prepare for battle. Watch the sharpshooters as they occupy the attic, fire muskets at their enemy on Cemetery Hill and, in some cases, take their last breath before meeting their maker. Visitors can also see where Civil War medical supplies and live cartridges were discovered during the restoration of the Shrivers’ home 133 years after the fighting ended. After visiting the make-shift hospital set up in the summer kitchen at the conclusion of the tour, visitors can share a root beer with the soldiers in Shriver’s Saloon and meet some of Gettysburg ’s “local” citizens who also have harrowing stories to share. The Battle of Gettysburg encompassed not only the surrounding countryside but the streets of this historic town as well. This is the only reenactment to take place in the streets of Gettysburg .
The Shrivers’ home was painstakingly restored in 1996 and is now open to the public as a heritage museum. Tours offers special insight into the lives of the people of Gettysburg and how the Civil War, and in particular the Battle of Gettysburg, affected them. The story is told through the eyes of the George and Hettie Shriver whose home was just a few months old when the Civil War started. The tour also gives a glimpse into the lifestyles, customs, and furnishings of the 1860’s.
The Shriver House Museum has earned numerous awards including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Historic Preservation Award. The Museum has been used as a filming site for PBS, A&E, HGTV, BBC, CNN, and The History Channel. For additional information on the Shriver House Museum , please call 717-337-2800 or visit us at www.shriverhouse.org

Lincolnettes Visit Museum Shop

2007-04-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

The Lincolnettes from Oliver Wolcott Technical School are (l-r): Sonja Gajic, Ashley Shopey and Felicia Field.

Spring is a busy time around the Shriver House Museum. Our staff is always excited to get back to work telling the Shriver’s story to thousands of students that visit the museum during their class trip. Most schools visiting Gettysburg come from the surrounding region but we are proud to welcome students from as far away as California, Alaska, and Hawaii. One of the first schools to visit the museum this year was Oliver Wolcott Technical School from Torrington, Connecticut. This photo shows several students modeling one of the newest items in our museum shop – Lincoln hats and beards. A true fashion statement indeed!

In addition to Lincoln hats and beards and our ever-popular “rats”, we have added quite a few new items to the Shriver House Museum shop this year.
-beautiful, ribbon-laced lavender wands hand made in Provence, France. The lavender fragrance is a wonderful addition to a linen closet or lingerie drawer and they will last for many, many years.
-Enamel message boards would look great in the office or the kitchen. It comes with round magnets numbered one through four for everyday reminders.
-“Peanut” erasers look just like the real goober-peas scattered over the floor in Shriver’s Saloon.-We’ve hear the Shriver House is so exciting people just eat it up. Now you can! A custom made mold illustrates even the smallest detail of the Shriver’s home. The molds are filled with delicious chocolate (dark or milk) from Kilwin’s of Gettysburg – our candy-making neighbor on Steinwehr Avenue

2ND ANNUAL PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL WAR TRAILS GETTYSBURG DISCOVERY WEEKEND MARCH 31-APRIL 1 INCLUDE SHRIVER HOUSE

2007-03-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

Gettysburg, PA – March 14, 2007 – Join the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau for the 2nd Annual Pennsylvania Civil War Trails Discovery Weekend in Gettysburg, PA March 31-April 1. Enjoy various activities related to the Civil War and the Gettysburg Campaign. Visitors can purchase the package through the Baladerry Inn, the Brafferton Inn, the Courtyard By Marriott and the historic Best Western Gettysburg Hotel. Details of the weekend are available online at www.gettysburg.travel both in the events calendar and the packages section. You may also contact the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau at 717-334-6274 or 800-337-5015 for more details.

Friday opens the weekend with a VIP reception at the Wyndham Gettysburg and a showing of the 30-minute film “Fields of Freedom” at the Gateway Theater.

Saturday, Licensed Battlefield Guide Michael Vallone takes you on the Retreat from Gettysburg into Monterey by motor coach. Guests will partake in a Colonial Cooking Demonstration and lunch at the historic Fairfield Inn. They will then re-board the coach for a tour covering the Battle of Hanover and the Battle of Hunterstown. Upon arrival at Hunterstown visitors will be treated to a living history with J.E.B. Stuart, Dr. John B. Fontaine, and General and Mrs. Grant. During your time in Hunterstown, historian Deb McCauslin will talk to you about Eliza Jane Payne, a young girl who lived in Hunterstown during the battle and witnessed Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

In the evening, special tours of the Shriver House will be offered with a special artist appearance and author signing following the tours. Artist Amy Lindenberger and author Tom Huntington will be available. Tom Huntington is the author of the recently released Pennsylvania Civil War Trails, the Guide to Battle Sites, Monuments, Museums and Towns published by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Sunday morning, guests will experience a period church service with Chaplain Rene Kinard and his wife Rommi at the American Civil War Museum. On hand will be living history groups including the 42nd Mississippi Company I/DNV and the Pennsylvania Living History Players. Following the services, the Pennsylvania Living History Players will share their stories at the Rupp House. After lunch, take the “Fast Men & Feisty Women” Tour with American Stories Historic Walking Tours to learn about the men and women of Gettysburg and how they handled the battle. The day will end with a spot of tea and a conversation on fashion and the times – both men’s and women’s – with General and Mrs. Grant.

The weekend is sponsored by the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Gettysburg Foundation, Gateway Gettysburg, Group Reservations, the Fairfield Inn, and the historic Best Western Gettysburg Hotel. The Discovery Weekend event is a celebration of the stories of the Gettysburg Campaign as told along the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails: Prelude to Gettysburg.
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Pa's Civil War Trails - Gettysburg

2007-03-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

The Shriver House Museum has been included in Pennsylvania's Civil War Trails

An Introduction to Gettysburg

In 1863, the Civil War came to Gettysburg when Confederate soldiers passed through town on their way to York. A few days later, they came back—from July 1 through 3, 165,000 soldiers converged on Gettysburg and changed the course of the Civil War.
Begin your roadtrip with an orientation at the National Military Park Visitor Center—an electric map explains the battle. You can also schedule a tour with a licensed battlefield guide. For an idea of how the war affected the locals, visit the Trostle Farm. This prosperous farm included grain fields, an orchard, a bank barn, a wagon shed, a wood-frame house, and a summer kitchen—all managed by Catherine Trostle because of her husband's legal troubles. When the war came, she and her eight children fled. Upon her return, Catherine found extensive musket and artillery damage to her buildings. It was on this farm that General Sickles was wounded; approximately 80 Union horses of the 9th Massachusetts Battery were killed here as well.

For more information http://www.visitpa.com/visitpa/detailRoadtrip.pa?id=58&day=2