PA Museums

Exploring the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg

Collage of four photos taken at the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, PA. The top left image shows the front view of the historic brick building with a cupola and portico under a blue sky. The top right image depicts an exhibit with a mural of Civil War soldiers and cannons, accompanied by informational displays. The bottom left image captures a reenactment of a Civil War medical scene with a doctor and nurse tending to a wounded soldier. The bottom right image offers a view from the museum's cupola, showcasing a panoramic landscape of fields and trees with autumn foliage under a clear sky.

If you’re looking for information about visiting the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, you’re in the right place!

The main entrance to the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. — The main entrance to the Seminary Ridge Museum.

The Seminary Ridge Museum features four floors of engaging exhibits and impressive artifact displays related to the Battle of Gettysburg and its aftermath.

A Civil War-era embalming kit on display at the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. — A Civil War-era embalming kit.

While there are several excellent museums around Gettysburg that interpret the story of the famous battle, the Seminary Ridge Museum is located in a building that was itself a crucial part of the story!

The Lutheran Seminary played a crucial role in the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

In the paragraphs below, I’ll give you a brief overview of what you can expect to see and experience when you visit the Seminary Ridge Museum, housed in the beautifully-preserved Lutheran Seminary building, constructed in 1831-32.

Front view of the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, PA, featuring a historic brick building with a prominent cupola and cross on top. The building has a grand entrance with a rounded portico and steps leading up to it. The scene is set under a bright blue sky with a few clouds, and a small tree with autumn leaves adds a touch of color to the foreground. — Seminary Ridge was named after the Lutheran Seminary, which literally sits at the high point on this ridge west of Gettysburg.

Directions | Hours | Admission Fees

The Seminary Ridge Museum is located at 111 Seminary Ridge, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

The museum is open April-October from 9 am – 5 pm seven days a week.

View from the cupola of the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, PA, looking north towards a prominent church steeple. The scene includes the rooftops and chimneys of nearby buildings, surrounded by colorful autumn trees. The landscape stretches out to distant hills under a clear blue sky, showcasing a picturesque and serene setting.

During the “off-season” it is open Wed-Sunday from 9 am – 5 pm (closed Mon-Tues).

The second floor of the Seminary Ridge Museum features a number of exhibits about the community of Gettysburg before and after the battle.

Admission fees as of 2024 are: Adult $13.00+tax | Senior (65+) $9.00+tax | College Student $9.00+tax | Active Military Free (w/ID) | Youth (6-12) $11.00+tax.

Rear view of the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, PA, featuring the historic brick building with its distinctive cupola. The scene is framed by vibrant autumn foliage, with two large trees displaying bright red and orange leaves. The building's symmetrical architecture and the clear blue sky add to the picturesque setting. — Fall foliage around the Seminary building.

The Cupola Tour is an extra $20, but well worth it for the unique panoramic views.

A tour guide standing in the cupola of the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, PA, with a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside in the background. The landscape features autumn foliage, open fields, and distant hills under a bright blue sky with a few clouds. The scene is framed by the wooden columns and railings of the cupola. — The cupola on top of the Lutheran Seminary was used as a lookout position on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

What You’ll See at the Seminary Ridge Museum

Opened in July 2013 (exactly 150 years after the Battle of Gettysburg), the Seminary Ridge Museum features four floors and 20,000 square feet of galleries, artifacts, dioramas, and short educational films.

The exhibits at the Seminary Ridge Museum are spread out across four floors of the historic building.

Each floor focuses on a particular aspect of the Seminary and it’s role in the Gettysburg story – I was advised when I purchased my ticket to start on the fourth floor and work my way down to the first, so that’s how I’ll describe the museum here as well.

The Lutheran Seminary was captured by Confederate forces on the evening of the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. — The Lutheran Seminary was captured by Confederate forces on the evening of July 1, 1863.

The Fourth Floor

The fourth floor of the Seminary Ridge Museum offers a deep-dive into the Battle of Gettysburg’s first day, when the cupola on top of the Seminary became an observation post for the Union army as the Confederate forces advanced from the west.

Th exhibits and short film shown on this floor helps visitors to understand how the first day’s battle shaped the next two days of fighting at Gettysburg.

One of several short films at the Seminary Ridge Museum that describe the Battle of Gettysburg and its aftermath.

