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Gettysburg National Military ParkParade through Gettysburg to the National Cemetery.
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Gettysburg National Military Park
Traveling Trunks
 
A Union forage cap.
National Park Service

"The Life of the Civil War Soldier" Traveling Trunks

If your class cannot get to the battlefield, bring Gettysburg into your classroom. Gettysburg National Military Park is pleased to offer you and your students our Civil War Traveling Trunk. Through various clothing items, military accoutrements, pastime activities, photographs, literature and music, students will be able to appreciate what the daily life of a Civil War soldier was actually like. The curriculum and clothing that is in the trunk is targeted for the 5th Grade student but it can be made adaptable for students in grades 4 to 8 and we do have a trunk specifically for the 8th Grade. You may set up the six learning stations in your classroom or use a common room so that the whole school can become involved. So, how do you reserve one of our trunks?

Schools in Adams, Franklin or York, Pennsylvania:
You can reserve one of our Traveling Trunks through the Lincoln Intermediate Unit's Instructional Services Division, and it will be delivered to your school. For reservations, call Barbara Wantz at (717) 624-6447

Schools within driving distance of Gettysburg:
You can reserve and pick up one of our Traveling Trunks here at the park. For reservations, please fill out the form on the reverse side of this sheet and write PICK-UP/DROP-OFF under the comments section. We ask for a nominal donation to help with wear-and-tear of the items, but of course no shipping and handling charges.

Schools Across The Region and Country:
The trunks have been shipped and used successfully in Florida, Washington . . . even Hawaii!! The trunk is available for a two-week time frame throughout the school year for a requested donation to cover the cost of shipping and handling. If you are interested in receiving a trunk, please fill out the Traveling Trunk Reservation Request form and submit it to the Education Coordinator, Gettysburg National Military Park, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Suite 100, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

A confirmation of your request will be mailed to you. For further information and questions, contact Barbara Sanders, Education Coordinator at (717) 334-1124 extension 3151.

ACT NOW! Once the slots are filled, you may be placed on a waiting list.

Note: The heaviest demand for the trunk is usually during spring, so you should consider requesting the trunk for the fall or winter.

Traveling Trunk Reservation Request (pdf)

 

Traveling Trunks are still available for the following time frames (as of October 6, 2008). All other times frames are booked solid:

October 20 – October 31
October 27 – November 7
December 1 – December 12
December 8 – December 19

2009
January 5 – January 16
January 12 – January 23
January 20 – January 30
January 26 – February 6 
February 2 – February 13
February 9 – February 20
February 17 – February 27
February 23 – March 6

 

Quarterly Teacher Workshop Series
Quarterly Teacher Workshop Series
Civil War themed workshops for teachers!
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Camp Life: Civil War Collections
Civil War Collections
See relics from the park's museum collection.
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Irish Brigade Monument at Gettysburg  

Did You Know?
The bronze likeness of an Irish Wolfhound on the Irish Brigade monument at Gettysburg National Military Park symbolizes the loyalty shown for the Union cause by the brigade's soldiers, most of whom were Irish immigrants or sons of immigrants to the United States.

Last Updated: October 07, 2008 at 08:29 EST