PA Museums

Exploring the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg

A photo collage from the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, showcasing various aspects of the museum. The top left image displays the museum's exterior: a two-story, red-brick house with green shutters and patriotic bunting. The top right shows an interior room with a fireplace, elegant furniture, and historical decorations. The bottom left reveals an attic scene with a rifle and period artifacts, and the bottom right features the museum's name along with historical family portraits, providing insight into the civilian life during the time of the Civil War.

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

Two commemorative plaques mounted on a red brick wall at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The upper plaque, bordered in gold, reads "Historic Gettysburg The Shriver House ca. 1860 Adams County Honored 1997 71." The lower plaque states "Civil War Building July 1863," signifying the building's historical significance from the time of the American Civil War. — Historical markers on the home.

The Shriver House Museum depicts the remarkable story of one Gettysburg family’s life that was forever altered by the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War.

A woman dressed in 19th-century attire stands in front of the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. She wears a brown, period-appropriate dress with a full skirt and small polka dot pattern. The woman is gesturing to her side, likely part of a historical tour. Behind her, the brick facade of the museum is visible, complete with green shutters and American flags hanging from the second-story windows. She stands on a concrete sidewalk next to a wooden staircase leading to the museum's entrance. — Tour guides dress in period garb as they describe the sga of the Shriver family during the Civil War.

Set in a meticulously restored home first built by George Shriver in 1860, it provides an intimate glimpse into the world of the Shriver family as they journeyed through the turbulent times of the American Civil War.

This photo depicts a wall display at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, presenting the civilian experience during the Civil War. It features three framed portraits: on the left is "Hettie" Henrietta Shriver, born March 18, 1848; in the center is George Washington Shriver, born May 27, 1826; and on the right are "Sadie" Sarah Louisa and "Mollie" Mary Margaret, born November 28, 1855, and August 4, 1857, respectively. The portraits are accompanied by labels with their names and dates, providing a personal connection to the family who lived in the house during that tumultuous period. — Shriver family portraits.

Directions | Hours | Admission Fees

The Shriver House Museum is located at 309 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.

The Shriver House Museum is closed in January, open select weekends February and March, open 7 days a week April through October, and open select weekends November and December.

The image shows a dining room inside the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, restored to its mid-19th-century appearance. The room features a large wooden dining table with a white tablecloth, set with a silver tea service and candelabra. A fireplace with a brick surround and a white mantelpiece anchors one wall, above which hangs a framed portrait. Period-appropriate furnishings include a sideboard, wooden chairs, and a tall case clock. Draped blue curtains frame the windows, and the wooden floors add warmth to the space. The room is sectioned off with a rope barrier, suggesting this is part of a historical tour path. — The Shriver House Museum is open every day during the peak of the tourist season in Gettysburg.

Hours vary by season – please check the Shriver House Museums’ OFFICIAL WEBSITE for the most up-to-date hours and to buy tickets.

In a recreated saloon from the Civil War era at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a wooden counter is laden with period-authentic items. Plates of bread, a dark bottle, pewter mugs, and glasses are arranged as if patrons have just stepped away. The backdrop features a rustic wooden shelf lined with various bottles, jugs, and barrels. A prominent sign reading "SHRIVER'S SALOON" hangs above the shelf, while the room's low ceiling and plastered walls give a sense of the historical setting's authenticity. — Saloon in the basement.

Admission fees are: Adults: $11.95 | Youth (ages 7-12): $8.75.

A close-up of a display on a wooden table at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, showing items from the Civil War period. Central to the photo is a piece of historical currency, specifically a bill from "The Bank of Montgomery County," with portraits of men from the era and intricate detailing. Beside the bill is an empty glass salt shaker, a glass with a small amount of amber liquid, and a pewter mug. Behind these items is a period newspaper, adding to the authenticity of the scene. The display is arranged to give visitors a sense of the everyday items used during the time. — Occupying Southern troops “paid” for what the commandeered with Confederate money.

What You’ll See at the Shriver House Museum

As you walk through the Shriver House, you’ll find each room meticulously frozen in time, accurately furnished to its 1860s appearance.

