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Gettysburg College has been a witness and participant in some of the most significant events in the history of the nation. Chartered in 1832 to provide education to residents of south-central Pennsylvania, the College was a neighbor to fighting between Union and Confederate troops in July 1863. On July 1, math professor Michael Jacobs cancelled classes after telling his students that their minds were no longer on their lessons. Pennsylvania Hall, the College's first building (pictured on the front cover), served as a hospital for the wounded, during and after the battle, treating more than 700 Union and Confederate soldiers. On November 19, 1863, Gettysburg College students walked from Pennsylvania Hall into the historic town to hear President Abraham Lincoln deliver his legendary Gettysburg Address.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower was also so closely associated with Gettysburg College. Following his presidency, he returned to Gettysburg to live and served the College as a member of its Board of Trustees. He wrote his memoirs in what is today the College's Admissions Office, now known as Eisenhower House. Two things make Gettysburg College's location extraordinary - what's here and what happened here.
Our 200-acre campus connects to a famous and engaging town that offers a variety of options when you decide it's time to head off campus. Downtown you'll find an eclectic array of stores, restaurants, and cultural offerings, the Majestic Theater, art galleries sponsoring First Friday openings each month, and many other attractions. Farther afield, outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the area's challenging whitewater, great rock climbing and mountain biking, three nearby ski and snowboard resorts, and outstanding hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail. The College also offers easy access to three major metropolitan areas: Harrisburg (45 minutes), Baltimore (60 minutes), and Washington (80 minutes).
The campus also sits less than a mile from the site of what many consider to be the single most important moment in American history. The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the Civil War, and its outcome defined the future of the United States.
300 North Washington Street · Gettysburg, PA 17325