Step back into Civil War history on the Confederate Hospital Walk at Farnsworth House. Discover the stories of wartime medicine amid preserved grounds that tell a powerful story of resilience.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
1–1.5 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most visitors, including those with limited mobility
Wildlife
History
The Farnsworth House served as a key hospital during the Civil War, providing care during the Battle of Springfield in 1863.
Conservation
Efforts focus on maintaining the historic structures and natural landscape, with community programs dedicated to preservation.
Historic Farnsworth House
Step back into Civil War history on the Confederate Hospital Walk at Farnsworth House. Discover the stories of wartime medicine amid preserved grounds that tell a powerful story of resilience.
Historic Farnsworth House offers guided tours, paranormal investigations, living-history shows, and specialty events in a preserved Civil War–era property. Located in Gettysburg, the Farnsworth House is listed as a National Historic Place and draws visitors interested in military history, Victorian domestic life, and paranormal investigation.
Visitors can choose from a variety of experiences that interpret the house’s Civil War significance and its later Victorian-era character. The Farnsworth House Tour highlights the attic used by a Civil War sharpshooter, a Victorian viewing parlor with an antique coffin, and exterior walls bearing more than one hundred bullet holes. Medical history programs such as the Blood, Guts and Glory Civil War Medical Presentation present authentic instruments and a lifelike operating-room demonstration to examine wartime medicine.
For guests seeking the supernatural, the property offers the Mini Paranormal Night, Haunted Cellar Tour, Tormented & Lost Souls Tour, and gallery readings by professional mediums during special events. Outdoor programming includes Campfire by the Creek Ghost Stories beside a flowing stream. The site also stages family-friendly entertainment like A Civil War Era Magic Show…. LIVE!, performed by a veteran magician with decades of experience.
Group sizes for investigative nights are limited to maintain an intimate experience; some tours specify a 15-person maximum. The Farnsworth House operates as a curated historic attraction and event venue, emphasizing factual interpretation, trained guides, and artifacts connected to the Civil War and Victorian periods. Visitors are encouraged to book specific experiences in advance to secure preferred dates and times. Tours run seasonally.
Tours Offered
10
Historic and paranormal experiences available
Historic Designation
National Historic Place
Documented Civil War significance
Small Groups
15 max
Intimate paranormal investigations
Special Guests
Featured Medium
Gallery readings with April Busset
Reserve limited-capacity experiences and special events in advance to guarantee preferred dates for history tours, live shows, and ghost investigations.
Watch your step on uneven surfaces
The trail contains some uneven and historic surfaces; wear sturdy shoes.
Bring water and sun protection
Sunny days can be intense; bring water, hat, and sunscreen.
Take a guided tour for full experience
Join a scheduled tour to learn detailed history from trained guides.
Respect the site and artifacts
Help preserve this historic area by not touching or disturbing features.
Comfortable walking shoes
Good shoes provide stability on uneven historic surfaces.
Sun protection (hat, sunscreen)
Protects against sun exposure during outdoor walk.
Water bottle
Stay hydrated while exploring the historic grounds.
Camera or smartphone
Capture the historic sights and memories.