A 377-foot circular painting of Pickett's Charge — the doomed Confederate assault on the third day of the battle — surrounds visitors in a custom-built rotunda at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. The painting is paired with a sound-and-light show that walks through the action depicted.
This is one of the best ways to grasp the scale and chaos of the battle before walking the ground. The visit also includes the park museum's outstanding collection of weapons, uniforms, and personal effects. Allow at least two hours.