Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College

14/06/2026

One of the special aspects of this year’s conference was a panel retrospective on the life and legacy of CWI’s founding director, Gabor Boritt.

14/06/2026

Starting off today with National Council of Public History president Nicole Moore discussing her journey into a career interpreting slavery and best-selling author Fergus Bordewich on Klan Wars in South Carolina during Reconstruction.

14/06/2026

It was a gorgeous evening on the Gettysburg battlefield for our tour groups, who explored everything from the Barlow-Gordon Incident to the experience of one individual New York soldier to the World Wars at Gettysburg.

12/06/2026

CWI 2026 is off and running! We are delighted to welcome about 240 enthusiastic Civil War historians to our newly renovated College Union Ballroom, as the kickoff to five days of touring, lectures, and discussions covering an extremely broad swath of Civil War history.

11/06/2026

We have a record number of current students & 2026 graduates interpreting history as National Park Service rangers and park guides this summer. Marcy Zimmer '27's first internship in public history was at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park the summer after her first year at Gettysburg College. She's thrilled to be back this summer as a NPS ranger, interpreting the multitude of stories the park has to offer to its visitors every day

10/06/2026

Civil War toothbrushes….

10/06/2026

So excited to hear about Jenna’s summer at SRMEC!

Say hello to our 2026 summer interns! In the coming days, we'll be introducing each of the three students who are spending ten weeks here at Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center. First up is Jenna Rhoads!

Jenna is a junior at Gettysburg College where she is a History and German Studies double major and a Public History minor. Jenna is active on campus including working for Residential Education and the Majestic Theater, in addition to being the President of several performing arts clubs at Gettysburg College. After being inspired to teach by her high school social studies teacher, Jenna is excited to dive into the world of museum education and interpretation. When she's not working on research projects, Jenna is looking forward to meeting visitors in the museum, so be sure to stop by and say hello!

29/05/2026

Just 9 days left to register for the 2026 CWI Summer Conference!! Part-time and full-time packages still available!

Can't come in person? Purchase a Livestream-only package and follow along with our mainstage lectures from the comfort of your own home, either synchronously or on your own time!

Peruse the schedule and register today!

https://www.gettysburg.edu/civil-war-institute/summer-conference/2026-cwi-conference

18/05/2026

We can’t wait to hear all about Jocelyn’s summer at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine!

We're excited to welcome two summer interns to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine this year! Join us in welcoming Betsy Cushwa (left), from Shepherd University and the George Tyler Moore Center for the Study of the Civil War and Jocelyn Duquette (right) from Gettysburg College and the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College. Huzzah!

12/05/2026

In one of her last official acts as a Gettysburg College student, CWI Fellow Maddie Ulman '26 will present this Friday evening, May 15, at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital on the Eternal Peace Light and Postwar Reconciliation. Maddie's talk will discuss the events of the battle that occurred on Oak Hill in 1863, the inception, construction, and dedication of the monument, and the conflicting narratives about post-war reconciliation that the monument inherently contains, and will serve as an opener to an evening program on vernal pools and wetlands, led by Betsy Leppo, Senior Invertebrate Zoologist with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

Tickets still remain, so reserve your spot now! https://cart.gettysburgfoundation.org/38250/38251

Please note: Conditions may be wet or muddy, so appropriate footwear and weather-ready attire are recommended. The wetland itself will not be entered. On-site parking will be available for ticket holders.”

More than fifty years ago, farmers working the George Spangler Farm inadvertently created a rare and valuable wetland. Though the project did not unfold as intended, the resulting vernal pool now supports wildlife uniquely adapted to a seasonally changing habitat.