Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center offers special events and programs throughout the year. Please check this page for updates and registration and ticket information.
Upcoming events.
Here, you will find dates and links to our upcoming and in-person events. Check back regularly as we add new programs to the calendar.
View our past events
Legacy Weekend and Candlelight Illumination
Friday, September 11
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Candlelight Illumination (more information below)
7:30pm
Speaking the Names of the Seminary Hospital
Throughout the Evening
Rusty Dicks - Civil War Surgeon (see information below)
Saturday, September 12
Museum Operating Hours
Rusty Dicks-Civil War Surgeon will present period military surgery demonstrations and interpretation on the experiences of a Civil War surgeon.
Rusty is a living historian based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, who has portrayed a Union surgeon for more than 25 years. He also supports SRMEC as an active member of the Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation Foundation Board of Directors.
Join us on the evening of Friday, September 11 for our annual Legacy Weekend and Candlelight Illumination. Since 2013, we have held “Legacy Weekend” in commemoration of the closure of the Seminary Hospital, on September 16, 1863, after the departure of its final patient, Lt. Col. George McFarland.
This event is intended to remember the experiences of the physicians, attendants, and patients who occupied Schmucker Hall and the hospital complex which surrounded it.
Throughout the evening of September 11, seven hundred luminaria will line the historic tan bark path leading to Schmucker Hall, memorializing the soldiers, broken in battle, who sought refuge and care in the Seminary building in the summer of 1863 as well as those who toiled for their care.
For just $25, you may sponsor the name of a patient, attendant, or physician connected to the Seminary Hospital or choose to sponsor in memory of an individual important to you.
Click Here to Purchase a Sponsorship
Click here for a list of patients
Click here for a list of attendants
Click here for a list of physicians
Bags will be lit safely with battery-operated LED tea lights and will feature both your name*, unless you choose to sponsor anonymously, and the name of your sponsored soldier. Following the event, bags will be available to take home.
Sponsored by
Living History On the Ridge
Living History On the Ridge
Sat. Oct. 3 and Sun. Oct. 4
9:00am - 5:00pm
Encampment located on western side of Seminary Ridge, near the barricade.
Experience Civil War history up close as reenactors from the 53rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Co. C gather at Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center for engaging living history demonstrations. Witness a demonstration of period firearms being fired and step into the world of Civil War medicine during an authentic surgeon’s presentation. Learn about the equipment, techniques, and experiences of soldiers and medical personnel during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Schedule of Events
Both days
9:00am - Museum Opens
9:30am - Roll Call
10:00am - Drill
10:30am - Firing Demonstration
11:00am - Surgeon’s Presentation
-Break-
2:30pm - Drill
3:00pm - Firing Demonstration
3:30pm - Surgeon’s Presentation
5:00pm - Museum Closes
*Stay tuned for more information!*
- FREE for all ages -
Fridays On the Ridge - Union Mills and the Battle of Gettysburg
The Union Mills Homestead, the ancestral home of the prominent Shriver family, is a microcosm of American history. Two families bound by blood but divided by the Civil War, experienced the chaotic days surrounding the Battle of Gettysburg in very different ways. Union and Confederate Armies, supply wagons, stragglers, and wounded soldiers streamed by their homes in the thousands. Acts of kindness and threats of violence were punctuated by the sound of distant cannon. All the while, an enslaved family weathered the storm in the year before emancipation.
A summa cum laude graduate of Catholic University of America with a major in history and minor in anthropology with a focus in archaeology, Kyle Dalton has more than twenty years of experience in public history. Formerly of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, Kyle is the executive director of the Union Mills Homestead, a museum of rural American life in Carroll County, Maryland.
- FREE with Museum Admission -
Lydia Ziegler Clare Education Center
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
Nonfiction Book Club (with Adams County Library System)
Through our collaboration with Adams County Library System, come join us at the Schmucker House every other month on the third Tuesday for a discussion on a selected nonfiction book. This month we will explore the book, Ike’s Bluff by Evan Thomas.
Copies of the book are available at the Gettysburg Library's second-floor desk.
Registration Recommended. More info coming soon!
Fridays On the Ridge - ‘That Trimble is a Dangerous Man’
More information coming soon!
- FREE with Museum Admission -
Lydia Ziegler Clare Education Center
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
Revolution on the Ridge - ‘The Voice of our Fathers’ Blood’
More information coming soon!
- FREE with Museum Admission -
Lydia Ziegler Clare Education Center
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
Revolution on the Ridge - ‘To Make True and Complete the Declaration’
More information coming soon!
