Battlefield Books

Battlefield Books has been the definitive bookseller for Civil War history since 1958, drawing scholars, collectors, and battlefield visitors to its Chambersburg Street location in the heart of Gettysburg. Founded by retired history professor Harold Brennan, the store has passed through three generations of ownership while maintaining its reputation as perhaps the finest Civil War bookshop in America. The main floor holds thousands of titles covering every aspect of the conflict, from sweeping narratives to regimental histories of individual units. A dedicated rare books room upstairs contains first editions, period maps, and ephemera that attract serious collectors from around the world. The staff includes published Civil War historians who can guide customers to exactly the right title, whether they are writing a dissertation or simply trying to understand what happened on the fields outside town. Beyond the Civil War, the store has expanded into broader American history, biography, and an excellent collection of historical maps and cartography.