The fierce fighting that took place all along Seminary Ridge slowed the Confederate advance enough so that by the second day of the battle, the bulk of the Union forces were able to reach Gettysburg and occupy the high ground along Cemetery Ridge.

The Seminary Ridge Museum provides a detailed breakdown of the first day's fighting at Gettysburg. — The Seminary Ridge Museum provides a detailed breakdown of the first day’s fighting at Gettysburg.

This tactical advantage ultimately helped lead to a Union victory here, in what is commonly referred to as the “turning point of the Civil War”.

The first day of the Battle of Gettysburg saw the outnumbered Union forces delaying the Confederates just enough to allow the rest of the Union forces to arrive in Gettysburg and join the fight on the second day.

The Third Floor

The third floor of the Seminary Ridge Museum features exhibits detailing how wounded soldiers from both sides were cared for during and after the Battle of Gettysburg.

A diorama showing how the Seminary was turned into a hospital during and after the Battle of Gettysburg.

As one of the battlefield’s largest hospitals, more than 600 patients received care at the Seminary.

A diorama depicting an amputation procedure being performed by a doctor at the Lutheran Seminary during the Battle of Gettysburg.

The Seminary hospital provided care to the wounded from both sides until September 16, when Lt. Col. George F. McFarland, 151th Pennsylvania Volunteers, was the last patient to leave.

Exhibit about Doctor James Fulton, one of the physicians treating wounded soldiers at the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg during and after the battle.

The Second Floor

The second floor of the Seminary Ridge Museum focuses on the founding of the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg, as well as how the battle affected the locals in general and African-Americans in particular.

Exhibit about Reverend Samuel Simon Schmucker, one of the founders of the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg.

Although Pennsylvania was a “free” state, the business ties many farmers and merchants had with those south of the Mason-Dixon line meant not everyone was enthusiastic about supporting a war that would disrupt or sever those ties.

Adams County's location on the Mason-Dixon line put it at the heart of the battle between pro and anti slavery forces. — Adams County’s location on the Mason-Dixon line put it at the heart of the battle between pro and anti slavery forces.

The role of African-American soldiers in defense of the Union is examined in detail.

A diorama at the Seminary Ridge Museum featuring an African-American soldier preparing to leave to fight for the Union. — A diorama featuring an African-American soldier preparing to leave to fight for the Union.

The First Floor

The first floor of the Seminary Ridge Museum is where you’ll find the admissions desk, the gift shop, and a gallery of changing exhibits.

The Cupola Tour

Perhaps the most unique experience you can have at the Seminary Ridge Museum is a tour of the famous cupola!

If you’ve seen the 1993 movie Gettysburg, you’ll no doubt remember Sam Elliot’s portrayal of Union Brigadier General John Buford as he used the cupola to get a birds-eye view of the terrain surrounding Gettysburg.

Sam Elliot portraying General Buford in the cupola of the Lutheran Seminary, from the 1993 film Gettysburg. — Sam Elliot portraying General Buford in the cupola of the Lutheran Seminary, from the 1993 film **Gettysburg**. (image credit – New Line Cinema).

Tours of the cupola are available as a $20.00 add-on to the general admission ticket, but if you’re a history buff, it’s $20.00 well-spent.

The Cupola Tour at the Seminary Ridge Museum starts on the fourth floor of the museum.

The 360-degree views from the cupola are outstanding.

View from the cupola of the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, PA, looking east over a landscaped green lawn with trees in vibrant autumn colors. The town of Gettysburg is visible in the background with historic buildings and rooftops, and the scene is set under a bright blue sky with a few scattered clouds. — View to the northeast in the direction of Gettysburg College from the cupola at the Seminary Ridge Museum.

And even though there are many more buildings now than there were in 1863, you still can get a sense of what General Buford saw as he prepared for the Confederate attack from the west that July 1st.

View from the cupola of the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, PA, looking southwest over the surrounding area. The scene features the rooftops and chimneys of nearby historic buildings, with a backdrop of colorful autumn trees and distant hills under a bright blue sky. The landscape showcases a mix of greenery and vibrant foliage, adding to the picturesque and serene atmosphere. — View to the southwest from the cupola at the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg.

Please note: the cupola is not handicapped accessible and visitors must be 13 years of age or older to tour it.

