Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg Self-Guided Walking Tour

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 for control of 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 eyes of the generals calling out orders, the soldiers fighting for their lives, and the civilians caught in the crossfire. This Seminary Ridge Gettysburg Battlefield Tour allows you to explore the historic Gettysburg battlefield with maximum flexibility, safety, and value.

Seminary Ridge Gettysburg Battlefield Tour Itinerary

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 center of the seminary, by the Seminary Ridge Museum, and work our way out from there. First, we’ll dive into the long history of the institution, and its importance to the town of Gettysburg.

Historical Significance of Seminary Ridge

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 draw 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 lines of battle as they’re drawn by both sides and hear how the explosive battle began. Then, visit the seminary building which became an impromptu Union hospital when the fighting started going south.

McPherson’s Ridge

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.

Home of John Burns

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

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

What do we do?

Well simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book – all in one app! We are a GPS-enabled app-based tour that narrates information based on your location right on your phone. 

You can experience our driving and walking tours at your own pace and literally at anytime of the day! Want to know more? Read on about why a self-guided tour is the best way to experience a place.