The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest battle to take place in the Western Hemisphere and occurred on July 1-3 1863 during the American Civil War. Known as the turning point of the war, the battle was the fiercest engagement between the Union and Confederate Armies. The result of the battle was a Union victory. This led to the retreat of Confederate forces from Northern territory. Gettysburg is also most notable as being the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s famous “Gettysburg Address“.

Gettysburg Today

Present day Gettysburg is a quiet little town full of history, museums, historic sites, breweries, live music, and battle field and of course ghost tours. The Gettysburg National Military Park is a park located on the grounds of the battle and included over 43,000 monuments dedicated to the soldiers on both sides who fought in the battle.

Today Gettysburg is known as one of the most haunted places in the world due to the amount of death that plagued the town during the three day battle. The battle produced an estimated 51,000 casualties with nearly 20,000 missing and dead making it the bloodiest and largest battle that the United States has ever been engaged in.

We recently took a trip to good old Gettysburg to experience some of the history and obviously the ghosts. During our visit we were fortunate enough to tour the town, visit the grounds of the battle and take a pretty cool ghost tour. From that visit we have compiled a list of our favorite haunted spots in the town that are can’t misses on your next visit to historic Gettysburg.

Sachs Covered Bridge

Known as one of the most haunted sites in all of Pennsylvania, the Sachs Covered Bridge is must visit for ghost enthusiasts. During the Battle of Gettysburg the bridge was used by both Confederate and Union soldiers. This 100 foot bridge built in 1852 saw its fair share of action during the battle and is a locals favorite in present day.

Paranormal activity has been known to be a regular occurrence on the bridge as far back as 100 years. Sachs Covered Bridge was the execution site of three southern soldiers during the battle. Visitors to the bridge have claimed to smell cigar smoke and seeing the disembodied heads of the three soldiers floating down the river. Today, Sachs Covered Bridge is one the most scenic and beautiful structures in historic Gettysburg, but the ghosts of the three soldiers are said to inhabit the bridge. Definitely check out the bridge on your next trip to Gettysburg.

Jennie Wade House

The Jennie Wade House takes center stage when visiting Gettysburg. Jennie Wade was a 20 year old woman who lived in Gettysburg at the time of the battle. Her family home was at the center of the battle. Jennie who was an avid baker, was busy baking bread to feed Union forces during the battle. On July 3, 1863 the third day of the battle, Jennie was struck by a stray bullet through the heart and killed instantly. With her tragic death, Jennie became the only civilian killed during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Today, the Jennie Wade House is the epicenter of most ghost tours. There is a rumor that if you place your finger in the hole of one of the doors that was struck by bullets when Jennie died, you will become engaged not long after. The door and bullet hole still stand today. You will also find the same floors and walls, and creepy enough, Jennies blood on the floor where she fell. Visitors have described having seen her walking through the Wade home, while others have spotted her wandering the countryside.

Children’s Orphanage

The Children’s Orphanage began as a happy place for the youths of the area. Even Ulysses S Grant once visited the orphanage. Eventually, the Orphanage was taken over by Rosa Carmichael. Known as an incredibly evil woman, Rosa J Carmichael was said top have beaten and chained children to the walls of the basement. She even turned the basement of the orphanage into a dungeon where unruly children were sent for days.

Many children are known to have gone missing presumed killed during their time at the orphanage. It is said today that visitors to the site can hear and children throughout the halls. This is definitely one the creepiest places in the town.

The Devil’s Den

Located right in the middle of Gettysburg Battlefield, is Devil’s Den. This large rock formation sits at the base of Little and Big Round Top and was the site of some of the bloodiest and fiercest fighting during the Battle of Gettysburg. During the second day of the battle, Union forces were overrun by Confederate forces who took control of the Den. Eventually Union forces would recapture and corner confederate troops in the area and completely annihilated half of the Confederate army.

Today, paranormal experts claim that Devil’s Den is the most haunted site in all of Gettysburg. Visitors have claimed to have their phones and cameras glitch or completely turn off while using them at Devil’s Den only to have them work when leaving the site. Along with these glitches to devices, visitors have claimed to see ghostly apparitions in the area.

The Daniel Lady Farm

The Daniel Lady Farm was a center point during the Battle of Gettysburg. It was used as the Confederate headquarters during the battle. From here, the confederates launched their assault on Culps Hills with hopes ending the war. With the retreat of Confederate forces the Lady Farm was transitioned into a battlefield hospital treating both Union and Confederate soldiers.

