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A Gettysburg Timeline:
November 18 and 19, 1863:
Lincoln in Gettysburg:
Abraham Lincoln paid his only visit to Gettysburg to deliver a speech lasting less than three minutes.
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address resonated throughout the world and forged an enduring association of Lincoln with Gettysburg.
The Soldiers' National Cemetery dedication ceremony prompted another influx of almost 20,000 people Gettysburg. Despite good planning and preparation, Gettysburg was once again overwhelmed.
President Lincoln and a small entourage of aides and dignitaries arrived at this railroad station at six pm on November 18, 1863. In the solitude of David Wills' guest room, Mr. Lincoln put the finishing touches on his dedication speech and the next day's ceremony.
Following a parade along Baltimore Street to the dedication site on Cemetery Hill, and three hours of speeches and music, President Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address in less than three minutes. He then returned to town to meet and accompany local citizen-hero John Burns to a patriotic meeting in the Presbyterian Church.
Twenty-four hours after arriving, Lincoln departed from the Gettysburg train station. He left behind a world-wide legacy for Gettysburg as the site of a "new birth of freedom."
David Wills House:
Built in 1816, this prominent three-story building was purchased in 1859 by David Wills for his residence and law office. President Abraham Lincoln stayed here as Wills' guest on the eve of the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery. While there, Lincoln made some final changes to his speech, which resonated around the world as the Gettysburg Address.
The Presbyterian Church at Baltimore and East High Streets:
Following the ceremony dedication, President Lincoln attended a patriotic service in this church featuring a speech by Ohio Governor David Tod. He invited local citizen-hero John Burns to accompany him. Inside, they shared a pew and then the President mingled briefly with the crown before boarding his train and departing Gettysburg. One hundred years later, another president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, regularly attended services in this church. The pews used by both presidents are still in place. |