Gettysburg Battlefield Historic District
Also known as: Battle of Gettysburg Battlefield; Gettysburg Campaign,Civil W
Why it's listed
Gettysburg, in Adams County, Pennsylvania, is the setting of a battlefield district covering the ground fought over on July 1, 2 and 3, 1863. The district takes in the Gettysburg National Military Park, land proposed for Eisenhower National Historic Site, part of the Borough of Gettysburg, and surrounding parts of Cumberland, Straban, Mount Joy and Mount Pleasant townships, together with the East Cavalry Field where the cavalry battle of July 3 took place. Its significance lies in the intact terrain: ridges such as McPherson Ridge and Oak Ridge, Willoughby Run and Rock Creek, and the Railroad Cut where Davis' Brigade was trapped. Within the district are farms and houses used as Civil War hospitals, the Peace Light Memorial on Oak Hill, and the Gettysburg National Cemetery, site of Lincoln's address on November 19, 1863. About 366 Borough buildings predated the battle, and many still stand, including the Adams County Court House of 1858.
Significance in brief: The nomination treats the district as the site and scene of the Battle of Gettysburg, preserving its terrain, ridges, streams, and the battle-related structures such as farms used as hospitals, the Railroad Cut, Oak Hill, and the Peace Light Memorial. It also notes that many of the town's 1863 buildings survive and that much of the district retains open or forested land, supporting its integrity as a battlefield.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75000155, listed March 19, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Town of Gettysburg and its environs, Gettysburg and vicinity |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Listed | March 19, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000155 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | July 1-3, 1863 |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Conservation, Military, Transportation, Education, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The document describes many properties as existing, ruins, or sites, and proposes some for acquisition or restoration; it does not state a single current condition for the district. |
| Acreage | 11820 |
| Within district | Gettysburg National Military Park |
| Coordinates | 39.83588, -77.23171 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75000155.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5554748
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.