Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg is a Civil War Era Must-See

The Shriver House Museum is a Civil War-era attraction located in the heart of the historic district of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a town in the south central portion of the state. Built in 1860, shortly before the start of the Civil War, the house in which the museum is situated was once the home of George and Hettie Shriver and their young daughters, Sadie and Molly. The museum attempts to show the "civilian experience'' and during the Battle of Gettysburg and other trials of the Civil War.

In order to achieve that goal, the home was restored to its original mid 19th century appearance in 1996 and opened as a heritage museum shortly thereafter. Tours of the home are conducted by uniformed docents who try to stay in character and answer questions as if they were present during the Civil War. Guests have the opportunity to view the era through the eyes of George and Hettie Shriver, particularly how the war impacted their lives and the lives of their children. Aside from learning about the war and the local Battle of Gettysburg, visitors get a look at Civil War-era life in general including lifestyles, customs, and furnishings of that period.

Guests are able to visit each and every room in the Shriver household. Of particular interest to many visitors is the Confederate sharpshooter's nest in the attic, where written accounts confirm that at least two soldiers were killed. Guests can position themselves in the nest and get a bird's eye view of the Gettysburg area. Visitors can also head to Mr. Shriver's business, a saloon, located in the cellar area of the house.

Each year around the Fourth of July, the Shriver House Museum sponsors a reenactment where Confederates arrive at the home of the Shrivers and commence to occupy it, just as they did during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg. Guests are invited to view the reenactment and to speak to the "soldiers'' to garner first hand information as to what transpired during those three days in July 1863. Visitors will hear how Hettie attempted escape with her girls and a neighbor's child, eventually winding up in the thick of the war. Sharpshooters fire muskets from the attic and a makeshift hospital is set up in the home's summer kitchen. After watching the reenactment and touring the home, visitors can enjoy a root beer in the saloon. "Local citizens'' gather there to share more stories.

The museum also conducts Christmas Candlelight Tours each year from Thanksgiving until approximately the week before Christmas. During this time, the home is decorated for the holidays as it would have been during the 1860s. Tours include cider and holiday treats. Groups are welcome with advance reservations.

The Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's Historic Preservation Award and has been used as a filming site for many Civil War-era productions on networks such as Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, CNN, PBS, and the History Channel.