- FREE with Museum Admission -
Lydia Ziegler Clare Education Center
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
Ridge on the Road - Lee-Fendall House Museum
Codie Eash, SRMEC Director of Education and Interpretation, will present “The Lutheran Seminary in the Battle of Gettysburg” at the Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden (614 Oronoco Street, Alexandria, VA 22314). Tickets are $15 and the program begins at 2:00pm on Sunday, November 22. For more information from the Lee-Fendall House and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-lutheran-seminary-in-the-battle-of-gettysburg-tickets-1998428495426.
The Lutheran Theological Seminary moved to the western side of Gettysburg in 1832, followed three decades later by national debates that tore apart the United States and divided the institution. As the Battle of Gettysburg opened on July 1, 1863, the Civil War came to the Seminary's door, leaving in its wake hundreds of wounded soldiers, thousands of dollars of property damage, and countless stories of heroism and horror. Explore the social, military, and medical impacts on this critical site through a brief history of its stories and legacies.
Nonfiction Book Club (with Adams County Library System)
Through our collaboration with Adams County Library System, come join us at the Schmucker House every other month on the third Tuesday for a discussion on a selected nonfiction book. This month we will explore the book, Concussion by Jeanne Marie Laskas.
Copies of the book are available at the Gettysburg Library's second-floor desk.
Registration Recommended. More info coming soon!
Grand Army of the Republic Living History Event
Following the American Civil War, the Grand Army of the Republic became the largest and most influential United States veterans’ organization. Established in 1866 and, at its peak, comprised of more than 450,000 members at 7,500 posts nationally, the GAR left a profound impact upon postwar U.S. culture, well into the 20th century. On Saturday, September 5, join us on Seminary Ridge as we welcome those who bring the GAR’s legacies back to life.
Featuring living historians and authentic GAR artifacts, this event will provide Seminary Ridge Museum visitors a chance to interact with those passionate about telling the story of Union veterans who fought at Gettysburg and beyond.
Battle-Tempered: The Physical and Psychological Consequences of War
In conjunction with several partner organizations, join us throughout Saturday, August 29, for Battle-Tempered: The Physical and Psychological Consequences of War, at Monocacy National Battlefield, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, and the C. Burr Artz Public Library. A full schedule of events is below. Note each program’s location and time, as you may come for as much of the day as you’d like.
Registration is FREE and REQUIRED!
This event, which takes place at three locations in Frederick, Maryland, is sponsored by Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center; the National Museum of Civil War Medicine; Stephen A. Goldman Consulting Services, L.L.C.; Hood College; and Frederick County Public Libraries.
Schedule of Events
8:30am-12:00pm - Monocacy National Battlefield (5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704)
8:30am-9:30am - “Character, Warrior Identity, and Moral Leadership: Union Colonel Charles Gilpin at Monocacy and in Peace” by Stephen A. Goldman, M.D., Former Veterans Administration Psychiatrist and Distinguished Life Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
9:30am-10:15am - Self-guided tour of Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor Center and Museum
10:15am-12:00pm - Caravan Tour of Monocacy National Battlefield, led by National Park Service Ranger and Public Historian Matt Borders
12:00pm-1:45pm - Lunch and National Museum of Civil War Medicine (48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, MD 21701)
Lunch on your own in Frederick
Self-guided tour of National Museum of Civil War Medicine
1:45pm-5:00pm - C. Burr Artz Public Library (110 E. Patrick St., Frederick, MD 21701)
1:45pm-2:45pm - “‘Where We Were Fairly Treated’: Marylanders at the Gettysburg Seminary Hospital” by Codie Eash, Director of Education and Interpretation, Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
2:45pm-3:45pm - “Clara Barton, the Missing Soldiers Office, and What War Leaves in Its Wake” by Madeleine Thompson, Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum
3:45pm-4:00pm - Break
4:00pm-5:00pm - Combat Veterans’ Experience Panel, led by Stephen A. Goldman, M.D.
Sponsored by
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
On the Ridge - The Patriot Daughters of Lancaster
The Patriot Daughters Story – a PowerPoint presentation with reenactors in period dress reading from eyewitness accounts, letters and newspaper articles, plus short biographies on the prominent women who powered this effort to support the troops –including sending nurses, supplies and cooks to Gettysburg immediately after the battle.
