Details

Item details

Date

July 4, 2021

Name

George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital

Description

In July 1863, George Spangler’s thriving family farm was transformed into a field hospital for more than 1,900 wounded Confederate and Union soldiers. A strategic location on the Gettysburg battlefield, the site also served as an artillery reserve, ammunition reserve, provost guard and a temporary cemetery for both Union and Confederate soldiers. 

Docents are available for questions. Civil War era encampments are on-site. Living historians from across the U.S. camp at the farm and provide visitors a glimpse of what happened there in 1863.

The historic site is open to visitors Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. 

With the popularity of visits to the historic site during the battle anniversary weekend, July 1-4, the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital is accessible via shuttle from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, July 1-4, beginning at 10 a.m. The shuttle bus transports visitors to the Spangler Farm from the Museum & Visitor Center every 20 minutes three times each hour, 10 a.m. through 1:40 p.m. with no shuttle at noon.

The shuttle bus returns visitors to the Museum & Visitor Center every 20 minutes three times each hour, with the final return shuttle departing the Spangler Farm at 2:50 p.m. A timed shuttle ticket to the historic site is included at no additional charge with a ticket to programs at the Museum & Visitor Center. In accordance with TSA guidelines on public transportation, face coverings/masks on the shuttle are required.

July 1-4:

• Historians from Civil War Historical Impressions: A special anniversary encampment is on-site. See Union and Confederate soldiers, Gettysburg civilians, generals and surgeons. Guests can walk through the camps and see history come alive.

July 9-11:

• Reynolds Battery: Blacksmiths will demonstrate techniques of drawing, upsetting, bending, twisting, punching and double striking as used during the Civil War to repair equipment used by the Artillery and Cavalry. One of only a few units in the country that use a replica (1849) of the traveling blacksmith forge while participating in reenactments East of the Mississippi River, Reynolds Battery's traveling forge has been featured on the C-Span network’s program entitled "American Artifacts." A large group of living historians will be on-site displaying a 3" ordinance rifle (cannon) and portraying camp life with a cook, leather worker/harness maker, medical staff and equipment, wounded soldiers, drummer and music, a Confederate grave digger and a carpenter.
• We the People Living History Association: Non-profit living historians group dedicated to depicting civilian life in support of the war effort during the Civil War era with an emphasis on the United States Sanitary Commission.

July 16-18:

• Society of Civil War Surgeons: Living historians portray Civil War surgeons, and demonstrate and discuss various surgical procedures, Civil War era medicines and how they were used.

July 23-25:

• The Healing: Conversations Between Nurses North and South: A unique portrayal of women who pioneered professional nursing and served during the War Between the States.
• Dr. Willen & Company: Union surgeon, civilian nurse and hospital steward discuss Civil War medicine and accurately portray Civil War medical personnel with expert explanations on all phases of Civil War medical care.

July 30-Aug. 1:

• Citizens of Gettysburg: Civilians, attired in authentic Victorian period clothing, recreate the experience of Civil War era civilians and provide ‘first person impressions.’
• 150th PA Volunteer Infantry “Bucktails” Co. C & K Civil War Field Hospital: Living historians portray two of four companies recruited from Crawford County, Pennsylvania and the personnel who served in the Hospital Department during the Civil War.

Sunday Special Programming

On Sundays throughout the summer season, Historic Gettysburg-Adams County (HGAC) presents an exciting new addition to the summer programming at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital. HGAC interprets the design, construction and use of this stunning expression of an iconic, vernacular architectural form—the Pennsylvania Bank Barn.

In the decades leading up to the fateful summer of 1863, and for well over 100 years afterwards, the George Spangler barn served as the hub of a thriving, active farm. Its restoration in the past decade—from a dilapidated structure in danger of collapse to a visage of its original glory—revived an important, tangible component of American history in its own right.

We're Sorry!
Tickets are no longer available online for this event. Please contact Guest Relations to get up-to-the-minute ticket availability information at (877) 874-2478.