Event Calendar

Gettysburg Events

~2009~

Dedication Day 2009

November 2 -December 11, 2009
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Exhibit
Free At Last: A History of the Abolition of Slavery in America
Historic Gettysburg Railroad Station
35 Carlisle Street, Gettysburg, PA (717) 337-8233    Open daily 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.   Free Admission
Panel exhibition that traces the debate over slavery in the United States from the framing of the Constitution until its abolition during the Civil War.  The exhibition will present personal letters, documents, cartoons, photographs, and broadsides from the Gilder Lehrman Collection, previously unavailable to the public nationally.  Among the highlights are: an early fragment of the "House Divided" speech written by Abraham Lincoln; and letters by leading abolitionists, slaves, and soldiers who fought in the Civil War.  The documents and images in the exhibition are drawn largely from the Gilder Lehrman Collection, and are supplemented by materials from public institutions. 

This exhibit is sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and is made possible in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development.

November 16-22, 2009
The Lincoln Flag of the Pike County Historical Society at the
Historic Gettysburg Railroad Station
35 Carlisle Street, Gettysburg, PA (717) 337-8233    Open daily 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.   Free Admission
This 36-star flag was draped over the balustrade in the presidential box at Ford's Theatre on Good Friday, April 14, 1865. On that night President Lincoln was there to see the play, "Our American Cousin." John Wilkes Booth, a former actor, assassinated President Lincoln that night in hopes of creating political chaos. The Lincoln Flag was used by Laura Keene, an actress starring in that evening's performance, to cradle the President's head as he lay mortally wounded.

The Historic Gettysburg Railroad Station is one of only two railroad stations in Pennsylvania used by President Lincoln that is still in existence.  It is operated by the National Trust for Historic Gettysburg with support during the Bicentennial year from the Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.  Free admission and interpretive tours provided.

November 16-18, 2009 - Lincoln Forum Symposium
Advance registration and fee required. For further information, visit their website: www.thelincolnforum.org. 

Thursday, November 19
*Note:  November 19, the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, was formally designated as Dedication Day, by a joint resolution of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, on August 7, 1946.

9:30 a.m.      
Wreath Laying Ceremony, Soldiers' National Monument, Soldiers' National Cemetery 

10:00 a.m.                  
146^th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address Dedication Day Ceremony, Soldiers' National Cemetery.  Performances by "The President's Own" United States Marine Band
Naturalization Ceremony will be held at conclusion of the Dedication Day ceremony Presented by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services and hosted by the National Park Service.

Speaker:  Academy Award-winning actor, Richard Dreyfuss, Sponsored by the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania, the Gettysburg National Military Park, the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College, and the Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.  This project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development (Inclement weather location: Christ Chapel, Gettysburg College) Free and open to the general public.

11:15 a.m. 
Immediately following the Dedication Day Ceremony                 
US Colored Troops Graveside Salute
Soldiers' National Cemetery (northern area of the cemetery)
Speaker:  James Getty, portraying Abraham Lincoln  (For more information contact Debra McCauslin (717) 528-8553.)

12:00 p.m.        
Lincoln Fellowship Luncheon, Gettysburg College Union Ballroom
Speaker:  Lewis Lehrman is a philanthropist and a co-founder of the Lincoln Prize and the author of Lincoln at Peoria: The Turning Point (Stackpole Books, 2008).
[For Fellowship members only; pre-registration is required; no phone reservations accepted. For information on becoming a member of the Lincoln Fellowship, visit us online at www.gettysburg.edu/civilwar/institute, by phone (717) 337-6590, or write to the Lincoln Fellowship, P.O. Box 3372, Gettysburg, PA  17325].

Book Signing following Luncheon- Lewis Lehrman: Lincoln at Peoria: The Turning Point (Stackpole Books, 2008).  

