I have seen the Grand Canyon. I have witnessed breathtaking sunsets. I have eaten a perfectly cooked steak. None of these experiences prepared me for the absolute magnificence of The Union Drummer Boy Civil War Artifact Gallery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This isn't just a Civil War shop. This is what happens when the Smithsonian, a time machine, and a dangerously enthusiastic history professor have a baby. The artifacts are extraordinary. The history is incredible. The knowledge is almost suspicious. There are things in this gallery that belong in museums, things museums wish they owned, and things that will make you question why you wasted money on groceries instead of Civil War relics. I walked in a normal person. I walked out speaking in 1860s military terminology, questioning my financial priorities, and seriously considering taking out a second mortgage for a belt buckle. If you visit Gettysburg and skip The Union Drummer Boy, historians estimate that three kittens will spontaneously explode, a bald eagle will shed a single tear, and Abraham Lincoln will personally rise from his grave just to express his disappointment in you. I'm not saying this place is better than Disneyland, but Disneyland doesn't have original Civil War swords, battlefield relics, and 160-year-old objects that actually witnessed American history. The owner knows so much about Civil War artifacts that I'm reasonably certain he was there. His knowledge is encyclopedic, his enthusiasm is contagious, and his ability to explain the history behind an object will make you forget what year it is. Five stars. Eleven out of ten. A national treasure filled with national treasures. Visit The Union Drummer Boy. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Bring your wallet. Leave your financial advisor at home. Do it for history. Do it for America. Most importantly, do it for the kittens. read more

This is the best civil war shop! The owner knows more about civil war artifacts than anyone else I know. I was able to buy a world class bone handle southern Bowie knife from him at a really reasonable price. I feel comfortable buying from the Union Drummer Boy especially on hard items that are rare and expensive because of the level of knowledge Brendan has. If it's not 100% right he will take it back no questions asked. That's a huge factor for me. Brendan gets items that no one else has. I feel comfortable recommending his expertise and Guidence in all of my purchases. His shop is like a museum where you can purchase the historical items of the past. He specializes in rare, clean exceptional items. I love this shop and I highly recommend the Union Drummer Boy !! read more

The Union Drummer Boy - A rare beauty !! - Antiques Near Me - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

I went in to the union drummer boy was instantly greeted the employees they were very nice, theres a huge selection of civil war militaria with great prices. I wanted to purchase an item and the owner personally helped me out I would definitely recommend you check it out. read more

It's a nice store with a great selection, and the staff has been polite, but my experience has been very frustrating. I purchased a "Gettysburg-recovered" Hotchkiss shell for a good amount of money, yet received no certificate of authenticity or any documentation to support the claim. I have the receipt for BOTH items to back this review. I also bought a fired Minie ball from the same store, which did come with a COA, so I know they are capable of providing proper paperwork. I've called more than 10 times--employees answer, take my name, number, and shipping address, but nothing ever follows through. Every time I ask for Brendan, he is "out" or "preoccupied," and I have yet to receive a return call or paper work. For a high-value historical item, the lack of documentation and follow-up is extremely disappointing. Photo of the "Gettysburg shell". I will not be buying from this location again, I will and would recommend taking your business elsewhere to a location that takes historical artifacts seriously. I am willing to change my review if I do receive the COA. Update/Edit, after a personal call from the owner, I have received the COA and I am happy to finally have the document backing up the shell's authenticity. read more

The Union Drummer Boy - Receipt and shell - Antiques Near Me - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

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I've been a happy customer of the Union Drummer Boy for many years. The shop is a required stop on any visit to beautiful Gettysburg. The Union Drummer Boy is essentially an antique store specializing in items related to the American Civil War. Many visitors comment that the shop is like a museum where you can buy everything you see. Located right next to Lincoln Square, the shop is owned by one of the leading civil war antique experts in the nation and is staffed by a rotating crew of very friendly people who are extremely knowledgeable about the war and are happy to share that knowledge with you. The shop welcomes everyone from experts to those who are visiting Gettysburg for the first time, and they have something for everyone who loves history, from a few dollars for a civil war bullet to the highest-end treasures you can imagine. The antique world in general and civil war antiques in particular can be a tricky business. The Union Drummer Boy in Gettysburg has been in business for decades, and the folks there are honest, reputable, welcoming, and very happy to help you to explore your own interests in American history. Visit the shop next time you are in Gettysburg. read more

The Union Drummer Boy is the kind of place where you can really appreciate civil war history. The gallery is exceptional, and the presentation makes it genuinely feel like visiting a museum. Everyone I've encountered there has been extremely friendly and knowledgeable. It's definitely a place I'd recommend stopping if you're in town! read more

The Union Drummer Boy - A view of the storefront during my last visit. - Antiques Near Me - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