Today the farm and its buildings are still standing and there for all to see and envision the horrors that took place during the battle. Visitors to the farm can still see the blood stained floors, and walls. Still today cannon balls are lodged in the doorframes and jams. Used as a hospital and headquarters, this location is somewhat unique in that it treated both Confederate and Union soldiers.

Paranormal experts and investigators believe that General Isaac Ewell and his Confederate troops haunt the farm to this very day. As the building was used as a hospital many deaths occurred within its walls. These events most certainly contribute to the farms paranormal activity. When the Lady’s eventually returned to the farm they found a dead Confederate solider upstairs. This enhances the claim that the upstairs is the most haunted part of the property.

Dobbin House Tavern

The Dobbin House Tavern is one the best restaurants in Gettysburg and has a pretty crazy history. The Dobbin House as it was formerly known as, was a stop on the Underground Railroad. This network of people helped slaves escape the American south with hopes of making it to the free north. The Underground Railroad operated from the late 18th century up to and beyond the end of the American Civil War.

Today guests are known to experience and abundance of paranormal activity in the halls of the Dobbin House Tavern. It is said to be haunted by former slaves still searching the find freedom. Guests have heard and seen children throughout the dining area and rooms.

The Farnsworth House Inn

The Farnsworth House was built in 1810 and has some pretty haunting past in regards to the Battle of Gettysburg. During the battle it was made into a make shift Confederate hospital for wounded soldiers. The Farnsworth House was controlled by the Confederate Army during the first two days of the battle. Snipers were posted within its confines and upstairs windows. The House is believed to be where the bullet that killed Jennie Wade was fired from. Eventually Union soldiers surrounded and stormed the Farnsworth House killing the soldiers and snipers posted inside.

Today the Farnsworth House Inn is operated as a tourist shop and Inn for visitors. Patrolling Confederate soldiers, cigar smoke and heavy breathing have been reported by many guests who stay overnight at the Inn. Footsteps can be heard in empty rooms. The most common and eery event occurs in the dead of night when a Jews Harp can heard being played in the empty attic. This is said to be where a confederate soldier was stationed and played the harp during the battle.

The Tillie Pierce House Inn

Born in 1848, 15 year old Tillie Pierce was one of the bravest civilians during the Battle of Gettysburg. During the battle, Tillie tended to the wounds of hundreds of Union soldiers. These soldiers used her family shed as a shelter and make shift hospital during the Confederate assault on Seminary Ridge. With the Union Army of the Potomac defending the ridge, the Tillie House was in the thick of the fighting.

Today the Tillie House is a popular Inn for visitors to the city and battlefield. Visitors have been said to experience a range of paranormal activity in the Inn. The “Blue Room” is said to be the most haunted part of the property being haunted by Union soldiers treated by Tillie during the battle. Along with wounded soldiers guests have reported sightings of children playing on furniture and soldiers patrolling the halls.

Gettysburg College

Gettysburg College is a Liberal Arts College that sits adjacent to the battlefield. It is known to be one of most haunted sites in the area. Founded 31 years before the battle took place, Gettysburg College was around during the battle. Both armies used the College as a make shift hospital with every room and hallway filled with wounded and dead soldiers.

Students of the college rendered aid to wounded Confederate soldiers during the three days. The College was used as a hospital for the remaining 22,000 wounded soldiers left behind as both armies left Gettysburg.

Today the College is home to some of the most paranormal activity in the city. Moans, screams, and crying can be heard in halls. Most commonly at Penn Hall which was occupied by both sides and used as a surgical wing during and after the battle. Solders can also be seen wandering the halls and grounds of the famed college.

Area Around Doubleday Inn

The Doubleday Inn, named after famed Union General Abner Doubleday who many believe to be the father of Baseball, is one of the most haunted sites in all of Gettysburg. The Doubleday Inn is located near the area known as Iverson’s Pit. This was the site where an entire North Carolina Brigade was slaughtered during the battle. It was also the site of an unmarked mass grave for the Confederate soldiers killed at that spot during the fighting.

Today visitors and guests of the Inn have reported seeing the ghost of General Aflred Iverson Jr, a confederate general who led the assault in which his entire brigade was destroyed during the fighting on the first day of the battle. Soldiers have been reported to be seen wandering the fields and hall son the Inn as well the smell of cigar smoke being smelt by guests. Definitely check out the Inn when you in Gettysburg next.

Be sure to check out all of our other Pennsylvania posts here: