Gettysburg, the town that changed the course of US history

David Wills was an attorney and prominent citizen who lived in Gettsyburg-- in fact, his house is conveniently located right in the center of town. He was the one who recieved letters from people looking for loved ones lost and missing during the battle, who planned the cemetery and its dedication, and undertook the cleanup of the battlefield. It's also the house where Lincoln stayed the night before he gave the Gettysburg Address and put the finishing touches on the speech. If you visit The David Wills House today, you'll find two rooms that have been restored to their 19th century appearance: David Wills' study, and the bedroom where Abraham Lincoln stayed.

You'll find more than just Civil War history at Gettysburg. Cold War buffs, or history nerds in general, should definitely stop by the Eisenhower National Historic Site. While Ike wasn't from Gettysburg, he was born shortly after the Confederate surrender, and grew up listening to Civil War veterans tell tales of their time in the Army. Of course, Eisenhower went on to graduate from West Point and become a soldier himself. The first and only house he and his wife ever bought was an old farm in Gettysburg. He was a huge Civil War buff, and frequently took visiting dignitaries on tours of the battlefield. As President, he spent many a holiday and weekend at his peaceful farmhouse, since it was the perfect place to unwind as Cold War tensions mounted.

Naturally, the park has a stellar schedule of living history events that's constantly changing. Whether you're learning about how the wounded were cared for (seriously fascinating, but decidedly not for the faint of heart) or you're interested in the cannons and artillery, or you want to go in-depth on troop movements (like Pickett's infamous and ill-fated charge) to find out why the battle was so bloody, why it was so important, and why it ended the way it did, they've got something for you. There are even children's programs that let them experience a little bit of what it was like to be a solider.

Lincoln gave his most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, on November 19, 1863, four and a half months after the battle, in honor of the dedication of the Soldier's National Cemetary. The speech was surprisingly short, at a mere 10 sentences long and just over two minutes, and it came after an eloquent, yet rarely-mentioned two-hour long oration by pastor/politician Edward Everett. It's also a possibility that Lincoln was coming down with an illness, likely smallpox, the day he was set to give the speech. The exact wording of the speech is hotly debated, with 5 accounts of the speech containing slightly different phrasing. Despite all of this, the simple speech has gone down in history as one of the best, proving that sometimes, less actually is more.

The Jennie Wade House holds a very strange distinction when it comes to history. Thanks to a freak accident, the small home became the site of the Civil War's only direct death of a civilian. On July 3, 1863, 20-year-old Jennie Wade was in her sister's kitchen, hard at work making bread for hungry Union soldiers, when an errant bullet from a Confederate sniper pierced her heart. Jennie died instantly. The bullet had managed to make its way through two wooden doors before hitting Jennie and coming to rest in her corset. Many believe that Jennie's spirit still haunts the house to this day.

The Confederate sharpshooter who accidentally shot Jennie was actually posted in the nearby Farnsworth House Inn, another historic home that's open to tourists. The house was originally built in 1810, with an addition tacked on in the 1830s, so it's pretty old. You can still see bullet holes in the walls from the Battle of Gettysburg, and it served as a hospital for wounded soldiers right after the battle ended. Lincoln's funeral procession even passed by the house.

Today, it's named for a Union brigadier, Elon Farnsworth, who led an ill-fated failed charge (which is often overshadowed by General Pickett's infamous charge) that cost him his life, and the lives of his 65 men. They offer B&B rooms done up to Victorian perfection, along with an onsite tavern and elegant dining room where you can grab a bite to eat. There's also a seasonal beer garden, and they periodically offer evening events where costumed interpreters spook the pants off tourists with the tales of ghostly sightings across town.