Lincoln's Lost Words — Gettysburg National Cemetery

Your quest begins at the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, a place established in 1863, just months after the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863). Here rest over 3500 Union soldiers, whose reburials, led by David Wills, began on October 27, 1863. This 17-acre site, on a natural hill, was chosen for its strategic role in the Union victory. It was on November 19, 1863, that this cemetery was officially dedicated, an event during which President Abraham Lincoln delivered the famous Gettysburg Address, a speech that would redefine the meaning of the American Civil War and the nation's future.

Continue to the Soldiers' National Monument, a towering 60-foot statue at the center of the cemetery. Completed in 1869, this monument honors the fallen Union soldiers. It is not directly related to Lincoln or his speech but symbolizes Columbia paying tribute to her departed sons. The figure of Liberty, surrounded by allegories of War, Clio (Muse of History), Plenty, and Peace, will remind you of the heavy price paid for national unity in this town of Gettysburg, a major National Historic Landmark and Civil War Battlefield Site in Pennsylvania.

The Lincoln Address Memorial, dedicated on January 24, 1912, is a crucial stop on your journey through the Gettysburg National Cemetery. It is one of the few monuments worldwide to commemorate a speech rather than the person. It features a bronze bust of Lincoln by sculptor Henry Bush-Brown, whose expression reveals the toll of war. The full Gettysburg Address is inscribed on the right, and the invitation letter on the left. This memorial is located about 300 yards from the exact spot where Lincoln delivered his speech, along Upper Cemetery Drive, offering you a perspective on the lasting impact of his words.

Your path then leads to the Gettysburg Address Platform Site, the precise location where Abraham Lincoln delivered his speech on November 19, 1863. This site, contrary to expectations, is in the adjacent and private Evergreen Cemetery, not the public National Cemetery. Historians and the National Park Service have identified this location using photographic evidence, and it is marked facing the fence separating the two cemeteries. Brian Kennell, the superintendent of Evergreen Cemetery, also confirmed its authenticity. This point of interest is essential for understanding the real context of this historic moment in Gettysburg.

As you conclude your exploration of the Gettysburg National Military Park, you will carry the certainty of having walked the same grounds as Abraham Lincoln and the thousands of Civil War soldiers. From the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in 1863 to the erection of the Lincoln Address Memorial in 1912, each site will have revealed a facet of Gettysburg's and Pennsylvania's history. This interactive tour will have allowed you to connect historical facts, key figures like David Wills, and iconic locations of this foundational battle, far beyond what a simple reading could offer. You will have pieced together the puzzle of the lost words, which continue to resonate in the heritage of this city.