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Shriver House Museum

309 Baltimore St., Gettysburg, PA 17325
717-337-2800
Website
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Ranked #7 of 32 attractions in Gettysburg
Type: Historic Sites, History Museums
Owner description: You know what happened on battlefield...but do you know what happened to the families and their homes in town? The Shriver House Museum is an... more » Owner description: You know what happened on battlefield...but do you know what happened to the families and their homes in town? The Shriver House Museum is an award-winning Civil War museum dedicated to the civilian experience during the Battle of Gettysburg. The story is told through the eyes of the Shriver family whose ancestors settled in the area in the 1700s. While George Shriver served in the Union army, his wife, Hettie, was worried about the safety of their daughters, Mollie (5) and Sadie (7), as well as their home. When soldiers filled the streets of Gettysburg, Hettie chose to take her children back to her family’s farm three miles south of town, by Big Round Top; she knew they would be out of harm’s way there. Hettie could not know she jumped from the frying pan into the fire or that her unoccupied home would offer the Rebels an outstanding view of Union ground. It was quickly commandeered by Confederates to set up a sharpshooters’ nest in the attic. Today the home of George and Hettie Shriver appears much the same way it did when it was built in 1860, just months before the Civil War began. Guides in period dress recount the harrowing story of the Shriver family's experiences. See all four floors of the house including the Confederate sharpshooters nest in the attic and Shriver's Saloon in the cellar. The story of George Shriver was not well-known until 1996 when his house, which sat abandoned for nearly 30 years, was painstakingly restored to its original 1860s appearance. Today, the Shrivers’ story is one of the most intriguing stories told when it comes to the civilian aspect of the Battle of Gettysburg. « less
Useful Information: Activities for older children
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202 reviews from our community

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USA
Top Contributor
77 reviews 77 reviews
54 attraction reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
38 helpful votes 38 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 11, 2013

A great chance to wander a period house and hear the history of a period family. Guides are friendly and knowledgeable. Worth a visit.

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See 3 more reviews by GunnyAndMe for Gettysburg
Warren, Michigan
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
5 attraction reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 8, 2013

My daughter (8) and I went on the tour and really enjoyed it. The Shriver story was so interesting and the house really brought it all together. Neat stuff to look at that was found in the house during the 1996 restoration. The basement and attic are amazing and take you back to that period. Our tour guide was new,... More

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See 6 more reviews by Sheri P for Gettysburg
BabsRI
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
4 attraction reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 7, 2013

Was an interesting story but not worth the price of admission (I think about $16.00 for the two of us) for such a short tour. The woman was informative but nothing in the house is original.

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See 8 more reviews by BabsRI for Gettysburg
NC
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
5 attraction reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 4, 2013

If you enjoy history, the wonderful house is a must stop. Fee is reasonable & remember this is a private museum & not at all a tourist trap like so many. Docent Sue did a very nice job on the tour. The work that has been done by the owner (Nancie) is unbelievable. We met her briefly, but would love... More

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See 7 more reviews by CD W for Gettysburg
eastern pennsylvania
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
3 attraction reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 30, 2013

Imagine what the residents of this tiny town of two or three thousand people must have experienced when 170,000 opposing armed forces converged on Gettysburg. Great story of the Shriver family. You won't be disappointed.

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See 3 more reviews by civilwarbuff7123 for Gettysburg
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
2 reviews
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 28, 2013

Though I have visited Gettysburg many many time over the years, I was unaware of this modest museum that focusses on how the war affected civilian life. The tour of a home located in the middle of the conflict adds much to an understanding of an important backstory to the war. The guided tour is well done.

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Cleveland, Ohio
Top Contributor
359 reviews 359 reviews
234 attraction reviews
Reviews in 103 cities Reviews in 103 cities
1,090 helpful votes 1,090 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 8, 2013

This is a real trip back in time, to see how one family and the neighbor lived through the battle (Day One of the battle moved into the town) and the ramifications it had on the family. Very moving and thought-provoking, but no happy ending. This is a guided tour (small groups due to the size of the house), so... More

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See 12 more reviews by CynthiafromOhio2011 for Gettysburg
Jonestown, Pennsylvania
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 4, 2013

This privately run little gem of a museum was a new stop for us this time around in Gettysburg. The Schriver family lived through the Battle of Gettysburg, so guides in period costumes take you back in time through the restored home to help you understand what life was like for the citizens of Gettysburg during those fateful days. The... More

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See 6 more reviews by tfisher83 for Gettysburg
Greenville, Ohio, United States
Senior Contributor
30 reviews 30 reviews
20 attraction reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 1, 2013

This house has a tremendous about of history. The confederate sharpshooters took uo a position there and the holes in the wall are still there to see. They had a detective come in a few years ago and sprayed a luminesent on the flooring in the attic, the photo they took after shows the blood from where they were killed... More

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See 21 more reviews by Diana S for Gettysburg
Orlando, Florida
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 31, 2013

The guide face a great tour. We learned a lot about what the citizens would have experienced before, during, and after the battle. The Shriver house is a must see when you go to Gettysburg!

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See 2 more reviews by Lynn T for Gettysburg

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