Geek Nation Tours is proud to announce we will be offering this tour again in 2018. If you are interested return to this page often or contact us at headgeek@geeknationtours.com. Please note that this tour is being revamped and that the below tour dates and details are from our 2013 trip. More soon!
About the Tour
“In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear, but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls. And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field to ponder and dream; And lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls.”
– Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Speaking at the dedication of the Monument to the 20th Maine, October 3, 1889, Gettysburg, PA
Geek Nation Tours is proud to announce its “Signature Battlefield Tours” series. The first of which will be Gettysburg 2013 the 150th anniversary of that battle. We are happy to offer the tour to this hugely important battlefield along with Antietam, Manassas and Harpers Ferry. Join us as we travel through this hallowed ground and visit some of the most important sites of American history. We will return often to the Battlefields themselves and explore these powerful places. You will find yourself looking across the great breath of the Manassas battlefield, you will stand on an impossibly small cornfield and a tiny bridge where more Americans died than on any other day in the nation’s military history, we will see the town where John Brown made his stand against slavery and we will see the monumental Gettysburg battlefield in detail. We will visit the hill so gallantly defended by Joshua Chamberlain and stare off into the distances on General Robert E Lee’s line where he made the fateful decision to march against Union lines.
Day 1 - Washington, DC
Arrive in Washington, DC (Dulles) and transfer to Manassas. Overnight at the Hampton Inn Manassas.
Overnight Location: Manassas, VA
Day 2 - Manassas, VA
Spend the day at Manassas National Battlefield Park. Bring your sneakers as we will be doing some walking tours today. We will discover the battlefield with the help of a park tour guide and get some real insight to the battle. During the mid-day heat we will then leave the Battlefield Park to lunch and visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps. After our visit you will have the option of having some free time or joining us on a walk of the Manassas Battlefield. We will walk from the Henry Hill Visitor Center to the Stone Bridge, Carter Cemetery, Matthews Hill, Stone house and then back to the Visitor Center. The walk will take about 2-3 hours and we will return to the hotel around twilight to have dinner. Night in Manassas. Staying at the Hampton Inn Manassas.
Overnight Location: Manassas, VA
Day 3 - Harper’s Ferry, WV
We will leave Manassas and travel to Harper’s Ferry to briefly explore the Bolivar Heights Battlefield (important for the battle of Antietam) and the town of Harper’s Ferry. We will be lead yet again by a local guide who will end the tour at a local restaurant for lunch. From here we will return to our bus to visit Antietam battlefield. A Park Ranger will lead us on a detailed tour of this battlefield. We will visit the Bloody Lane, Brunside’s Bridge, and of course the Cornfield where so many lost their lives. Night in Hagerstown. Staying at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Hagerstown.
Overnight Location: Hagerstown, MD
Day 4 - Gettysburg, PA
Travel to Gettysburg. Upon arrival we will visit the Gettysburg Diorama. This is the largest Diorama in the US which depicts Gettysburg during the battle of 1863, it displays 6000 acres in miniature and has over 20000 hand-painted HO scale miniatures. Not only that it gives a great overview of the battle and orients us for the afternoon tour. We will then depart the Diorama to visit the Battlefield where our guide will give us a general overview of the battle. We will then lunch and end the day at the “Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center”. Here we will visit the Cyclorama, Museum and bookstore. We will then make our way to the hotel and dine on property. During our stay at the Wyndham Gettysburg we will have the chance to view the “Fields of Freedom” movie for a reduced rate. The theatre is just down the road so be sure to take it in…Night in Gettysburg. Staying at the Wyndham Gettysburg.
Overnight Location: Gettysburg, PA
Day 5 - Gettysburg, PA
In the morning (after breakfast included) we will return to the battlefield for a more detailed look at Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield and the Monument to the 20th Maine on Little Round Top. After visiting the battlefield we will tour the Shriver House for their in-town re-enactment, from then you will have some free time to lunch, explore Gettysburg and then return to the hotel on your own for some down time. Later that evening we will dine at the historic Dobbin House and at twilight we will return to Lee’s Line to get a more detailed look at this section of the battlefield. Night in Gettysburg. Staying at the Wyndham Gettysburg.
