Farmhouse Tour Program Details

     Nestled on the outskirts of Gettysburg, this preserved property tells a story that spans generations - a story of family, war, loss, and endurance. What began as the peaceful home of Daniel and Rebecca Lady would soon become a landmark of the Battle of Gettysburg. 

     Imagine life here before the war; the Lady family worked this land as a modest farming household, their days filled with the rhythm of the seasons - tending crops, caring for livestock, raiding children, and building a future rooted in the soil of Pennsylvania. In July of 1863, that routine would be rattled and they would find themselves plunged into a world of chaos and conflict. 

     As the thunder of artillery echoed across the rolling hills, Confederate troops under General Edward "Allegheny" Johnson advanced upon these very fields. The Lady home, once a place of domestic tranquility, was quickly transformed into General Johnson's headquarters. Here, decisions were made that would shape the outcome of one of the bloodiest battles in American history. 

When the fighting intensified, the home took on a grimmer purpose and became a field hospital - its floors and walls bearing witness to the suffering of wounded men brought in from the front lines.

     In rooms once filled with laughter and family conversation, surgeons worked for hours on end, the space now filled with cries from broken and dying soldiers. The very floorboards beneath your feet absorbed not only the echoes of groans and whispered prayers, but the lifeblood of brave men that can never be effaced.

    As you move through the restored rooms, guided by our historical interpreters dressed in authentic 19th century attire, you'll gain a sense of what life was truly like for this 1860's farming family caught in the crossfire of war. You'll see the tools they used to tend to their crops and chores, the furniture, clothing and effects that made their house a home, and learn how a brief and brutal battle forever changed their lives, their legacies and this land. 

     Just beyond the house stands the striking German-style bank barn. Build in 1895, its sturdy stone foundation and sweeping wooden frame exemplify the practical beauty of the Pennsylvania Dutch craftsmanship that would define this region. Before this structure rose from the earth, an earlier log barn stood here, built in the 1770s. 

     During the Battle of Gettysburg, the original barn served as a refuge from the July sun for the wounded soldiers to rest and recover. 

     Within its rough stone walls, which are the same stone walls you will see today, soldiers exhausted and expired in desperate efforts to heal. Its mortar holds quiet moments of compassion long ago shared with these men when the Lady family returned to their home and found their farm filled with men in need of care.

     Today, visitors can explore this area and learn about the incredible medical challenges of Civil War field hospitals, the bravery and brilliance of the surgeons and nurses who served, and the resilience of the human spirit in spite of unimaginable pain. 

     Every beam, every stone, every scar in this landscape tells a story — of sacrifice and survival, of ordinary people swept into the tide of extraordinary history. 

     The Daniel Lady Farm is not just a preserved site; it is a living memory of Gettysburg’s human experience and the tenacity of this small town. When you stand here, you stand where history itself was forged.

     Step into the boots of a Civil War soldier and experience history like never before. “From Brogans to Bullets” is a captivating, hands-on program that brings the everyday existence of Union and Confederate soldiers to life through an immersive show-and-tell experience.

     Visitors will explore the complete world of the 19th-century fighting man — from the heavy wool uniforms that weathered through blistering summers and freezing winters, to the leather accoutrements that carried their survival gear. Learn what soldiers ate, how they marched, where they slept, and what kept them going through long, grueling campaigns in places far from their homes. Our knowledgeable interpreters, dressed in authentic uniforms, will display the tools of the trade — muskets, bayonets, knapsacks, rations, and all the essentials of a soldier’s kit  — and demonstrate how they impacted the success and survival of the men who depended on them. You’ll get an up-close look at the craftsmanship and practicality behind every item, while hearing real accounts and anecdotes from the armies who once wore and carried them.

     For those who want to see history in motion, the program may include a blank cartridge firing demonstration of the rifled musket — the weapon that defined the battlefields of the Civil War. Feel the crack of burning powder and imagine the thunder of volleys that once rolled across the fields of Gettysburg. Engaging, educational, and unforgettable, “From Brogans to Bullets” offers visitors of all ages a unique and rare opportunity to connect with the personal side of war — the endurance, equipment, ingenuity, and instruments of the soldiers who shaped our nation’s history through their humanity and their hands.

     When the Civil War erupted in 1861, the United States Army had just 113 surgeons to care for thousands of wounded soldiers. By the war’s end, that number had grown to more than 12,000 — a transformation born from necessity, courage, and innovation in one of the darkest chapters of American history.

