Gettysburg College - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Gettysburg is somewhat of a culture shock for anyone coming from a large town or big city. The town is an exotic blend of small-town, rural America and a commercial tourist trap. Gettysburg reverts to its small-town roots in the winter, but as May approaches and tourists begin to show up in large numbers, the hoop-skirts and wool uniforms of re-enactors overtake the more traditional Penn State sweatshirts and designer baggy jeans of students. The immigration of decked-out Civil War buffs to the area is both tragic and a bit hilarious for much of the GC student population.

Gettysburg offers the essentials to students, including a slew of fast food restaurants, a Wal-Mart, a Staples, and a few other assorted mega stores. However, other than an inordinate number of bars and restaurants, Gettysburg offers little else. Of course, if a little exploring is undertaken, a wide range of interesting (albeit out-of-the-way) destinations can be discovered. This is perhaps reserved, however, to people who are interested in more than drinking and partying—a combination that quickly becomes the routine for GC students.

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Students Speak Out

GetTJ says: Gettysburg College 2016 Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Gettysburg is an interesting mix... Gettysburg is an interesting mix of people: tourists, civil war junkies, townies, and students. The townies are strange but always friendly. Everyone seems to mix well. There are some cool shops in Gettysburg, and I find it a very cute town. Not always a ton of stuff to do, especially since the Majestic is the only theatre in walking distance, and it only shows a few movies at a time. However, I have not found myself bored one weekend yet. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 02, 2009 Report

GetCH says: Gettysburg College 2016 English Language and Literature

Obviously, Gettysburg has a lot of... Obviously, Gettysburg has a lot of battlefields. I would encourage learning a little about the Civil War while you're here, because the history is so rich and so interesting. Also, because it is a tourist area, there are plenty of restaurants. The Outlet Malls are also nearby to shop at. It's a really cute town, but if you're looking for an exciting, night and city life, Gettysburg's not the right place. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 27, 2009 Report

lc123 says: Gettysburg College 2016 Psychology

The town of Gettysburg is pretty... The town of Gettysburg is pretty quiet. For the most part, students limit their interaction with the town to going out to eat, hitting up a few of the bars, and maybe checking out the outlets and some other stores. The battlefields are pretty cool, and it's nice to visit them at least a few times before graduating. The townies can be pretty sketchy, so it's best to avoid travelling too far off campus late at night. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 26, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Gettysburg is a small town without... Gettysburg is a small town without any large institutions within a 20-mile radius. I think the town itself lends a special identity to the college community, particularly for historians. Waitresses recognize you when you go to eat, and there are unique little shops and nearly everything is within walking distance. The battlefields and historic landmarks are priceless places to visit. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

There’s a nice mix of townspeople... There’s a nice mix of townspeople and students surrounding the school. There are lots of bars too; though, some are labeled as either ‘townie’ or ‘college’ bars. However, there are many that do have a good mix. Be sure to visit the battlefields and Ernie’s Texas Lunch. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Fun Facts about Gettysburg:
• Gettysburg’s primary industry is tourism, and each year the town swells as nearly two million tourists visit the area.
• Though the battlefield is the main attraction in Gettysburg, President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s house, a national historic site, is also located in the town.
• Every year on July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, re-enactors descend on the Gettysburg battlefield to commemorate the battle. The Battle of Gettysburg in 1998 was the largest re-enactment in history, with perhaps as many as 25,000 “troops” taking part.
• Though the Gettysburg national cemetery was originally created for the bodies of Union soldiers killed in the battle, today the cemetery is the final resting place for over 6,000 honorably-discharged servicemen and their dependents from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War.
• The last time a soldier’s remains were discovered on the Gettysburg battlefield was in 1996.

Famous People from Gettysburg:
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Hall of Fame pitcher Eddie Plank

Local Slang:
Nothing specific, but be prepared for Southern accents. (Gettysburg is widely known as a little town in Arkansas that got lost somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania.)

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