The image presents a meticulously arranged parlor room at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The room features a traditional fireplace with a brick hearth and white mantel, upon which sit two candlesticks and a small clock. Elegant furniture, including a central wooden table with a lace tablecloth and a dining set, fills the room. A candelabra and fine china adorn the dining table, while framed portraits and a shelf with decorative items add a personal touch to the space. The room is lit by natural light from a window draped with blue curtains, giving the historical setting a warm and inviting ambiance. — Beautifully decorated sitting area.

From the family’s living quarters to the unique basement business, the Shriver House Museum stands as a poignant symbol of the era, offering insights into the everyday lives of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances.

The image shows the interior of a recreated saloon from the Civil War era at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The room is characterized by rustic wooden walls and a bar counter with various period-appropriate items such as glass bottles, a tin cup, and a large ceramic jug. A wooden sign that reads "Shriver's Saloon" is displayed prominently on the back shelf, alongside barrels and other containers. Natural light filters through a small window, casting a soft glow over the scene. The setting is designed to give visitors a glimpse into the past, specifically into the social spaces of the 1860s. — Shriver’s Saloon in the basement of the home.

Historical Backstory

In 1860, just months before the Civil War erupted, George Shriver constructed one of the finest homes in Gettysburg.

The front facade of the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is captured in this image. It features a two-story red brick building with green shutters and a metal roof. Each window on the second floor is adorned with patriotic bunting, and a leafless tree stands in front, suggesting the photo was taken in a cooler season. The entrance has a red door accessible by a set of steps with a ramp, and a small sign beside the door indicates the building's status as a museum. A quiet street setting gives the historic structure a quaint and inviting appearance. — Street view of the beautiful brick home.

This house served not only as a family residence but also housed George’s business ventures, including ‘Shriver’s Saloon & Ten-Pin Alley’.

A historic brick building with green shutters, housing the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. A wooden sign for "Shriver's Saloon Ten-Pin Alley" hangs prominently, indicating the building's 1860 establishment. Below, a smaller sign confirms "Shriver House Museum." American flags adorn the second-story windows, and a barrel sits beside the entrance ramp. — Sign advertising Shrivers’ businesses.

George Shriver’s plans were put on hold when he volunteered for the Union cavalry on August 27, 1861.

A well-preserved bedroom at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, showcasing a historical 19th-century layout. The room contains a wooden four-poster bed with a colorful patchwork quilt in red, blue, and beige. A vintage wooden dresser with a large mirror stands against one wall, accompanied by a small writing desk with a wash basin and pitcher atop it. On the other side of the room, there's a vanity with a mirror. The walls are adorned with framed artwork, and an oil lamp on the dresser adds to the room's authentic period feel. The wooden floor is partly covered by rugs, and a sheer curtain hangs on the window, allowing natural light to filter in. — Upstairs bedroom.

Nearly two years later, with George still off fighting for the Union, Confederate forces swept into Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, commandeering the Shriver House and turning the attic into a sniper’s nest.

An evocative scene in the attic of the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, depicting a Civil War sniper's nest. A rifle rests on the wooden floor amid scattered wood shavings and a toppled wooden crate. A lone lantern illuminates the space, casting a warm glow on the exposed brick wall and weathered wood planks. An old patterned rug, a cushion, and other small items are strewn about, suggesting a hastily abandoned position. A draped cloth hangs from the window, partially blowing in the breeze, with daylight peeking through, highlighting the historical atmosphere of the room. — Confederate sniper’s nest.

When the Confederate forces finally retreated from Gettysburg after 3 days of battle, George’s wife Hettie and her children returned to their home to try and pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives.

An image from the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, showing a room set up to reflect a moment from the Civil War era. The scene includes a wooden table covered with maps, documents, a pair of glasses, and other personal effects, evoking the hasty departure of a Confederate officer. A wood-burning stove with a pipe extending to the ceiling is in the corner, with a hat resting on top and various garments draped over a nearby chair. A dresser with a mirror and personal toiletries is against the patterned wallpapered wall. The room's disarray and historical items like the candlestick and books provide an immersive glimpse into the past. — Hettie returned to find the home ransacked by Confederates.

How that all works out is a story best left to the tour guides, who narrate the gripping story of the Shriver family in a compelling way.

A woman dressed in a brown, period-style dress stands in the attic of the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The attic features exposed wooden beams, a sloped ceiling, and weathered plank flooring. Brick walls and a small window with light streaming in give the space a historical feel. Debris is scattered across the floor, and there is a small stove with a lit candle on top, a wooden chest, and other period objects that suggest the attic's use during the 19th century. The guide is giving a tour, contributing to the immersive historical experience of the museum. — Tour guide describing what modern CSI investigators found in the attic sniper’s nest.

