Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg Self-Guided Walking Tour

Welcome to the Seminary Ridge Gettysburg Battlefield Tour

Welcome to the self-guided walking tour of Seminary Ridge, where the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg played out. Union and Confederate soldiers battled ferociously to control this strategic ridge and its make-shift seminary hospital, while brave civilians did their best to keep their families safe. The walking tour transports you to July 1863, to view this bloody battleground from the generals’ eyes calling out orders, the soldiers fighting for their lives, and the civilians caught in the crossfire. This Seminary Ridge Gettysburg Battlefield Tour lets you explore the historic Gettysburg battlefield with maximum flexibility, safety, and value.

About the Tour

This audio and GPS walking tour takes you into America’s embattled past atop the historic Seminary Ridge. We’ll begin our journey in the seminary center, by the Seminary Ridge Museum, and work our way out from there. First, we’ll dive into the institution’s long history and its importance to the town of Gettysburg.

As you walk the hallowed paths, we’ll put you into the shoes of a seminary student back in the 1800s and introduce you to what life looked like before war came to the town. You’ll also hear some insights into the Iroquois who once occupied this land, whom General Robert E. Lee respected immensely.

You’ll see the home of the seminary’s founder, Samuel Schmucker, and learn why he was practically an outcast among the Lutheran community.

Next on the Seminary Ridge Gettysburg Battlefield tour, feel the tension in the air as the townsfolk rush to read the news every day, watching the war draws ever closer to their front doors. Headlines like “Lee Invades the North” and “Confederates Advancing toward Gettysburg” do not bode well for our townspeople.

Follow the battle lines drawn by both sides and hear how the explosive battle began. Then, the seminary building became an impromptu Union hospital when the fighting started going south.

Then, follow the struggle blow-by-blow, from the fighting atop McPherson’s Ridge to the Confederate assault on the seminary itself. Become a fly on the wall in the command outposts of Generals Buford and Ewell as they vie for control of the battlefield.

But it wasn’t just soldiers fighting during the battle. Visit the home of John Burns, a feisty older man who decided if the Union couldn’t fend off the Confederates, he’d do it himself!

Toward the end of the path, we’ll survey the final bursts of combat for an overview of the aftermath of all the bloodshed–both for the seminary and the Union. Our Seminary Ridge Gettysburg Battlefield tour will conclude back where it began.

Starting Point Address: 111 Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg, PA 17325

Construction notice:

Park Services has closed Devil’s Den, Little Round Top, and Wheatfield for a few months. So, you will not be able to visit them in person. But, you will still be able to hear their stories on the detour route. Click here for park services detour info.