Interior view of the wooden staircase leading up to the cupola of the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, PA. The stairway is constructed with rustic, exposed wooden beams and steps, creating a sense of historic architectural design. The space is dimly lit, highlighting the intricate structure and craftsmanship of the staircase. — The cupola on top of the Lutheran Seminary was used as a lookout position on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Final Thoughts

Visiting the Seminary Ridge Museum offers an in-depth exploration of Gettysburg’s first day of fighting and one of the battlefield’s largest hospitals, all within a historic building that was part of the battle.

The Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg is a modern museum experience in a historically-important building. — The Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg offers a modern museum experience in a historically-important building.

For more information, please visit the Seminary Ridge Museum’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

View from the cupola of the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, PA, looking north towards the steeple of a church, with a backdrop of autumn foliage and rolling hills under a bright blue sky with wispy clouds. The scene is framed by the wooden columns and railings of the cupola. — View to the west from the Seminary Ridge Museum’s Cupola.

Exploring the Battlefield at the Gettysburg National Military Park is your guide to the 6,000 acre park that preserves the ground on which one of the defining events in our nation’s history took place.

The collage features four photos taken on the battlefield at Gettysburg National Military Park. The top left image shows a statue of a Union officer on Little Round Top during a peaceful sunset, overlooking the expansive battlefield. The top right image captures a monument dedicated to the 78th and 102nd New York Infantry, depicting a soldier crouched behind rocks, set against a backdrop of colorful autumn foliage. The bottom left image displays a statue of a cavalry officer on horseback, surrounded by vibrant fall trees, highlighting the dynamic and detailed sculpture. The bottom right image features cannons and a monument at sunset, with the sky painted in warm hues and silhouettes of trees and statues in the background, creating a reflective and serene atmosphere. — Scenes from the Gettysburg National Military Park.

The Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg is some of the most historic and hallowed ground in Pennsylvania, transformed into the final resting place for over 3,000 fallen Union soldiers in the months after the battle.

The graves of unknown Union soldiers with the New York Monument in the background.

Exploring the Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum is your guide to Gettysburg’s newest history museum, which tells the stories of local residents before, during, and after the epic Civil War battle that took place there.

Exploring the Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. — Scenes from the Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum

The Gettysburg Museum of History is home to thousands of unusual artifacts and atypical antiquities from American history, and admission is FREE!

A photo collage from the Gettysburg Museum of History in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Top left shows the museum's street sign featuring an eagle and proclaiming 'FREE MUSEUM'. Top right depicts an exhibit with Civil War artifacts, including portraits and a chair. Bottom left is an interior view with various memorabilia and a large presidential seal. Bottom right presents military uniforms and World War memorabilia. Each image displays a part of the rich historical collection of the museum. — Scenes from the Gettysburg Museum of History.

The Jennie Wade House is a historic landmark and museum that memorializes the life and untimely death of Jennie Wade, the only civilian killed during the Battle of Gettysburg.

A photo collage from the Jennie Wade House in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Top left is the house's exterior with the statue of Jennie Wade. Top right shows a tour guide in period attire inside the house. Bottom left depicts a bedroom with a bed and a quilt. Bottom right is the establishment sign of the Jennie Wade House from 1901. — Scenes from the Jennie Wade House.

The Gettysburg Diorama & History Center recreates the famous Civil War battle using one of the largest military dioramas in the United States.

This collage features four images from the Gettysburg Diorama and History Center. The first image shows the stone-clad exterior with the center's signage. The second image provides an overview of the extensive battlefield diorama with visitors observing the scene. The third image is a close-up of the diorama, depicting a battle with miniature soldiers. The fourth image displays a life-size exhibit with a mannequin soldier in Union uniform standing beside a horse, enclosed by a white picket fence. Together, these images capture the educational and immersive experience offered by the center. — Scenes from the Gettysburg Diorama and History Center.

Sachs Covered Bridge was crossed by both Union AND Confederate troops during the Battle of Gettysburg, and was designated “Pennsylvania’s most historic covered bridge” in 1938 by the PA Department of Highways.

Exploring Sachs Covered Bridge in Adams County Pennsylvania. — Scenes from Sachs Covered Bridge near Gettysburg.

15 Must-See Attractions in Gettysburg is your guide to even more great things to see near the Seminary Ridge Museum.

A Gettysburg Licensed Town Guide describing the significance of this Abraham Lincoln statue in Gettysburg.

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