Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg will host its annual World War II Weekend September 19–21, 2025, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory by highlighting the people, events, and legacies of 1945 through ranger talks, guest speakers, living historians, tours, and family activities.
Programming begins Friday evening, September 19, and continues all day Saturday and Sunday; the site will be closed on Friday during setup of the on-site living history camp as a precaution.
Highlights include evening talks and presentations (Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Rick Atkinson will speak Friday at the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center; Susan Eisenhower will speak Sunday afternoon), ranger-guided walking tours of World War II burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery at 5 p.m. each day with rotating themes (Pacific, European, and 1945/end-of-war), and a 1945 living history camp portraying American, Allied, and homefront life.
Family programming includes activity booklets, camp activities, and a Family Tent with a World War II–themed prize; special 1945 exhibits at the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center feature contributions from Naval History and Heritage Command, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and others; free tours of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower’s home will be offered Saturday and Sunday.
Parking will be available on-site in a farm field off Emmitsburg Road (use 250 Eisenhower Farm Road for GPS) weather permitting, with accessible parking on site; bus groups must reserve shuttles from the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center (1195 Baltimore Pike) via the Gettysburg Foundation at 877-874-2478; all programming is free and outdoor events are weather dependent.
For more information and a full schedule, visit www.nps.gov/eise or contact Jason Martz, Communications Specialist, at Jason_Martz@nps.gov.
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.