Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Taktsang Lhakhang, also known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
Bhutan • 11 days, 10 nights
Festivals & Temples of Bhutan
from
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
The truth is out there—somewhere.
The Truth Is Out There at the Dreamland Resort (or Should We Say ‘Area 51?’)
21 days ago
Edward Payson Weston
How the 6-Day Race Became an American Spectator Obsession
22 days ago
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
24 days ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
25 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Pennsylvania Gettysburg Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum

Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum

A diorama of the Civil War, fought by cats.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Added By
Bryan Woerner
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
  bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
Diorama of Pickett’s Charge   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Diorama featuring horses jumping into water.   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Diorama of Devil’s Den   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
The Ironclads   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
Fort Sumter   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
  bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
The Angle   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
Cats in progress   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
Little Round Top in progress   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the Monitor   bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
  Toriaroscuro / Atlas Obscura User
  bryanwoerner / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Ever wonder what the Civil War would look like if it had been fought by cats? The Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum in Gettysburg seeks to answer that question.

Twin sisters, Ruth and Rebecca Brown, have taken their passion for Civil War history, dioramas, and cats to create these unique and intricate displays. They began their interest in Civil War history at the same time they began making and clay figures as kids. In 2013, Rebecca was able achieve her dream of living in Gettysburg and purchased The Homestead, itself a historic building that was once the National Soldiers Orphans Homestead.

Their collection of dioramas includes the Battle Fort Sumter, the Battle of the Ironclads (including a view from under the water and inside each ship with cat sailors), and The Angle/Pickett’s Charge with over 1,900 cat soldiers and measuring 5.5 ft x 7.5 ft. Along with the cats, all of the artillery, horses, and stone walls are handmade (the stones being little balls of clay). The sisters began this piece in 2000 and finished in 2013 when the museum opened.

The next big project is Little Round Top, which is being extensively researched for both the positions of soldiers, but also for topology. When finished, it will be 11 ft long and contain over 5000 cats. Each figurine, about once inch or smaller, is baked in a 225 degree oven and then hand painted in appropriate colors. Rebecca makes Confederate soldiers, while Ruth makes the Union forces.  

Related Tags

Dioramas Civil War War History Military

Know Before You Go

There is a large parking lot across the street that is free. Metered street parking is available. Be careful crossing the streets as there are no crosswalks. It's well worth the $6.50 ticket price. It's also near the Hall of Presidents and First Ladies, another little gem in the town of Gettysburg.

Community Contributors

Added By

bryanwoerner

Edited By

Toriaroscuro, blimpcaptain, SemiruralYeti

  • Toriaroscuro
  • blimpcaptain
  • SemiruralYeti

Published

August 25, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/theres-a-museum-for-everything-even-civil-war-battles--depicted-by-cats/2016/05/26/1f8c4674-1d30-11e6-8c7b-6931e66333e7_story.html
  • https://civilwartails.com/
Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum
785 Baltimore St
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
United States
39.82208, -77.230855
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Jennie Wade House

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

miles away

Bench of Irony

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

miles away

Gettysburg Cyclorama

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Gettysburg

Gettysburg

Pennsylvania

Places 9
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Jennie Wade House

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

miles away

Bench of Irony

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

miles away

Gettysburg Cyclorama

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Gettysburg

Gettysburg

Pennsylvania

Places 9
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Old Abe

    Madison, Wisconsin

    Old Abe

    A renowned Civil War veteran, this Bald eagle now presides over the Wisconsin State Assembly.

  • Main corridor

    Alcoy, Spain

    Shelter of Cervantes

    This air raid shelter from the Spanish Civil War is now a museum dedicated to the history of the city's bombardment.

  • View South from Oliver’s Castle

    Wiltshire, England

    Oliver's Fort and the Bloody Ditch

    This ancient fort overlooks the site of a disastrous retreat from the English Civil War.

  • The cannon.

    Brooklyn, New York

    John Paul Jones Park's Rodman Gun

    The rare American Civil War-era weapon was never fired in anger.

  • Musket damage.

    Malmesbury, England

    Malmesbury Abbey Musket Damage

    Scars from the English Civil War mar this medieval sanctuary.

  • Bunkers at Alto del León, Guadarrama.

    Guadarrama, Spain

    Civil War Bunkers of Alto del León

    These Bullet-scarred bunkers are haunting reminders of the Spanish Civil War.

  • Inside the bunker.

    Madrid, Spain

    Parque el Capricho Bunker

    A subterranean relic of the Spanish Civil War hides below this picturesque park.

  • Bennett Place.

    Durham, North Carolina

    Bennett Place

    The scene of the largest surrender of Confederate troops at the end of the American Civil War.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.