GETTYSBURG, Pa. — There is so much tradition when it comes to the holiday season and in Gettysburg, they've got all sorts of events this month that combine history with the holidays.
At the Shriver House Museum, the tree and decorations are set up for the "Five Christmases at the Shriver House."
You can take a step back in time to December 1860 when George and Hettie Shriver settled into their beautiful new home in time to celebrate Christmas with their two young daughters.
"They had just moved in for the holidays. So, we have the whole house set up like a big open house party," said Nancie Gudmestad, owner of the Shriver House Museum.
The Shriver family spent five Christmases in their home on Baltimore Street, many of which were experienced during the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War.
"With the war going on they did their best to try and make life a little lighter," said Gudmestad.
During the holidays the museum shares many of the Shriver family's traditions that we still share today including setting out milk and cookies for Santa, putting up stockings, and threading popcorn.
"The Shriver story is honestly kind of a sad story, it's a war story, but at Christmas time it's too difficult to tell a sad story so we do our best to try and make this a happier story because we feel that in this house, it's always Christmas in 1860," Gudmestad said.
Candlelight Christmas tours are happening on select days/times in December. To schedule a tour, click here.