FREE with Museum Admission
Lydia Ziegler Clare Education Center
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
During the Civil War, numerous societies, often referred to as “ladies’ aid societies,” were formed in the North and South by civilians wishing to support the troops and contribute to the war effort. On April 22, 1861, a group of ladies met at the Lancaster County Court House to form the Patriot Daughters of Lancaster with Rosina Hubley, owner of the White Swan Tavern and Hotel, as president. The initial purpose of the organization was to provide money for food and supplies for soldiers serving in local companies of Pennsylvania Regiments. Their mission grew as they organized supplies for Union hospitals, provided nursing at a local Lancaster infirmary for soldiers, and traveled with volunteer nurses and hospital supplies to Gettysburg in the summer of 1863.
Since 1992, our living historians portray the Patriot Daughters of Lancaster, their supporters, teamsters, and the soldiers they served. Today’s Patriot Daughters appear at living history events, Civil War reenactments and museums. The group also presents community programs on Civil War life and the home front with frequent appearances in Lancaster and Gettysburg.
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
Nonfiction Book Club (with Adams County Library System)
Through our collaboration with Adams County Library System, come join us at the Schmucker House every other month on the third Tuesday for a discussion on a selected nonfiction book. This month we will explore the book, Ruthless Tide by Al Roker.
Copies of the book are available at the Gettysburg Library's second-floor desk.
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
Summer Symposium 2026
Join Seminary Ridge Museum for our third annual Summer Symposium, Gettysburg Regiments and the Places They Called Home, a daylong exploration of units that fought here in July 1863 and the communities from which they came. Four guest presenters bring their expertise as the authors of renowned Civil War histories, and a staff historian explores a unit uniquely connected to the story of Gettysburg’s Lutheran Seminary. Discover five regiments and the soldiers who made up their ranks, their experiences on the field and on the homefront, and the legacies of their service on America’s most famous battlefield.
Carol Reardon, Ph.D., presenting The Saga of the Giles County “Mountain Boomers”: Company D, 7th Virginia Infantry
Jared Peatman, Ph.D., presenting Dirigo’s Sons: From the Pine Tree State to Gettysburg with the Twentieth Maine
Carolyn Ivanoff, presenting Men of the 17th Connecticut and the State they Called Home
Gerald Ankeny, presenting ‘Heart rending to think of it’: The 142nd Pennsylvania Infantry, the people of Somerset County, and the battle of Gettysburg
Codie Eash, presenting ‘Blood Stained and Scar-Honored’: The 44th Georgia Infantry
This event will continue the refreshed schedule introduced at our Winter Symposium earlier this year.
Click here for in-person registration.
Click here for virtual (livestream) registration.
Livestream access will remain available indefinitely, so if you are unable to experience the event live, you may revisit at any time afterward.
**All proceeds support Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center.**
Fridays On the Ridge - ‘Born without a Fatherland’
Join Jenna Rhoads, SRMEC summer intern (Gettysburg College), as she discusses role of Jewish servicemembers in the Confederate military during the American Civil War.
- FREE -
Outdoors - Weather Permitting
Meet at Luther Statue
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
Fridays On the Ridge - Sunset Walking Tour: Witness Trees on Seminary Ridge
Join us for a guided walking tour of the historic Lutheran Theological Seminary campus, where you'll encounter "witness trees" that silently observed some of the fiercest fighting during the Battle of Gettysburg. Discover the fascinating stories behind these living artifacts and learn how they survived the crossfire of 1863.
Our special guest, Peter Lukacs—author of three books on Gettysburg witness trees— joined by Kaleb Kusmierczyk, Director of Museum Operations, will share stories about these remarkable trees at the Seminary.
- FREE -
Outdoors - Weather Permitting
Meet at Luther Statue
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
Fridays On the Ridge - “Remember the Ladies”
Due to air quality concerns, this program has been moved to the Lydia Ziegler Clare Education Center in Seminary Ridge Museum.
“Remember the Ladies”: A Closer Look at the Role of Women in America’s Most Crucial Moments
When discussing Women’s rights in America, we primarily think about figures and events such as Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and the fight for women’s suffrage in the late 1800s/early 1900s. But American women have been fighting for and discussing their liberation since before the Declaration of Independence was penned.
Join Megan Kromer, SRMEC summer intern (Allegheny College), as she discusses integral figures and moments during the American Revolution and the Civil War that shaped the place of women in American society.
- FREE -
Indoors
Lydia Ziegler Clare Education Center
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
Fireworks from the Cupola
This event is currently sold out.
This year, experience Gettysburg’s Independence Day fireworks from a unique perspective! On July 4, join Seminary Ridge Museum and Education staff in the historic Cupola for a special sunset tour and stick around to enjoy a fireworks display from the Gettysburg Rec Park, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Gettysburg, Gettysburg Area Recreation Authority, and Destination Gettysburg.