2:00-5:00 p.m.                       
Abraham Lincoln & Governor Curtin Meet & Greet                                                         
Come shake hands and meet President Abraham Lincoln and Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin.  This event recreates the public meet & greet that was held the evening of November 19, 1863 in which visitors were received and were able to meet the President and Governor.
Cost: Free with admission    Ages: All ages 
The David Wills House, 8 Lincoln Square , Gettysburg, PA   Phone: (866) 486-5735
Website: www.davidwillshouse.org

4:00 p.m.                    
"Gettysburg Addresses Lincoln"
After his address at the National Cemetery, President Lincoln traveled with local patriot John Burns to the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church for a rally. This free one-hour  program will include a presentation "How Lincoln Came to Be 'Under God' at Gettysburg " by public historian, Dr. Charles Teague, at the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, 208 Baltimore Street in downtown Gettysburg, just two blocks south of Lincoln Square.                          

7:30 p.m.                    
FOR THE PEOPLE (world premiere)
An oratorio composed and conducted by John William Jones; Professor of Music at Gettysburg College
The Spires Brass Band, Kathleen Sasnett, soprano, Jeffrey Fahnestock, tenor Roosevelt Credit, bass-baritone, The Sunderman Conservatory Woodwind Octet, and The Victorian Dance Ensemble

Dedicated to the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College in celebration of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial. Texts from "Of The People, By the People, For The People" (ed. by Gabor S. Boritt), popular songs of the day, and biblical verse.

The Eleventh Annual Michael Shaara Prize for Excellence in Civil War Fiction
Majestic Theater, awarded by Jeff Shaara
Recipient: TBA

48^th Annual Robert Fortenbaugh Memorial Lecture
Majestic Theater
Speaker:  Michael Burlingame: holds the Chancellor Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield,
Topic:  "Abraham Lincoln: New Information, Fresh Perspectives"

9:30 p.m.                    
Public Reception and Book Signings
Majestic Theater
Authors:         
Michael Burlingame:  Abraham Lincoln: A Life
Jeff Shaara: The Steel Wave

Friday, November 20

2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Meet the Wills            
Meet David and Catherine Wills as they open their home to meet visitors.  Learn about what their lives were like during the Civil War.  Find out interesting facts about the Wills family and ask questions first hand.   
Cost: Free with admission    Ages: All ages 
The David Wills House, 8 Lincoln Square , Gettysburg, PA   Phone: (866) 486-5735
Website: www.davidwillshouse.org

Saturday, November 21

1:00 p.m.                    
Remembrance Day Parade and Activities, sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans.
Visit their website at www.suvcw.org

3:30 p.m.                    
Lincoln Cemetery Speaker:  TBA
Location:  Lincoln Lane behind Gettysburg Hospital.

5:30 p.m.                    
Seventh Annual Remembrance Illumination      
Soldiers' National Cemetery, hosted by the Gettysburg Foundation.  
Anyone interested in sponsoring one of the 3,500 luminaries is encouraged to contact the Gettysburg Foundation.  Phone: (717) 338-1243 website: www.friendsofgettysburg.org

Gettysburg Events

~2010~

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CWI Theme Announced
"The Election of 1860"
June 27 - July 3, 2010

The Union Must and Shall Be Preserved
Library of Congress c1860

New Addition to the Program: Former Senator George McGovern will speak on his new book, Abraham Lincoln (part of the American Presidents Series).

The theme for the 2010 Civil War Conference was announced Thursday, June 25th to an eager audience.  We will be studying the "Election of 1860" considering the politics of the day, introducing the "characters" surrounding the election, and Secession with historians Michael Burlingame, Allen Guelzo, Matthew Pinsker, Michael Holt, Craig Symonds, and others.  Our full day tours will include trips to Harpers Ferry with Dennis Frye and Ed Bearss and Ford's Theatre and museum.  The half day tours will concentrate on Gettysburg.  Don't miss this week of scholarly pursuit and fun.  To hold your place send in a registration form along with a $50.00 non refundable deposit.