Visitors to the Shriver House will witness firsthand the devastation left behind by the battle.

A close-up view of a historic brick wall at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, showing a single, round hole from a bullet strike. The hole pierces through one of the reddish-brown bricks, surrounded by pale mortar. The impact's age is indicated by the slightly eroded edges around the hole, suggesting its endurance through time since the Civil War era. This detail offers a tangible connection to the events that took place at this location during the Battle of Gettysburg. — One of many bullet strikes on the outside of the house.

The marks of war are evident throughout the property, providing a stark illustration of the conflict’s impact on civilian life.

A dimly lit room with a rustic wooden interior, representing a makeshift Civil War-era hospital at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Blood-stained linens hang on a line across the room, and more are draped over a wooden plank, which serves as a makeshift bed or table, laid across two barrels. An old stove, a wooden chest, and a small window with a simple blue curtain contribute to the historical setting. The stone and brick walls, along with the worn floor, enhance the sense of authenticity, evoking the improvised medical quarters used during the Battle of Gettysburg. — Confederates turned the basement into a makeshift hospital.

Visitors will also see hundreds of items discovered during the restoration of the home, including Civil War ammunition and medical supplies.

A glass display case at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, contains a collection of Civil War relics. The exhibit includes a round ball bullet found in the backyard, smashed bullets from the brick wall of the Shriver House, and bullets recovered from the attic with their original paper cartridge with gunpowder intact. Also featured is a carbine bullet issued to George Shriver, who was mustered into Cole's Cavalry. Informative labels provide context for each item, explaining their significance and how they relate to the history of the house and the Battle of Gettysburg. — Bullets discovered during renovations to the home.

Final Thoughts

The Shriver House Museum offers a unique and intimate look at the civilian experience during the Battle of Gettysburg.

An old-fashioned wooden table is set up as if mid-use in the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, depicting a scene from the Civil War era. The table is strewn with playing cards and contains plates with bread, a glass oil lamp, and a mason jar labeled "PURE TABLE SALT." There are also knives, a glass of amber liquid, inkwells, a salt shaker, and a piece of fabric, all contributing to an atmosphere of a lived-in space from the 19th century. In the background, a fireplace, open shelving stocked with kitchenware, and a barrel can be seen, enhancing the historical reenactment. — Occupying Confederate forces helped themselves to the “spoils of war”.

Its authentic restoration, engaging tours, and educational value make it a standout destination for anyone interested in American history.

A rustic backyard garden at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The garden, enclosed by a weathered wooden picket fence, features early spring vegetation and bare branches, hinting at the onset of growth. A graveled pathway leads to a red outbuilding with a metal roof, contrasting with the white exterior of an adjacent structure. A tall, leafless tree stands guard over the space, and a series of tools and ladders suggest maintenance or historical farming practices. The setting provides a glimpse into the domestic life of the era represented by the museum. — Backyard garden at the Shriver House Museum.

It serves as a poignant reminder of the past, bringing to life the stories of those who lived through one of the nation’s most tumultuous times.

The photograph displays a quaint gift shop setup at the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. An antique wooden hutch holds various souvenirs, including rolled-up t-shirts, caps, and mugs, all bearing the museum's branding. Candles, books, and other memorabilia are neatly arranged on the shelves. A sign that reads "Ladies Shriver" adds a touch of historical character to the top shelf. The rustic appearance of the hutch, combined with the traditional-style merchandise, creates an atmosphere that complements the historical theme of the museum. — Gift shop at the museum.

Nearby Attractions

29 Must-See Attractions in Adams County highlights more sights and experiences near the Shriver House Museum.

A collage of scenes from Adams County, PA including the Gettysburg National Military Park, the Round Barn, the World War II American Experience Museum, and the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing.

Explore Pennsylvania like never before with the interactive PA Bucket List Travel Map, featuring over 1,000 memorable destinations all across the Keystone State!

Did you enjoy this article?

If so, be sure to like and follow PA Bucket List on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest to learn more about the best things to see and do in Pennsylvania!

Click on any of the icons below to get connected to PA Bucket List on social media.