PA Counties

17 Must-See Attractions in Adams County

A collage of 5 photos from Adams County Pennsylvania.

If you’re looking for the best things to see and do in Adams County, you’re in the right place!

A map of Pennsylvania counties with Adams County highlighted in red.

The county was formed in 1800 and is named in honor of the John Adams, second President of the United States.

Adams County historical marker in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. — Adams County historical marker.

The county seat is Gettysburg, site of an important American Civil War battle on July 1-3, 1863.

Aside from Civil War tourism, Adams County is known for its apple orchards and is sometimes referred to as the “Apple Capital of the World.”

The Fruit Belt exhibit at the Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. — Adams County is PA’s largest producer of apples.

From museums and historic sites to farmers markets and one-of-a-kind shopping experiences, here are 17 of the best things to see and do in Adams County.

Simply click on the blue text links on the map above or in the descriptions below to read more in-depth information about each destination.

Mister Eds Elephant Emporium and Candy store is decorated for Christmas inside and out. — Mister Ed’s Elephant Emporium and Candy Store in Adams County.

1. Gettysburg National Military Park

There is no larger or more important historical site in Adams County than the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Where and when to find the best fall foliage views on the Gettysburg Battlefield in Adams County. — Scenes from the Gettysburg National Military Park.

The Gettysburg National Military Park covers roughly 6000 acres and contains more than 1,300 monuments.

October sunrise on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg.

There are lots of ways to tour the battlefield, from taking a guided bus tour, to hiring a private guide, to simply driving around and exploring it on your own.

Information about the various options for touring the Gettysburg battlefield.

The battlefield and roads are open daily, from thirty minutes before sunrise until thirty minutes after sunset.

Sunrise over the monument to the 1st Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry Regiment on the Gettysburg battlefield.

2. The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center

The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center is a gateway to understanding the events of this Civil War battle, making it an essential stop for any visit to Gettysburg.

The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center in Adams County, PA. — The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center.

This beautiful facility is privately owned & operated by the Gettysburg Foundation (in partnership with the National Park Service), and provides visitors with a broad-based overview of the Battle of Gettysburg via three separate but complementary attractions.

The 3 main attractions at the Gettysburg battlefield visitor center.

Taken together, these three attractions at the Visitor Center will provide you with a better understanding of what you’re looking at as you tour the sprawling Gettysburg battlefield.

Exhibit inside the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War at the battlefield visitor center.

3. The Historic Round Barn and Farm Market

The Historic Round Barn and Farm Market in Adams County is truly one of the most interesting and beautiful barns in Pennsylvania!

Exploring the Historic Round Barn in Adams County, PA. — Scenes from the Round Barn in Adams County.

Located approximately 8 miles west of downtown Gettysburg, the Round Barn has been a tourist attraction from the time it was first completed in 1914.

The Historic Round Barn is one of many unique buildings along the route of the original Lincoln Highway.

Now home to a terrific farm market and event space, the Round Barn near Gettysburg is a must-see when passing through Adams County.

The Round Barn market sells a variety of items including fruits, vegetables, and baked goods.

4. Sachs Covered Bridge

Sachs Covered Bridge was built around 1854 and spans Marsh Creek just south of Gettysburg.

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

Nine years after its construction, Union forces crossed Sachs Covered Bridge on July 1, 1863, headed towards Gettysburg.

How to find Sachs Covered Bridge near Gettysburg Pennsylvania. — 100 foot-long Sachs Covered Bridge near Gettysburg Pennsylvania.

Three days later, retreating Confederate forces also crossed Sachs Covered Bridge, which in no small part is why the PA Department of Highways (PennDOT’s predecessor) designated it “Pennsylvania’s most historic covered bridge” in 1938.

Sachs Covered Bridge is knwn both as Pennsylvania's historic Covered Bridge and also as Pennsylvania's most-haunted covered bridge. — Sachs Covered Bridge is known both as Pennsylvania’s most-historic covered bridge and also as Pennsylvania’s most-haunted covered bridge.

5. Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum

The Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum shares the history of Adams County before, during, and after the epic Civil War battle that took place in and around Gettysburg in 1863.

Exploring the Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum in Gettysburg is operated by the Adams County Historical Society. — Scenes from the Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum.

Operated by the Adams County Historical Society, the museum is home to an engaging collection of exhibits, artifacts, short films, and immersive experiences that illustrate the history of Adams County in a memorable way.

Civil War artifacts on display at the Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. — Civil War artifacts at the Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum.

6. Soldiers’ National Cemetery

The Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg is some of the most hallowed ground in Pennsylvania.

Looking out across the National Cemetery in Gettysburg towards the Soldiers' National Monument. — Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg.

Cemetery Hill, near the site from which Union forces repelled Pickett’s Charge on Cemetery Ridge, was in the months after the Battle of Gettysburg transformed into the final resting place for over 3,000 fallen Union soldiers.