This place was my best stop in Gettysburg. I was able to find a bunch of items for my collection, and the staff was happy to answer all of my questions. They went above and beyond to turn my shopping experience into a learning experience, and didn't make me feel rushed out the door as other stores sometimes do. The staff took their time, and earned themselves a lifetime customer. I recommend making this a definite stop during your time in Gettysburg! read more

Great place to find original rare civil war items experienced and knowledgeable owner, if your going to gettysburg, put the union drummer boy on your list read more

nice place to look at. however i, as a hispanic women, did not feel welcomed here and got nasty stares. its a shame since i have an interest in history. read more

Amazing shop full of authentic Civil War items. Anything from a $3.00, 68 cal mini ball to some very nice muskets and Sharps rifles going for many thousands of dollars... I was impressed with the medical kits for amputation. They were complete, with all instruments in the felt lined cases. Some had ivory handles. Quite nice. They had uniforms, pistols, drums, flags, canteens, letters written by soldiers, almost anything you could imagine. The folks in the shop were well informed and could discuss the items for sale as well as the particulars of various battles, et read more

This place is a must stop if you're in Gettysburg. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, and the selection is unmatched for all things civil war. There is something there for everyone, from high end museum quality pieces, to gift sets for friends and family. read more

The products where very interesting and at good prices this is a must see when you visit Gettysburg!

Tried for several months to make a purchase from their website. They could never locate the item - finally gave up.

Love these guys! They go out of their way help you acquire artifacts. I highly recommend these guys as they are great! read more

The Union Drummer Boy - 1855 US Bayonet ! You guys rock! - Antiques Near Me - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Outstanding original Civil War artifacts at fair prices, all 100% guaranteed. The owner is accessible to talk about civil war whatever, a very nice thing. I highly recommend visiting his store in Gettysburg, it's a museum and you can buy stuff. Even if you're not in the market, the store is a great visit. How many times have you visited the Gettysburg museum and thought, I wish I could buy that. Chef rj read more

I can't say enough good things about this store. The saying "Quality over Quantity" applies more than ever here. Every piece is interesting, every piece is authentic, the store is smaller but packed with things in a VERY organized way, it's NOT scattered all over the place like some other relic stores. The staff is so helpful, they are enthusiastic about their products and are so knowledgeable about all their artifacts and really care about the customer. I say they care because they back their sales as 100% authentic and take every action to verify their authenticity. I had a positive interaction with both the owners and they both went out of their way to show me some pieces they knew I would like and then printed out all the information they had on the specific piece I bought which tells a story and makes the interaction that much better. For their prices, I thought they were right on target if not a little CHEAPER than other Gettysburg stores. Personally, I had just come from "The Horse Soldier" and on comparable items in the same condition this place was actually cheaper and had way more unique items that could actually be verified authentic and NOT just a wild guess. EVERYONE that takes a trip to Gettysburg should go here even if you aren't a collector because you never know what treasure you'll find here for a great price and be proud of for years to come. Thank you so much for the Cavalry piece and I'm so happy I bought it from you guys, I'll be back the next time through Gettysburg! read more

I first want to say that I have been in this store several times over the years at their various locations. I have always preferred this store over the 'other one' in town as it seemed that they were much more approachable and friendly. Not sure what happened this last time but it was quite weird, bordering on rude. My wife and I stopped by the store two days ago about 2PM. We were the only people in the shop the entire 15-20 minutes that we were there. The gentleman who was behind the counter (I've always assumed he was the owner) never even bothered to acknowledge us once during the time that we spent in his shop. No greeting, no 'hello', no 'can I help you with something?'...he didn't even make eye contact with us, looking at his computer screen the whole time. I stopped between the counter, where he was, and a rack of rifles/muskets and was looking at them...and nothing. A completely awkward time. I guess that he was doing me the favor by letting me browse his shop. When we left the store, we were in disbelief. How do two people walk into a somewhat high-end collectibles shop (being the only two people there) and not even get a hello? There is absolutely no reason for a small business not to acknowledge customers when they come into their store. Is it arrogance or that they just do not care? Well any future purchases or money that I would spend has now sailed. I have purchased items there before including an original '63 Springfield, but never again. I will go to the 'other store' where as cold as they are, they actually engage a customer. read more

The Union Drummer Boy has a huge selection of military antiques. It seems more like a museum than a shop. Everything in the shop is authentic and very interesting. The people who work there are very knowledgeable and friendly. I would recommend stopping by if you're in the area. read more

