Unique among Gettysburg’s many visitor destinations, this exhibit was designed expressly for young children and their families, to address the Gettysburg Foundation’s goal of fostering historical interest among a “new generation of learners.” The Children of Gettysburg 1863 uses real first-person accounts, custom storybook-style illustrations, hand-colored period photographs, and simple tactile interactives to help families experience the excitement and (gently) the terror of America’s most consequential battle as seen through the eyes of actual children who lived through it.
This intergenerational activity was developed in close coordination with the Foundation’s educators and is based on the idea of purposeful hands-on play— there are no electronic or media-based interactives in the exhibit. Attendance and visitor response has far exceeded the Foundation’s hopes.
- Location: Gettysburg, PA
- Timeline: November 2018 - May 2021
- Size: 1,300 sq.ft.
- Exhibit fabrication: Hadley Exhibits
We wanted to immerse the visitor in a storybook, but did not have the budget to custom illustrate backdrops so we turned historic and contemporary photographs into “illustrated” backdrops to our story.
“Children of Gettysburg 1863 breaks down one of the Civil War’s most famous battles into kid-friendly, interactive activities and lessons that center around the lives of the young people who lived through it. From story scavenger hunts to hands-on exhibits, it’s the perfect place for a budding history buff to get a better understanding of American history.”
– USA Today 10 Best Children’s Museums 2024