Shriver House Museum newest site added to the Civil War Trails program

Nancie Gudmestad, founder and director of the Shriver House Museum in Gettysburg, assisted the Civil War Trails team in placing a historical marker in front of the museum, adding the site to the multi-state Civil War Trails program.

Nancie and her husband, Del, purchased an abandoned house in the heart of downtown Gettysburg in 1996 to painstakingly restore it as an award-winning museum to tell the story of the battle of Gettysburg from a totally different point of view: through the eyes of one family who endured the conflict firsthand. The museum is proud to welcome thousands of visitors each year, including countless students from as far away as California, Washington, and Oregon. Becoming part of the Civil War Trails program will help Nancie and her team continue to receive record visitation.

“We are thrilled to be telling a new story in Gettysburg” said Drew Gruber, executive director of Civil War Trails, Inc. “For many visitors the story of the battle is only focused on the soldiers, and not the women and children who endured the days before, during, and after.” The Civil War Trails sign will help to encourage guests to take a tour of the Shriver House to understand the story of the Shrivers, an ordinary family caught up in extraordinary circumstances.

Nancie has been advocating for the Civil War Trails program to expand into Pennsylvania for several years. “We are honored to be recognized by the Civil War Trails with one of their first interpretive signs to be placed in Pennsylvania,” she said.

In addition to their site, the Lincoln Railroad Station was also added to the program. Karl Pietrzak, President & CEO of Destination Gettysburg. has been working alongside Drew and Nancie for the last two years. “We are excited to share the stories of these historic locations with our visitors,” he said. “From the spot where President Lincoln first set foot in Gettysburg during his visit to deliver the most famous speech in American history, to a compelling story of the impact of the Battle of Gettysburg on the town’s civilians, these additions to the Civil War Trails journey will help connect visitors to Gettysburg with the historic events that happened here.”

The Shriver House Museum is located at 309 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. You will find the Civil War Trails sign just outside the door. Be sure to snap a #signselfie and post it along with #gettysburg and #civilwartrails. For more information about the Shriver House Museum, call 717-337-2800, or visit their website, www.shriverhouse.org. For more information about visiting Gettysburg and all it has to offer, explore the website destinationgettysburg.com.