2025 News

Join Eisenhower National Historic Site staff for the annual World War II Weekend Sept. 19 to 21, 2025. This year’s event will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II by focusing on the people, events and legacies of 1945. Park rangers, guest speakers, living historians and partner organizations will bring the events of 1945 to life through three days of interactive programming, tours and activities for visitors of all ages.

Programming begins the evening of Friday, Sept. 19, and continues throughout the day on Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21. Eisenhower National Historic Site will be closed on Friday, Sept. 19 during the set-up of the on-site living history camp. 

Event highlights include:

Notable guest speakers and historians: Pulitzer-Prize winning historian and author Rick Atkinson will speak Friday evening at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, with free tickets required and available through the Gettysburg Foundation. SOLD OUT

On Saturday and Sunday, speakers at Eisenhower National Historic Site will feature a variety of topics including General George C. Marshall, the U.S. Marine Corps, the island of Iwo Jima, the Women’s Army Corps, surviving the Kamikaze and the flight of the Enola Gay. A conversation with Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower, will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 21. A complete list of presenters and topics is available on the park website at nps.gov/eise.  

Ranger-Guided Walking Tours of WWII Burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery: At 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, park rangers will offer guided walking tours of Gettysburg National Cemetery, exploring the stories of the 590 fallen World War II soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines buried there. Each evening’s program will focus on different themes. Friday night’s theme is stories from the Pacific Theater. Saturday night will focus on casualties from the European Theater. Sunday night will cover those who fought and died in 1945 at the war’s end. Meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to Gettysburg National Cemetery.

1945 Living History Camp at Eisenhower National Historic Site: Visit American and Allied units, as well as groups depicting life on the Homefront, and explore the people and events of 1945. Park rangers will lead guided walking tours of the living history camp throughout the weekend.

Family Activities and Programs at Eisenhower Natoinal Historic Site: Kids can pick up a family activity booklet when they arrive, take part in activities throughout the camp and visit the Family Tent for a special World War II-themed prize. 

Special 1945 Museum Exhibits: Visit the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center to see exhibits from Naval History and Heritage Command, U.S. Museum of the Navy, the National Museum of the Marine Corps and Eisenhower National Historic Site. These exhibits explore the people, events and legacies of 1945, including baseball during World War II. 

Eisenhower Home Tours: Free tours of the only home that Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower ever owned are available on both Saturday and Sunday of World War II Weekend.

For more information, visit Eisenhower National Historic Site online.

How to visit Eisenhower National Historic Site during World War II Weekend:

Weather permitting, free on-site parking for passenger vehicles only will be available at Eisenhower National Historic Site in a farm field accessible from Emmitsburg Road, Business Route 15. For GPS, use 250 Eisenhower Farm Road. 

Eisenhower National Historic Site will have accessible parking on-site throughout the weekend.

Bus groups must book shuttles from the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, located at 1195 Baltimore Pike. Call the Gettysburg Foundation at 877-874-2478 or 717-334-2436 to make reservations.

All National Park Service World War II Weekend programming is free of charge. Outdoor programs are weather dependent.

Read the National Park Service press release.