Located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the Adams County Historical Society preserves and protects over one million historic items that tell the story of one of America's most remarkable communities. Join us to travel back through over 300 years of history.
ACHS is currently closed to researchers due to COVID-19. Please check back soon for further updates.
The Battle of Gettysburg was a defining episode in Adams County’s history, but there is so much more to its story. The Adams County Historical Society (ACHS) will take you behind the scenes to experience the fascinating and largely untold history of this world-famous place.
With origins dating to the 1888, ACHS shares and preserves the memory and legacy of a truly remarkable community. Housing over one million historic items, ACHS is Gettysburg's preeminent research institution and Adams County's official historical society and archives. Our collection, which spans over 300 years of incredible history, is a treasure trove for both area residents and Civil War enthusiasts from across the country. In fact, ACHS houses an impressive library and archives assembled by and for students of the Civil War with an emphasis on the roles played by area citizens before, during, and after the Battle of Gettysburg.
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The Adams County Historical Society (ACHS) is one step closer to a new home.
From Gettysburg’s earliest days, its Black denizens established churches, businesses, civic groups, and schools. In 1863, they listened, at a distance, to Abraham Lincoln’s stirring words. Later, they organized for the right to vote and fought to end discriminatory practices in a town that many around the world associate with freedom, union, and the American dream.
In my years as an author, I’ve learned that some of the best stories are tucked away in community libraries, archives, and historical societies. Right here in Gettysburg, so many of these stories are held by the Adams County Historical Society.