Tickets for this event are always limited and is an experience like no other in Gettysburg!
Please arrive by 8:15 to begin the Cupola tour, followed by fireworks at 9:20pm.
Light refreshments will be provided.
All registrations will include Museum Admission during regular business hours.
If registration is full, please email info@seminaryridgemuseum.org to be placed on a waiting list.
Refund/Cancellation Policy
In the event of inclement weather, a rain date of July 5 may be scheduled. If you are unable to attend the rain date, a 75% refund will be offered.
100% refunds will be offered with notice given at least 72 hours (3 days) prior to the event.
50% refunds will be offered with notice of less than 72 hours prior to the event.
If the event is canceled entirely, a 100% refund will be offered.
‘The Great Anniversary Festival’: A July 2nd Independence Celebration
Important Announcement
To help everyone stay cool and comfortable during the near record breaking heat, all events originally scheduled outside have been relocated to inside the United Lutheran Seminary Chapel, located next to Seminary Ridge Museum.
presents
’The Great Anniversary Festival’: A July 2nd Independence Celebration
John Adams predicted, “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.” Of course, Adams was off by two days regarding the date Americans associate with independence. But for the semiquincentennial of the United States, you are invited to honor the 250th anniversary of our nation’s birth on July 2nd, when a vote on the Declaration of Independence officially passed the Continental Congress.
Join Seminary Ridge Museum, Gettysburg Foundation, Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg Film Commission, and more community partners for a memorable evening on Gettysburg’s historic Lutheran Seminary campus.
The commemoration includes readings of the Declaration of Independence and Gettysburg Address, a panel discussion focused on the history and legacy of the occasion, and an outdoor screening of the episode “Independence” from the award-winning HBO miniseries John Adams. This unique celebration honors the man whose name inspired Adams County, the nation that Adams and his fellow founders helped create, and the lasting meaning of the Declaration of Independence throughout the past 250 years in Gettysburg and beyond.
Schedule of Events
6:30pm-7:00pm - Opening Remarks (by Judy Morley, Ph.D., SRMEC Executive Director) and Reading of the Declaration of Independence (by Codie Eash, SRMEC Director of Education and Interpretation). FREE. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
7:30pm-8:30pm - Panel on Historical Legacy (Featuring Tom McMillan, Jake Wynn, Erin Pearce and Dan Vermilya; Moderated by Judy Morley, Ph.D., SRMEC Executive Director). FREE. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
9:00pm-10:30pm - Outdoor screening of “Independence” from the award-winning HBO miniseries John Adams. FREE. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
CJ’s Food Truck will be on site all evening!
Food truck canceled due to heat
- FREE -
Bring a chair!
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
From Revolution to Rebellion: One Family’s American Story
Reception begins at 6:00pm, followed by program at 7:00pm.
Seating is limited and first come, first served.
Join us on the evening of July 1 as we blend America250 and the Battle of Gettysburg 163rd Anniversary with an engaging conversation with a descendant of some of the nation's most remarkable figures, including Revolutionary War patriot William Dawes and Civil War hero Rufus Dawes. Blending family stories, historical insight, and a touch of humor, this special presentation offers a unique perspective on the people who helped shape the American story. Arrive at 6:00 for a pre-program reception, stay for the Q&A, and explore how the legacy of these extraordinary Americans continues to resonate 250 years later.
William “Bill” Dawes Schulz is a former cable news correspondent/co-host, and longtime contributor for the New York Times, New York magazine, The Daily Beast, Maxim, New York Daily News, Reader’s Digest, and more.
Bill is also a licensed NYC Tour Guide, (of which he covered as an editor at Entrepreneur magazine). Schulz currently helms local adventures with Bowery Boys Walks and is starting his own traipsing-whilst-talking trifle via Knicker Walker Tours.
Bill is a direct descendant of the oft-overlooked midnight rider, William Dawes Jr, a 3rd great-grandson of Gettysburg hero Lt. Col. Rufus Dawes, and 2nd great-grandnephew of former Vice President and delightful songwriter, Charles Gates Dawes. This history-based descendant intends to explore his ancestors' pop culture appearances, plus relaying attempts to be their ONLY publicist when it comes to keeping the family name alive.
