(8/3) Thousands of visitors flock to Gettysburg every July to witness the Reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg. The three-day event that commemorates the battle is just one way to learn first hand the story of the soldier, the military tactics, and the civilian struggle of the Civil War. However, this is not the only opportunity for visitors to experience living history in Gettysburg. Each year, the American Civil War Museum, General Lee’s Headquarters and the Gettysburg National Military Park also host Living History Encampments that allow visitors to interact with reenactors and learn through discussion and demonstration. These encampments begin in April and run through December and are free to the public.

Every weekend through December 11, the American Civil War Museum hosts living history encampments on the front lawn of the museum. Visitors will see the tents begin to pop up Friday evening. On Saturday and Sunday, visitors are encouraged to mingle with the soldiers, their wives and sometimes children and learn what life was like during the war. The Museum hosts both Confederate and Union soldiers. The broad spectrum of demonstrations can include: daily life of soldiers and civilians - cooking, dress, etc.; military drills and demonstrations; fashion shows; religion; medical; and even the enlistment of soldiers. There is also a woman who makes hair jewelry, jewelry made from human hair or horsehair. The American Civil War Museum, www.e-gettysburg.com, is located at 297 Steinwehr Avenue. (A schedule of the remaining encampments follows this release.)

Tammy Myers of the American Civil War explained that the Museum began hosting the encampments about 20 years ago. Myers continues the encampments because "it gives people the opportunity to take a step back in time. So often people wish to see a reenactment, but it only occurs one weekend during the year. Whereas the reenactment is quite impressive, visitors like the living history component because it is more personalized. Reenactors spend extensive periods of time researching their role and portray them in the first person. As a result, visitors can ask questions and walk away with a better understanding."

"Visitors get to interact with history by visiting and talking with first person impression soldiers, politicians, surgeons, nurses and civilians who lived in the 19th century, in particular the 1861 to 1865 time period," said Lee Houser who portrays southern Gen. Isaac Trimble for the Civil War Heritage Foundation. "They learn American history from the extensive research the people in front of the museum have done in developing the individuals or units they portray."

General Lee’s Headquarters hosts a special encampment during May, July, September and October. Voices of the Confederacy, a Civil War Living History Group presents the Southern history from a Southern perspective of both the soldier and the civilian. The Voices of the Confederacy living history group will be on site at General Lee’s Headquarters on September 10 and October 1. General Lee’s Headquarters, www.civilwarheadquarters.com, is located at 401 Buford Avenue.

The Gettysburg National Military Park also hosts living history encampments and programs each weekend, often at multiple locations throughout the Park. Usual locations for the encampments include the Cyclorama Center lawn, the Pennsylvania Memorial, Spangler’s Spring, and Pitzer Wood. In addition to traditional encampments, the reenactors may also perform medical demonstrations, music presentations, and infantry demonstrations. The National Park’s encampment program runs through October 30, visit www.nps.gov/gett for details. (A schedule of the remaining encampments follows this release.)

Visitors, many of whom are heritage tourists, expect an authentic experience when visiting historic and cultural destinations like Gettysburg. These encampments are one way that Gettysburg can provide that experience. It is also an exciting way to educate children through experience, an excellent supplement to the traditional education style. Visitors and local reenactors who stroll the streets of Gettysburg, conversing with those they meet, add to the encampment experiences. Many attractions will also add living history presentations that incorporate audience participation.

For additional information on encampments and visiting Gettysburg, please contact the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau by calling 800-337-5015 or visiting www.gettysburgcvb.org.

 Living History Encampment Schedule - Gettysburg, PA August ­ December

• August 6-7 12th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue 2nd Unites States Cavalry, Co. H at Pitzer Wood, Gettysburg National Military Park The Rowdy Pards as the 2nd Massachusetts at Spangler’s Spring, Gettysburg National Military Park 53rd Pennsylvania at the Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg National Military Park
• August 13-14 General Meade Society of Philadelphia, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue 124th New York at the Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg National Military Park 21st Georgia at Pitzer Woods, Gettysburg National Military Park
• August 20-21 Company A 4th Virginia Infantry Light Company I, 1st United States Artillery at Pitzer Woods Regimental Surgeons at the Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg National Military Park
• August 27-28 23rd PA "Birney’s Zouaves", American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue The Liberty Grays at Pitzer Woods, Gettysburg National Military Park 44th Georgia at Spangler’s Spring, Gettysburg National Military Park
• September 3-4 US Grant & Staff, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue 9th Annual Purcell;s Battery, C.S.A. Artillery Labor Day Weekend at Pitzer Woods, Gettysburg National Military Park 46th Pennsylvania at Spangler’s Spring, Gettysburg National Military Park
• September 10-11 Voices of the Confederacy, General Lee’s Headquarters, 401 Buford Avenue (10th only) 28th Virginia at Pitzer Woods, Gettysburg National Military Park
• September 17-18 55th Virginia, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue WWII Weekend at the Eisenhower Historic Site, Gettysburg National Military Park
• September 24-25 87th PA Volunteer Co. C ­ Vincent’s Brigade, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue 2nd United States Cavalry, Company A at Pitzer Woods, Gettysburg National Military Park 21st Ohio Independent Light Artillery at the Pennsylvania Memorial
• October 1-2 Company D ­ 62nd PA Volunteer Infantry, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue Voices of the Confederacy, General Lee’s Headquarters, 401 Buford Avenue 26th North Carolina at Pitzer Woods, Gettysburg National Military Park Unites States Sharpshooters on Little Round Top, Gettysburg National Military Park
• October 8-9 1st PA Light Artiller Battery E ­ Knaps, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue 150th New York at the Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg National Military Park Western New York Chapter, U.S. Sanitary Commission at Pitzer Woods, Gettysburg National Military Park
• October 15-16 21st PA Cavalry Company A-B, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue Ohio Civil War Association, 19th Unites States Infantry, Western Sharpshooters, 35th Ohio Volunteers and United States Signal Corps at the Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg National Military Park
• October 22-23 48th Virginia Infantry Co. D, 1st Battalion ANV, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Ave. Annual United States Sharpshooters Living History at Pitzer Woods and Little Round Top, Gettysburg National Military Park 8th New Jersey at the Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg National Military Park 2nd Virginia, Company D, Gettysburg National Military Park
• October 29-30 1st PA Light Artillery Battery E ­ Knaps, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue Battery F, 1st Pennsylvania Artillery at the Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg National Military Park
• November 5-6 Kane’s Rifles Company H, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue
• November 12-13 2nd South Carolina CSA, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue
• November 19-20 Civil War Heritage Foundation, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue
• November 26-27 US Grant & Staff, American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue
• December 10-11 1st PA Rifles Company B, "Bucktails", American Civil War Museum, 297 Steinwehr Avenue