I have called twice in the past 3 days to make a purchase on items that are posted online for sale in the new items area, both the items a US Belt plate and today a US Belt buckle were not available the person I spoke to Angelo stated they were not in the store anymore the first being sold and he didn't know the location of the other. Ironically he (Angelo) contradicted himself after saying they were in a trailer on its way to Ohio. This is the 3rd time I have made a attempt to purchase something only to have the person on the other side tell me that the item its not in the store. All three items that I called to purchase had just been added to the online "new item" site that day and I called within a few minutes of them being added. Angelo even stated that my wife had called yesterday on the box plate because he recognized the phone number. Fact I am not married and what are the chances of two people call from Connecticut looking for the same item, 1 male, 1 female. My opinion is if you don't have something readily for sale you shouldn't post it I will in the future only do business with the Horse Soldier as their professionalism is extraordinary. Thanks for reading and I hope this helps UPDATE:UPDATE:UPDATE:UPDATE THE OWNER (BRENDAN) OF THIS STORE CONTACTED ME PERSONALLY WITHIN A FEW HOURS AND APOLOGIZED FOR MY ISSUES WITH THE STORE, THE ARTIFACT (US BELT PLATE) WAS REALLY PACKED ON A TRAILER TO BE PART OF A SHOW HE WAS ATTENDING IN OHIO. HE PERSONALLY WENT INTO THE TRAILER AND DUG IT OUT AND OFFERED TO SHIP IT TO ME FREE OF CHARGE AND TOOK SOME MONEY OFF IT FOR MY TROUBLES. I ELECTED TO PICK IT UP AS I WAS GOING TO GETTYSBURG THE FOLLOWING WEEK. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE OWNER AS HE WENT THE DISTANCE TO SATISFY A CUSTOMER. I HAVE CHNGE MY REVIEW TO 5 STARS. BRENDAN IS A OWNER OF A BUSINESS THAT I BELIEVE REALLY TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN HIS BUSINESS AND HIS REPUTATION. BRENDAN THANK YOU AGAIN read more

You will find a good selection of items but a majority of them are overpriced, also the workers were very testy and rude. One of them was nice, but the rest weren't. I recommend The Horse Soldier, the guys there are not just nice but also honest, that's key! read more

At first I wasn't sure about this place. I had been to The Horse Soldier just before, and this place had fewer items and the prices were higher. However, their items were all of the highest quality. What I loved was the service. The staff were happy to discuss items with us even when they knew we weren't intending to purchase it. Then sat down with us to discuss what we were in fact looking for. They didn't have it in stock in the store, but he had it in his archives. They are working with us to get us the perfect souvenir via email/mail now even though our budget was well short of what I'm sure they're used to and after being told we're not hard-core collectors. You can't beat that kind of service anywhere. They have two locations - one just off the square downtown in the old part of Gettysburg and another at the outlet mall just on the edge of town. Super friendly staff and high quality items. You bet I'll be coming back! read more

Very interesting and quality relics. Store feels more like a museum. Definitely worth a visit. Reason for only 3 stars is owner (? Older fellow) is so very unfriendly. Must have been a shift change as my friend had a completely different experience same day with a younger staffer. read more

When I saw this shop I had to go in. Their artifacts are amazing and the person I dealt with was extremely friendly & knowledgeable. I purchased a ball of cannister shot that was harvested from the Gettysburg Battlefield with a certificate of authenticity and where it came from for $25.00. Most of the items were out of my price range and I suspect a little high in price, but still highly recommend if you visit Gettysburg. read more

In June, 2017 I had the opportunity to visit Gettysburgh. I am an avid collector and ended up visiting this store. While there, I purchased a .32 cal Sharpe's 4-barrel revolver that was engraved with what was believed to be a Union soldier's name. I spoke with one of the owner's who told me some of the history pertaining to the firearm and advised me that he would forward me with any paperwork or information on the soldier who may have previously owned the gun. I purchased the firearm and was told that he would mail any paperwork to my residence; which is out of state. After email's and several phone calls to follow-up and obtain the paperwork, I received nothing but the run-around and to date; have never received any paperwork related to the gun as promised. As you know in the collector's world, a dealer's word and reputation are vital when relying on the authenticity of an item you are trying to purchase or confirm. After many years of collecting, I cannot provide a good recommendation for this dealer and in my opinion, would highly suggest that you do not buy from this dealer as they are not trustworthy and their customer service is poor. I have many years in public service and the military and do not take pleasure in providing negative feedback; however I do not want others to be subjected to the type of service I received here. Let the buyer beware and look elsewhere. read more

Service was great, friendly, and helpful. We were happy to spend our money there. Very knowledgable and came home with great items. Thank you brenden for a good experience at gettysburg. read more

This seller does not respond. While most dealers selling relics operate online sites only, this dealer has a store in Gettysburg and one would expect his online operation to be better managed. This is not the case, as the item I purchased direct from his online site and paid for immediately through PayPal - never was sent and remained listed for sale online. After I Initiated a non-receipt dispute through PayPal, the seller advised he was delayed dealing with a family emergency and would send my item immediately by expedited mail. The item was never received, and remained for sale online. After further attempts to get a response from him were ignored, I finally had to make a claim and request a chargeback through PayPal to get my money back. After PayPal acted on my claim, the seller finally contacted me to say the item couldn't be found in his inventory. I definitely would not do online business with this seller. read more