Sponsored by
Rusty Dicks, Financial Associate at Thrivent and SRMEC Board Member
Battle of Gettysburg 163rd Anniversary on the Ridge
Important Announcement
To help everyone stay cool and comfortable during the near record breaking heat, all events originally scheduled outside have been relocated to inside the United Lutheran Seminary Chapel, located next to Seminary Ridge Museum.
Museum Open Daily, 9:00am-5:00pm
Most events are FREE, but donations are appreciated.
Schedule subject to change.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
6:00pm – “On the Eve of Battle” Dinner (Featuring Chris Mackowski, Ph.D., author of Atlas of Independence: John Adams and the American Revolution and Fight Like the Devil: The First Day at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863) - visit event page
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
9:30am – “First Clash at Gettysburg: The Fight for McPherson’s Ridge” (Presentation by Kaleb Kusmierczyk, SRMEC Director of Museum Operations)
FREE. Approximately 45 minutes plus Q&A. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
10:30am – “The Civil War Chaplains of York County, PA” (Presentation by Scott Mingus, Author and Historian)
FREE. Approximately 45 minutes plus Q&A and book signing. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
11:30am – “The John & Eliza Slentz Family: Retreat from Battle, Return to Devastation” (Presentation by Lisa Shower, Author and Historian)
FREE. Approximately 45 minutes plus Q&A. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
12:30pm – “The Nameless and the Faceless of the Civil War” (Presentation by Lisa Samia, Author and Poet)
FREE. Approximately 45 minutes plus Q&A and book signing. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
2:30pm – “How They Met Their Demise: Robert E. Lee and John Buford” (Walking Tour by Chris Bagley, Author and Historian)
FREE. Approximately 60 minutes. Indoors, due to heat. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
6:00pm-9:00pm – “From Revolution to Rebellion: One Family’s American Story” (Reception and Presentation by Bill Schulz, national media contributor and descendent of Revolutionary War veteran William Dawes and Civil War veteran Rufus Dawes)
FREE. Meet at Valentine Hall Auditorium, 61 Seminary Ridge. Seating is limited and first come, first served.
Thursday, July 2, 2026
10:30am – “Echoes of 1865: The Surviving Legacies of the Civil War and How they influenced America’s Future” (Presentation by Karlene Bloom, Independent Researcher)
FREE. Approximately 45 minutes plus Q&A. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
11:30am – “Alexandria & Gettysburg: Connections Between Two Civil War Towns” (Presentation by Madeleine Feierstein, Historian and Founder of Rooted in Place)
FREE. Approximately 45 minutes plus Q&A. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
2:00pm – “A Hell of a Regiment: How the Twentieth Maine Created Their Gettysburg Story” (Book Discussion featuring author and historian Jared Peatman, Ph.D., moderated by Codie Eash, SRMEC Director of Education and Interpretation)
FREE. Approximately 45 minutes plus Q&A and book signing. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
6:30pm-11:00pm – ‘The Great Anniversary Festival’: A July 2nd Independence Celebration
6:30pm-7:00pm - Opening Remarks (by Judy Morley, Ph.D., SRMEC Executive Director) and Reading of the Declaration of Independence (by Codie Eash, SRMEC Director of Education and Interpretation). FREE. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
7:30pm-8:30pm - Panel on Historical Legacy (Featuring Tom McMillan, Jake Wynn, Erin Pearce and Dan Vermilya; Moderated by Judy Morley, Ph.D., SRMEC Executive Director). FREE. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
9:00pm-11:00pm - Outdoor screening of “Independence” from the award-winning HBO miniseries John Adams. FREE. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
Friday, July 3, 2026
10:00am to 3:00pm – Visit Lee’s Headquarters (Open House)
FREE. Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center. Courtesy of American Battlefield Trust.
10:30am – “Two Marshalls, Two Americas: Union, States' Rights, and Civil War“ (“Revolution on the Ridge” presentation by Judy Morley, Ph.D., SRMEC Executive Director)
FREE. Approximately 45 minutes plus Q&A. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
11:30am – “The Revere Legacy: Patriotism and Service from Revolution to Civil War“ (“Revolution on the Ridge” presentation by Kaleb Kusmierczyk, SRMEC Director of Museum Operations)
FREE. Approximately 45 minutes plus Q&A. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
12:30pm – “‘Liberty or Death’ from Richmond to Gettysburg: Patrick Henry’s Great-Grandson in the Civil War” (“Revolution on the Ridge” presentation by Codie Eash, SRMEC Director of Education and Interpretation)
FREE. Approximately 45 minutes plus Q&A. Indoors. Meet at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel (directly next to Seminary Ridge Museum).