Unknown Union soldier's graves at the Gettysburg National Cemetery. — Unknown Union soldier’s graves at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery.

At a ceremony dedicating the newly-created cemetery on November 19, 1863 (4 months after the Battle of Gettysburg), President Abraham Lincoln delivered what is considered to be one of the most iconic speeches in American history, what later became known as the “Gettysburg Address.”

Lincoln Address Memorial at the Gettysburg National Cemetery. — Lincoln Address Memorial at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery.

7. The Seminary Ridge Museum

The former Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg, now the Seminary Ridge Museum, served as both an observation post and a hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg.

The Seminary Ridge Museum in Adams County 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.

Several floors of interactive exhibits and artifact displays highlight the role the seminary played in the Battle of Gettysburg.

The Lutheran Seminary was captured by Confederate forces on the evening of the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

The Cupola Tour takes you up into the very top of the Seminary, where you can experience the same commanding view that made it a valuable observation post during the battle.

A docent on the Cupola Tour points out features on the western horizon where Confederate forces approached Gettysburg from on July 1, 1863.

8. The Christmas Haus

The Christmas Haus in Adams County is a one-of-a-kind marketplace for German-made Christmas ornaments, decorations, and accessories!

Exploring German Christmas Traditions at the Christmas Haus in Adams County. — The Christmas Haus features an enormous selection of German Christmas ornaments.

The Christmas Haus is conveniently located right along the historic Lincoln Highway in New Oxford, 9 miles east of Gettysburg.

The Christmas Haus along the Lincoln Highway in New Oxford Pennsylvania. — The Christmas Haus along the Lincoln Highway in New Oxford.

The Christmas Haus buys their merchandise direct from the craftspeople and manufacturers in Germany, some of which have been in the “Christmas business” for many hundreds of years!

Wooden Christmas decorations from Germany at the Christmas Haus in New Oxford Pennsylvania. — Wooden Christmas decorations from Germany.

9. The Shriver House

The Shriver House gives you a unique perspective on how the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War affected the Shriver family, who built this beautiful brick home in Gettysburg in 1860.

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. — *The Shriver House.*

Some of the rooms are decorated as they would have been prior to the war reaching Gettysburg.

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. — How the formal sitting room would have looked at the Shriver House prior to the Battle of Gettysburg.

While other rooms show what the house looked like after it was commandeered by Confederate soldiers and used for, among other things, 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 position in the attic of the Shriver House.

If you want to get an intimate look at the Battle of Gettysburg from a civilian perspective, the Shriver House is a must-see.

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. — The Shriver House Museum in Adams County.

10. Children of Gettysburg 1863 Museum

The Children of Gettysburg 1863 museum does an admirable job tackling the formidable task of explaining the Battle of Gettysburg in terms children can understand.

The Children of Gettysburg 1863 Museum in Adams County, PA. — The Children of Gettysburg 1863 Museum.

Kids can literally see themselves in the shoes of children during the Civil War, and many of the exhibits incorporate touchable elements to keep them engaged.

Union and Confederate uniforms exhibit at the Children of Gettysburg 1863 museum in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. — Union and Confederate uniforms exhibit at the Children of Gettysburg 1863 museum.

The museum doesn’t gloss over anything, but it does present the Battle of Gettysburg and its aftermath in terms that would not be scary to a majority of children.

Exhibit about children gathering relics on the battlefield at the Children of Gettysburg 1863 museum in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. — Exhibit about the dangers facing children gathering relics on the Gettysburg battlefield.

11. Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium

Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium in Adams County just may be the best elephant-themed roadside attraction in Pennsylvania!

An elephant-themed water garden in front of Mister Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium in Adams County.

Located just west of Gettysburg, Mister Ed’s features a dizzying array of elephant figurines, circus souvenirs, toys, statues, gardens, and artwork, as well as over a thousand kinds of candy!

A small portion of the elephant paraphernalia on display inside the Elephant Museum portion of Mister Ed's. — A small portion of the elephant paraphernalia on display inside the Elephant Museum portion of Mister Ed’s.

The grounds surrounding Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium are a collection of whimsically-decorated gardens incorporating elephants as the central theme (of course!)

The Garden of Whimsy at Mister Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium is a perfect spot to savor some delicious candy and spectacular fall foliage views as well. — The Garden of Whimsy at Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium is a perfect spot to savor some delicious candy and spectacular fall foliage views.

Everywhere you look inside Mister Ed’s, on the walls, ceilings, shelves, and countertops, you’ll see elephants and candy of every possible description.

Elephants and candy everywhere you look at MIster Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium. — Elephants and candy everywhere you look at MIster Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium.

12. The Gettysburg Museum of History

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.*

This remarkable museum, nestled in the heart downtown, offers an intimate look into the past three centuries of the American narrative through its extensive collection of incredible historic finds and personal effects from some of the world’s most famous political and military leaders.

