NPS Photo
Saturday, September 19
Ranger Guided Tours of WWII Burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery
These programs meet inside the Taneytown Road entrance to the cemetery, Auto Tour Stop #16, Gettysburg NMP.
9:00 AM—1943: America at War
Gettysburg National Cemetery is the final resting place for over 500 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who died during World War II. Join us for a special series of cemetery tours that will guide visitors through the entirety of America’s involvement in World War II. This Saturday morning program will feature stories of those who fought in 1943, ranging from the Solomon Islands to Sicily and Italy.
5:00 PM—1944: Liberation in Europe and the Pacific
Gettysburg National Cemetery is the final resting place for over 500 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who died during World War II. Join us for a special series of cemetery tours that will guide visitors through the entirety of America’s involvement in World War II. Our Saturday evening program will highlight Americans from 1944, when America waged a global war in the Pacific and Europe against fascism and tyranny. Explore stories from Saipan, Normandy, and the Battle of the Bulge.
WWII Living History Camp at Eisenhower National Historic Site, 9 am to 5 pm
Join hundreds of living history volunteers to explore stories of those who fought for liberty during World War II.
Family Programming at Eisenhower National Historic Site, 9 am to 5 pm
World War II Weekend has fun for visitors of all ages. Kids ages 5 and up can pick up a Family Booklet at the Welcome Tent and complete special activities in the living history camp to earn their very own personalized WWII themed prize! In addition to the Family Booklet, families are invited to visit the Family Activity Tent for activities, shade, and water.
Eisenhower Home Tours, 9 am to 4:30 pm
Eisenhower home tours are offered in an “open-house” format. Meet the ranger in front of the Eisenhower home.
Eisenhower NHS Guest Speakers and Ranger Programming
All programs last 45-60 minutes unless otherwise noted. Information on book signings and times will be posted in September.
9:30 AM— Citizen Soldiers, Training for War: An Immersive Walking Tour Experience
Join a park ranger and members of the Greatest Generation Living History Association as they embark on a training exercise, preparing new recruits for war on the grounds of the Redding farm in Gettysburg, PA (Modern day Eisenhower NHS). Note: this is an interactive walking program and will be leaving the living history camp area. Visitors should be advised that this will involve walking over uneven terrain.
Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
10:00 AM—Dr. Matthew Delmont—Half-American: The Heroic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad
Join Dartmouth College professor and historian Dr. Matthew Delmont to explore the stories of African-Americans who served and fought in World War II.
This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers’ Tent.
Click here for more on this program and speaker.
11:00 AM— Why We Fight: Become a War Correspondent—Ranger Guided Walking Tour
Why did men and women take up arms for liberty in the 1940s? Join a park ranger and become a WWII War Correspondent in this interactive program. Visit select living history camp sites, find out what daily life was like for those who fought 80 years ago, and report to the American people on the Home Front.
Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
11:30 AM—Dr. Allison Finkelstein—”The Years Were Not Wasted:” How the Female ‘Veterans’ of World War I Impacted the World War II Generation
Historian and author Dr. Allison Finkelstein will explore how women servicemembers from the First World War paved the way for women to serve in uniform during World War II.
This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers’ Tent.
Click here for more on this program and speaker.
12:30 PM—The Arsenal of Democracy: Weapons and Vehicles of Liberation—Ranger Guided Walking Tour
Join a park ranger and explore the vehicles and weapons used as Americans and their Allies fought for liberty during World War II. From Jeeps to the M1 Garand, this program will highlight American war production, as seen in the displays within the living history camp.
Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
1:00 PM—Dr. David Nasaw—The Wounded Generation: The Return Home from World War II.
Dr. David Nasaw, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and bestselling author, joins us to explore what happened when “the Greatest Generation” returned home from World War II.
This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers’ Tent.
Click here for more on this program and speaker.
2:00 PM—The American Soldier: Valley Forge to the Hurtgen Forest—Ranger Guided Walking Tour
From the camps of Valley Forge to the wintry conditions of the Hurtgen Forest, American soldiers have endured greatly in the cause of liberty through the generations. Join a park ranger and explore the privations, sacrifices, and perseverance of American soldiers from the Revolution to World War II.
Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
2:30 PM—Dr. Kevin Weddle—Crisis in Command: Washington in 1777 and Eisenhower in 1943
Though separated by nearly two centuries, George Washington in 1777 and Dwight Eisenhower in 1943 demonstrated remarkably similar leadership qualities during what were arguably the most challenging years of their careers. Join award-winning historian Dr. Kevin Weddle to explore the connections between these two leading generals.
This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers’ Tent.
Click here for more on this program and speaker.
3:30 PM— Citizen Soldiers, Training for War: An Immersive Walking Tour Experience
Join a park ranger and members of the Greatest Generation Living History Association as they embark on a training exercise, preparing new recruits for war on the grounds of the Redding farm in Gettysburg, PA (Modern day Eisenhower NHS). Note: this is an interactive walking program and will be leaving the living history camp area. Visitors should be advised that this will involve walking over uneven terrain.
Meet at the “Ranger Program Begins Here” sign in the Living History Camp.
Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center Special Exhibits, 9am-5pm
Visit special exhibits by the Museum of the U.S. Navy, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and Eisenhower NHS at the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center.