Overnight Location: Gettysburg, PA
Day 6 - Gettysburg, PA
After breakfast (included) we will visit the Gettysburg Re-enactment for the duration of the day. We will see at least two re-enactments and a live Mortar fire demonstration or two. Between re-enactments we will visit the living history tents and military camps. These visits offer a deeper look into the times and give participants a wealth of knowledge about medicine, weaponry and other important aspects of life at the time. After watching the re-enactments you may want to meet a re-enactor and learn about their passions and the tents are the best place to do this. After returning to our hotel for a quick clean up we will return visit the historic Farnsworth House for a period dinner. After dinner we will return to the battlefield for a quick final visit. Night in Gettysburg. Staying at the Wyndham Gettysburg.
Overnight Location: Gettysburg, PA
Day 7 - Washington, DC
We will be transferred to the Washington Dulles Airport for our return home. We will arrive around 10am so please book air travel plans accordingly. Breakfast is included.
Optional Post-Tour Add-on
Day 1 - Arlington, VA
Today we will leave early to make our way to the Washington Dulles airport to say good bye to our tour participants returning home. The rest of us, however, will be continuing our journey to Arlington National Cemetery. Here we hop on and off the automated bus tour to explore the cemetery at your own pace. We will have a leisurely, but limited, visit before we head off to the Washington National Mall. We will visit this area on day 8 as well, but today we will explore the Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Reflection Pool and Washington Monument as a group. Depending on how much time we have you will be free to wander the grounds or take in some of the other sites as well…
Later we will go to our hotel before having dinner as a group…
Overnight Location: JW Marriott Washington DC, Dinner included
Day 2 - Washington, DC
Today we will again explore the National Mall. We will be transferred to and from the Mall and you will have the full day to explore the area as you see fit… You can take some choice photos of the White House and Capitol Hill or spend your time visiting some of the following:
This is the place to take in some of the most famous museums in the world:
| National Museum of American History | National Museum of Natural History |
| National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden | West Building of the National Gallery of Art |
| East Building of the National Gallery of Art | National Museum of the American Indian |
| National Air and Space Museum | Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden |
| Arts and Industries Building | Smithsonian Institution Building (“The Castle”) |
| Freer Gallery of Art | Arthur M. Sackler Gallery |
| National Museum of African Art | Andrew Jackson Downing Memorial Urn |
| Joseph Henry Statue | Smithsonian Carousel |
Of course there are even more monuments to see today including:
Or if you would like to stroll the gardens you have these options:
| United States Botanic Garden | Constitution Gardens |
| Mary Livingston Ripley Garden | Enid A. Haupt Garden |
| Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden | Butterfly Habitat Garden |
| Victory Garden at the National Museum of American History |
Heirloom Garden at the National Museum of American History, Behring Center |
| Native Landscape at the National Museum of the American Indian |
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden |
For those that want to venture off the Mall area you can always take in the Spy Museum…
Overnight Location: JW Marriott Washington, DC
Day 3 - Washington, DC
We will be transferred to the Washington Dulles Airport for our return home. We will arrive around 10am so please book air travel plans accordingly.
What's Included
All Breakfasts, two lunches in Gettysburg, dinner at the hotel on July 5th, dinner at the Dobbin House and dinner at the Farnsworth House. All transfers, hotels and entrance fees. All battlefield tour prices and re-enactment fees.
What's Not Included
Flights not included. However Geek Nation Tours would be happy to arrange air from anywhere in the world. Include your origin city in the pre-registration and we will send you a quote. Some small local fees may apply.
Tour Price
Don’t have a friend to get the double occupancy rate? That is what Geek Nation Tours does. Book as a double occupancy and we will match you up a roommate… This way you get the best of both worlds – someone to BS about the con with – and more cash to spend!