Historical artifacts on display at the Gettysburg Museum of History, including Confederate money purportedly found on Jefferson Davis when he was captured in 1865. Accompanying the money is an explanatory note and provenance information. Also visible are stacks of Confederate bills, photographs of historical figures, and a monogrammed item belonging to General Robert E. Lee. These items are carefully preserved under glass, capturing a moment in American history. — Money found on the person of Confederate President Jefferson Davis when he was captured in 1865.

13. The Gettysburg Diorama and History Center

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.

Combined with a light and sound show, along with day-by-day narration, the result is an immersive journey through one of the most pivotal moments in American history.

A close-up of the Gettysburg Diorama at the Gettysburg Diorama and History Center, showing a detailed section of Seminary Ridge. The miniature landscape includes replicas of historic buildings, roads, and meticulously painted soldier figurines representing Union and Confederate troops in formation. The scene captures the strategic positioning and environment of the area during the Battle of Gettysburg. — *Scale model version of Seminary Ridge on the diorama.*

Whether you’re a history buff, a student, or just curious about this critical moment in American history, the diorama provides an exceptional overview of this famous battle.

In the Gettysburg Diorama and History Center, an illuminated projection of General Meade is displayed on a wall above a detailed diorama of the town and battlefield of Gettysburg. The diorama is lit under a dimmed ambient light, allowing visitors to focus on the illuminated historical images and the miniature scene below, which features buildings, roads, and tiny military figures. Framed artwork and a Confederate flag are also visible on the walls surrounding the projection. — The diorama provides an exceptional overview of the Battle of Gettysburg.

14. The Dobbin House

The Dobbin House is a dining tradition in Gettysburg, located in a building constructed in 1776!

The Dobbin House Tavern in Gettysburg is a colonial-style restaurant housed in a structure built in 1776 in Adams County. — The Dobbin House Tavern in Gettysburg is a colonial-style restaurant housed in a structure built in 1776.

The basement of the Dobbin House is where you’ll find the Springhouse Tavern, featuring casual dining in a colonial atmosphere.

The Springhouse Tavern is located in the basement of the Dobbin House in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. — The Springhouse Tavern is located in the basement of the Dobbin House.

Upstairs you’ll find the Alexander Dobbin Dining Rooms, featuring a fine dining experience in six historic rooms.

The Alexander Dobbin dining rooms offer a fine dining experience at the Dobbin House in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. — The Alexander Dobbin dining rooms offer a fine dining experience at the Dobbin House.

You can also take a free tour of other areas of the Dobbin House, including a secret space that served as a hideout for runaway slaves along the Underground Railroad.

A secret space in the Dobbin House that served as a hideout for runaway slaves along the Underground Railroad.

15. The Civil War Tails Museum

Civil War Tails is a distinctive museum where Civil War dioramas come to life with an intriguing twist: every soldier is depicted as a cat!

A close-up of a diorama at the Civil War Tails Diorama Museum in Gettysburg, PA, illustrating Kemper's Advance during Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg. The diorama shows cat-like figures arranged in two lines of shoulder-to-shoulder infantry, with officers and file closers behind them. A descriptive label in front of the diorama explains the battle formation and notes that this scene includes 306 cat soldiers, representing part of two regiments of General James Kemper's Confederate brigade as they moved through Colonel E.P. Alexander's artillery on their way to the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge. — *Civil War Tails: a diorama museum where every soldier is depicted as a cat.*

This creative approach offers a fresh perspective on the historic battles of the Civil War, combining educational content with a touch of whimsy.

An intricate diorama at the Civil War Tails Diorama Museum in Gettysburg, PA, vividly portraying the battle at the Angle on Cemetery Ridge. The scene is bustling with cat-like figures in Union and Confederate uniforms amidst a chaotic battle, with some charging forward and others lying on the ground. Puffs of cotton simulate gun smoke, adding to the realism of the miniature battlefield. In the background, the museum's interior includes a window with curtains and a display case with additional artifacts. This diorama captures a crucial moment in Civil War history with a whimsical twist by representing the soldiers as cats. — *Diorama depicting The Angle on Cemetery Ridge*.

The dioramas are crafted with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that each scene realistically portrays the events of the Civil War, albeit with feline participants.

A close-up view of a diorama at the Civil War Tails Diorama Museum in Gettysburg, PA, depicting Mosby's Raid. Cat-like figures, representing Confederate guerrillas under Colonel John Singleton Mosby, are shown attacking a Union wagon train. The figures, in detailed Civil War-era attire, are on horseback surrounding a covered wagon. A description card in front of the diorama provides context to the historical event being portrayed by these feline sculptures. — *Confederate raiders depicted as cats in gray uniforms*.