Saturday, July 4, 2026
8:30pm to 10:00pm – Fireworks from the Cupola - visit event page
TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE. Space is limited to 10 visitors.
We are proud to collaborate with our friends at:
'On the Eve of Battle' Dinner
Dinner tickets are now sold out.
On June 30, join SRMEC staff and friends for a special barbecue dinner, catered by Northern Redneck BBQ, on the 163rd anniversary of John Buford’s encampment on Seminary Ridge.
Following dinner, the evening will be highlighted with a presentation by Chris Mackowski, Ph.D., author of Atlas of Independence: John Adams and the American Revolution and Fight Like the Devil: The First Day at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863.
More information coming soon!
Event will be held inside the United Lutheran Seminary Refectory.
Featuring
Food catered by Northern Redneck BBQ
Pulled Pork
Pulled Chicken
Mac and Cheese
Broccoli Salad
Green Beans
Additionally, a special gift basket raffle will feature prizes donated by local businesses, including:
Adams County Winery
Dale Gallon Art
Gettysburg Cookie Co.
Harrisburg Senators
Hershey Gardens
Lincoln Links
Majestic Theater
Mister Ed’s
National Civil War Museum
Seminary Ridge Museum
Totem Pole Playhouse
…and more!
Fridays On the Ridge - Unanswered Questions on Seminary Ridge
As anyone who has done historical research can attest, for every question answered, another remains unresolved. Such has been the case at Seminary Ridge Museum, where we’ve created educational and interpretive programming for more than a decade, delving deeper into archival sources with each passing year—but realizing along the way that there are some things we may simply never know.
Join Codie Eash and Kaleb Kusmierczyk for our inaugural Sunset Schmucker House Porch Talk, as the duo discusses some of this campus’s most baffling historical mysteries.
- FREE -
Outdoors - Weather Permitting
Meet at Schmucker House Porch - Chairs Recommended
Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
Juneteenth 2026 in Gettysburg
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a time to reflect on the nation’s continuing journey toward freedom, equality, and justice.
In Gettysburg, a place deeply connected to the struggle for liberty, Juneteenth offers a meaningful opportunity to gather as a community to remember the past, celebrate Black history and culture, and reflect on what freedom means today.
As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the United States, this year’s celebration invites visitors and residents alike to take part in programs, performances, and shared moments of reflection that honor the past while looking toward the future.
All events are free and open to the public.
Juneteenth 2026 in Gettysburg
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a time to reflect on the nation’s continuing journey toward freedom, equality, and justice.
In Gettysburg, a place deeply connected to the struggle for liberty, Juneteenth offers a meaningful opportunity to gather as a community to remember the past, celebrate Black history and culture, and reflect on what freedom means today.
As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the United States, this year’s celebration invites visitors and residents alike to take part in programs, performances, and shared moments of reflection that honor the past while looking toward the future.
All events are free and open to the public.
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
Nonfiction Book Club (with Adams County Library System)
Through our collaboration with Adams County Library System, come join us at the Schmucker House every other month on the third Tuesday for a discussion on a selected nonfiction book. This month we will explore the book, Stealing Lincoln’s Body by Thomas J. Craughwell.
Copies of the book are available at the Gettysburg Library's second-floor desk.
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
Visit Lee's Headquarters
Join Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center staff at the historic Mary Thompson house, which is open in conjunction with the American Battlefield Trust. On-site interpreters are ready to answer questions and tell the story of this crucial ground, which witnessed deadly fighting on July 1, 1863, and subsequently served as the headquarters for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Meet at 401 Buford Ave. (Route 30), 0.2 miles north of Seminary Ridge Museum & Education Center.
American Battlefield Trust may open the house at other times.
Click here to view their calendar.
Ridge on the Road - Gettysburg Library
Codie Eash, SRMEC Director of Education and Interpretation, will present “‘To Make True and Complete the Declaration’: Gettysburg Veterans and the Legacy of the Revolution” at the Gettysburg Library. The program begins at 6:00pm in the Third Floor Meeting Room at the Gettysburg Library (140 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA, 17325). For more information from Adams County Library and to register, visit https://www.adamslibrary.org/event/make-true-and-complete-declaration-gettysburg-veterans-and-legacy-revolution-77537.
In his Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln famously opened with a call back to America’s founding “four score and seven years” earlier, in 1776. Many of the “brave men, living and dead, who struggled here” likewise made similar statements of their own, during and after the Civil War. Join Codie Eash as he explores the meaning of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution through the writings of those who fought here in 1863.