     “Battlefields and Bandages” explores how war became the unexpected catalyst for modern medicine. Visitors will discover how doctors, nurses, and volunteers worked under unimaginable conditions — improvising, innovating, and redefining what it meant to save lives on the battlefield. Through engaging displays and authentic medical instruments, you’ll step into the world of Civil War medicine — where amputations were performed by candlelight, anesthesia was a luxury, and infection was the deadliest enemy of all. Learn how these early surgeons pioneered medical tools, organized ambulance corps, and developed techniques that would lay the groundwork for emergency and surgical practices still used today.

     Guided by knowledgeable interpreters in period dress, the program reveals not only the medical challenges of the 1860s but also the human stories behind them — the bravery of battlefield surgeons, the compassion of nurses, and the resilience of the wounded who fought to survive. What began as chaos and desperation became a turning point in American medical history. “From Battlefields to Bandages” invites you to witness that transformation — a journey from pain and loss to progress and discovery, forged in the crucible of war.

     12-pound Napoleon. 10-pounder Parrott. Spherical Case. Canister. Solid Shot.

To most visitors, these might sound like mysterious terms — but on the battlefield of Gettysburg, they meant the difference between victory and defeat.

     “Thunder on the Field” pulls back the curtain on one of the most powerful yet often overshadowed forces of the Civil War: the artillery. More than mere background percussion, these cannons shaped the very rhythm of battle — their sharp crack and heavy roar echoing across the fields, their smoke shrouding friend and foe alike, and their fatal fruits showering down the deliverance or destruction of men, beasts, supplies and terrain. 

In this thrilling and educational program, visitors will learn how artillery was positioned, aimed and fired; how Union and Confederate gun crews both worked in coordinated teams, perfecting a choreography under immense pressure that dispensed chaos and carnage to the opposition. Discover the science and skill behind these massive weapons and how each type of projectile served a unique and devastating purpose, from the shrapnel-filled spherical case to the sweeping devastation of a canister shot.

     History truly comes alive (weather permitting) when our interpreters demonstrate the loading and maneuvering of a full-sized artillery piece. You’ll hear the roar and feel the ground shake beneath your feet as it fires. This unforgettable, visceral experience offers a front row seat into the chaos and courage of 19th-century warfare. Through this program, visitors can gain a deep appreciation for the precision, teamwork, and danger faced by Civil War artillerymen — and the critical role their “big guns” had in assisting with the outcome of battles like Gettysburg.

You won’t just be watching history — you’ll be feeling it in every blast, boom, and bellow.

     Before the age of satellites and cell phones, communication on the battlefield depended on courage, precision, and a bit of wind. During the Civil War, the U.S. Signal Corps revolutionized how armies shared vital information — from waving flags across smoky hillsides to tapping out coded messages over miles of telegraph wire.

     “Conflict Communication” explores how this small but significant branch of the military transformed communication in wartime. What began as simple flag signaling, or wig-wagging, quickly evolved into a sophisticated system that stretched far beyond the battlefield. Signal officers coordinated railroad movements, tracked weather patterns, managed telegraph lines, and even experimented with rapid mail delivery by horseback — the forerunners of modern military communication and logistics. Visitors will learn how these pioneering men (and later, women) bridged vast distances with nothing more than their commitment and a command or correspondence. Through live demonstrations and authentic equipment displays, you’ll see how messages were sent using flags, torches, and telegraphs — and discover how these innovations paved the way for information to move during the war and long after it ended.

     From waving flags to sparking wires, the Signal Corps connected the armies, saved lives, and laid the foundation for the communication technologies we depend on today. At The Historic Daniel Lady Farm, their story is told where history still echoes — one signal at a time.

You don't need ghost stories when history is told like this!    

    Bring the 1860s to life through an evening of storytelling, atmosphere, and human connection. gathered around a fire as Civil War soldiers once were, visitors hear first-person accounts drawn from the letters, diaries, newspapers and recollections of the men, women, and children who lived it over 160 years ago. 

     These programs explore the war from the battlefield and beyond - the harrowing moments that pushed ordinary men to do extraordinary deeds. The day to day of camp life, hardship unimaginable told from inside the walls of prison camps, poignant methods of medical treatment, the impact of the conflict on families and communities, and something that maintained their sanity through it all - humor and music.

     Our historic interpreters in period dress will use the flicker of firelight, while the notes of tunes from long ago waft in the background, to create the authentic setting for an immersive experience.

     The Historic Daniel lady Farm's Campfire Chronicles program offers a powerful way to understand the Civil War as a lived experience - an opportunity to listen, imagine, and connect with the voices of the past under the same stars that once watched over a nation at war. 

*Designed for both adults and youth, but tailored for appropriateness depending on the group.

**This program can also include an optional snack of s'mores to be made over the fire during the program.