Civil War Tails is housed in a building originally built in 1869 as part of The National Homestead, a school for the orphans of soldiers killed in the Civil War.

The front entrance of the Civil War Tails Diorama Museum in Gettysburg, PA, captured during the day. The museum is housed in a charming, historic two-story building with green shutters and a mansard roof. A sign in front of the building reads 'Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum LLC' with an 'Open' flag beneath it. There's also an information board at the sidewalk's edge, introducing visitors to the museum's unique concept. The museum's exterior and signage invite guests to explore its distinctive exhibits featuring cat-like figures in Civil War dioramas. — Civil War Tails is housed in a former dormitory at the National Homestead school for Civil War orphans.

16. The Jennie Wade House

The Jennie Wade House is a shrine to the only civilian casualty during the Battle of Gettysburg, 20 year-old Jennie Wade.

The Jennie Wade House in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, viewed from the street. The historic brick house, featuring a red front door and shutters, is accompanied by a bronze statue of Jennie Wade in the foreground. The house is a significant landmark of the Civil War, situated under a cloudy sky. — *The Jennie Wade House.*

Guides in period attire recount the story of how Jennie was kneading dough in the kitchen when a rifle bullet pierced two doors and claimed her life.

A costumed tour guide, dressed in period-appropriate attire, is speaking and gesturing in a room of the Jennie Wade House in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The room is decorated with vintage wallpaper and contains a red shelf with old-fashioned kitchenware. On the green door, there is a framed legend and letter about the house's history. — *Tour guide depicting Jennie Wade’s mother tells the story of Jennie’s life and death*.

Jennie Wade is laid to rest across the street from where she was killed, at Evergreen Cemetery.

Jennie Wade's gravesite at Evergreen Cemetery in Gettysburg. — Jennie Wade’s gravesite at Evergreen Cemetery in Gettysburg.

17. The Battle of Gettysburg First Shot Marker

The Battle of Gettysburg First Shot Marker denotes the spot where the very first shot of the three-day battle is said to have been fired from.

The collage features five photos capturing different aspects of the historic site where the first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg was fired. The central image is of the Wisler House, a red brick two-story building with white trim, sitting atop a stone foundation with a porch facing the Chambersburg Pike. In the top right, an image shows a vintage photograph of a stone monument, with a caption detailing its dedication by veterans of the 8th Illinois Cavalry in 1886. Below, a sign points to the "First Shot Wisler House," and next to it is an interpretive panel with an illustration of Union soldiers firing the first shot, accompanied by descriptive text. The bottom right photo focuses on the engraved limestone marker standing on a grassy patch, bearing the names of Captain Jones and Sergeant Shafer of the 8th Illinois Cavalry, honoring the location of that first crucial shot. — Scenes from the First Shot Marker along the Chambersburg Pike/Route 30.

Lieutenant Marcellus E. Jones of the 8th Illinois Cavalry, using a borrowed carbine, fired at a Confederate officer on a gray horse approximately 700 yards to the west.

This is an image of an informational sign titled "The First Shot" at the site of the Battle of Gettysburg First Shot Marker. The sign provides historical context about the actions of the 8th Illinois Cavalry at the Ephraim Wisler House, where they established an advance picket post to alert Union General John Buford's cavalry division of any enemy movements towards Gettysburg. It recounts that at 7:30 am on July 1, 1863, advancing Confederates were sighted crossing Marsh Creek half a mile to the front, leading Union Lieutenant Marcellus E. Jones to rest a carbine on a fence post and fire what is believed to be the first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg. The text notes that over the following two days, an estimated 7 million bullets were fired, causing more than 51,000 casualties and forever changing the nation. — Lieutenant Marcellus E. Jones of the 8th Illinois Cavalry laid claim to having taken the first shot of the battle.

23 years after the Battle of Gettysburg, Lieutenant (later Captain) Jones and his comrades commemorated their claim to having fired the first rifle shot of the battle by erecting a limestone monument they paid for themselves on a small plot of ground from they purchased from the homeowner.

The photo features a close-up of a limestone marker beside a road, engraved with the names of individuals associated with the First Shot at the Battle of Gettysburg. The inscriptions read "BY CAPT. JONES LIEUT. RIDDLER & SERGT. SHAFER," acknowledging the men who played a role in erecting this monument. The marker stands on a grassy area with the road visible in the background, accompanied by power lines and a glimpse of residential homes, placing the historical site in a contemporary setting. The marker acts as a tribute to these figures from the 8th Illinois Cavalry and their contribution to commemorating a significant moment in American history. — *The five-foot tall limestone monument was crafted in Naperville, Illinois.*

Nearby Attractions

10 Must-See Attractions in Franklin County is your guide to some of the best things to see and do in Adams County’s neighbor to the west.

The best things to see and do in Franklin County Pennsylvania. — Scenes from Franklin County, PA.

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