Many towns across America stake their claim to President Abraham Lincoln’s legacy – Hodgenville, Kentucky; Springfield, Illinois; and of course, Washington, DC. But it’s in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where Lincoln spent the least amount of time, but is celebrated in a big way.
Lincoln only spent 25 hours in Gettysburg – making the day-long trek on train from the White House – to, as he was asked, deliver just “a few appropriate remarks” at the dedication of a cemetery where Union soldiers were being buried. This, of course, is just less than five months after the most tragic battle of the American Civil War swept through this small community, forever changing the life of the nation, and the town itself. In just three days, the armies collectively suffered 51,000 casualties.
Today, more than a century and a half after that visit, Lincoln is remembered as a man that turned Gettysburg from a place of tragedy into a symbol of hope. And while the 16th President accomplished many achievements in his life, we in Gettysburg believe it was here that Lincoln secured his legacy and place in American history.
This town of just 8,000 people has eight Lincoln statues – ranging from life-size monuments to busts of the president where millions of visitors have touched the face of history. Visitors enjoy Lincoln walking tours, Lincoln leadership programs, and of course several Lincoln related historical sites such as the Historic Lincoln Railroad Station, David Wills House and the Soldiers’ National Cemetery where Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863.
Every November, visitors from around the country bundle up and solemnly celebrate that 272-word speech – marked with poignant words of devotion and reflection, and of course a reciting of the address itself.
A few yards behind the podium in the national cemetery is a small, but powerful monument to the Gettysburg Address, the only such monument to a speech in the entire world.
The ceremony closes with a naturalization ceremony for 16 new American citizens, sworn in to a country that Lincoln reminds us was “conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
It’s “altogether fitting and proper” that Gettysburg is located along the iconic Lincoln Highway, a 3,000-plus-mile stretch of road that once took travelers cross-country from Times Square in New York City to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Gettysburg is a place where visitors from around the world trace Lincoln’s footsteps, from the train station where he arrived, up to the town square where he stayed overnight and put the finishing touches on his remarks, and the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church where the 16th president attended a rally after the cemetery ceremony. The “Lincoln Pew” still sits reserved all these years later.
The Battle of Gettysburg stands as one of most significant events in nation’s history, but Lincoln – through his 272-word address – captured the essence of what that battle meant, that Gettysburg is remembered “as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.”
Lincoln was wrong about one thing though when he said, “the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here.” Indeed, we do remember what Lincoln said that day in Gettysburg. In fact, his short speech is remembered, recited and reflected upon by not only American’s but those around the world.
Micheal A. Walsh, a prolific travel writer, delves deep into the historical events and sights in the Northeastern US, crafting meticulously researched travel articles for Northeast Traveler Magazine. Walsh skillfully weaves narratives that transport readers through time, exploring the captivating stories behind the region's landmarks. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for uncovering hidden gems, Walsh's articles serve as a gateway for readers to embark on historical journeys, immersing themselves in the fascinating past of the Northeast.
