Did you know that several women disguised themselves and fought in the Battle of Gettysburg? One of the most documented is Mary Siezgle, who fought alongside her husband in the 44th New York Infantry.
Wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters have watched their men go off to war for generations, hoping they hadn’t seen the last of them. But rather than stay at home pining from the sidelines, many women of the Civil War era found ways to serve their country that didn’t involve taking up arms. Whether running their family business, volunteering as a nurse, or documenting their experiences to be shared with the next generation, these women challenged the conventions of their time and were a force to be reckoned with.
“As a woman, it was exciting to hear Civil War stories that I could relate to — I really felt connected to these women.”
While history covers the famous, our Gettysburg Wonder Woman Tour dives into the stories of the regular people of Gettysburg, women specifically, who protected the vulnerable, nursed the injured, buried the dead, and kept life as safe as possible for the families left behind as men went off to fight.
We’ll learn about the women who have statues erected about them or homes named for them—Tillie Pierce, Jennie Wade, Elizabeth Thorn—as well as women you may never have heard of—Mary McAllister, Sallie Myers and Philinda Humiston—who had a big impact on this small town during its darkest hours.
Our walking tour takes you through 1.7 miles of Gettysburg real estate, visiting the different sites linked to the women of Gettysburg. Amongst them you will:
Hear the stories of 15-year-old Tillie Pierce
Visit the home of Jennie Wade, Gettysburg’s single civilian casualty
Learn about the Evergreen Cemetery caretaker, Elizabeth Thorn
Uncover the stories of enslaved women escaping from the south
… And many more.
We will stop at each site and relive the amazing stories of these women– heroes who were living their daily lives during a turbulent time in history.
Come join us on this amazing tour, and experience the lesser-known histories that have shaped who we are today.
“The best protection any woman can have… is courage.”
— Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Meeting point address: 301 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg PA
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Parking: We recommend parking near the Tillie Pierce House Inn. To see options, click below:
Use parkme.com for more parking locations.
Daniel Krier
Verified Customer
January 29th 2023
"Jim was very knowledgeable and gave a magnificent tour. We learned so much and would love to do agai ... "
Dezi Armstrong
Verified Customer
January 22nd 2023
"Sam made it entertaining and was rather knowledgeable about local history."
Mindy Marinko
Verified Customer
January 15th 2023
"My boyfriend and I went on the 10 o’clock tour and Jim was a wonderful guide."
No need to print anything out. Just show up, and the tour guide will mark you present! Please save your email confirmation handy on your phone for reference.
This tour is a walking tour.