The Unexpected Civil War Museum Told Through Cats and Dioramas

Among the monuments and in historic Gettysburg, the Civil War Tails Museum offers one of Pennsylvania’s most unique and delightful twists on American history. This family-run gem features breathtakingly accurate, large-scale dioramas of major Civil War battles, all populated by thousands of handmade miniature cat soldiers.

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Address: 785 Baltimore St, Gettysburg, PA 17325

Category: Museum

Duration: 1-2 hours

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Directions, Hours, Admission

Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum is located at 785 Baltimore St, Gettysburg, PA 17325 in Gettysburg. Metered street parking is available nearby, and you will find public lots and options in the downtown area. 

From April to November, the museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 11am – 8pm and on Saturday 10am – 4pm. From December to March, the museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 1pm – 7pm and on Saturday 10am – 7pm. The museum is closed every Sunday, Wednesday, and the first Thursday of the month.

Adults can explore the museum for $7, while children 6 -12 are $5. Children under 5 receive free admission.

Check out their official website for the latest updates, special hours, and events.

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The Story Behind Civil War Tails

Civil War Tails is the passion project of two sisters who have been crafting miniature soldiers since they were children. Their love of cats and Gettysburg led them to create uniformed feline figures complete with beards and expressions that bring personality to every scene. What started as a playful hobby evolved into a serious historical endeavor spanning decades. Today, over 8,700 miniature cat-soldiers bring the stories of the civil war to life.

Each of the thousands of cat soldiers is handmade from clay. The dioramas are built to exact 1:1 scale ratios. This means visitors get a true bird’s-eye or soldier’s-eye perspective of the terrain and tactics. The museum honors the real people, strategies, and sacrifices of the Civil War while using the cat theme to make it approachable, memorable, and fun, especially for younger visitors.

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Exploring the Dioramas

The heart of the museum is its impressive collection of large, detailed dioramas. Stand back for the big picture or crouch down to eye level for an immersive soldier’s view.

“The Angle at Gettysburg” diorama, recreates the climactic moments of Pickett’s Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg. This scene captures the desperate Confederate assault on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, widely considered the turning point of the Civil War. This display alone contains over 3,000 cat soldiers.

Another standout diorama is the breathtaking Little Round Top diorama, titled “The Boys Are Still There.” Watch the 15th Alabama clash with the 20th Maine in a dramatic uphill struggle. The terrain details, rock formations, and positioning of troops (or rather, troops of cats) bring the intensity of the fight to life.

Stretching more than 11 feet long and filled with over 2,650 handcrafted cat soldiers, it is the largest diorama in the museum and one of the most ambitious projects the creators have ever completed.

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Fur and Fury in Charleston Harbor

Titled “The Horrid Creation of a Nightmare v. the Little Pygmy,” this handcrafted scene recreates the famous Battle of Hampton Roads fought on March 9, 1862, between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia, often referred to as the Merrimack. The battle forever changed naval warfare and marked the beginning of the ironclad era.

The ships were built almost entirely from scratch using cardboard, wood, and paper. Visitors can peer through tiny “portholes” built into the diorama to see inside the ships’ interiors, including the Monitor’s famous rotating turret and the Virginia’s armored casemate.

Close by, the “The Bombardment of Fort Sumter” diorama recreates the opening bombardment that officially began the Civil War in April 1861. The scene captures the second day of fighting inside the fort. Fires had spread dangerously close to the powder magazine, forcing Union soldiers to quickly move barrels of gunpowder to safety. Tiny cat soldiers roll barrels across the parade ground while smoke and artillery fire surround them.

The amount of historical detail is impressive. The creators studied real photographs of Fort Sumter after the battle to accurately place damaged cannons, walls, and defensive positions. Even the American flag hanging at half-staff reflects a real event during the bombardment.

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Meowrching Into History

While the Gettysburg scenes are the centerpiece of the museum, there are many other impressive dioramas spread throughout the galleries.

Several displays focus on dramatic cavalry charges, with mounted cat soldiers, sabers raised as smoke and artillery erupt around them. The movement in these scenes is incredible. Horses appear mid-gallop while cavalry units crash into enemy lines in chaotic close combat.

“This Hell on Earth” diorama depicts the Confederate prisoner-of-war camp in Andersonville, Georgia. Unlike the large battlefield scenes, this exhibit focuses on the harsh reality faced by captured Union prisoners during the Civil War. Prisoners sit under tents while others gather around tiny campfires.

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Final Thoughts

Gettysburg is filled with powerful historical landmarks, but the Civil War Tails Museum offers something completely different. It doesn’t replace traditional history, it complements it by making it more approachable and visually engaging. It’s creative, unexpected, and memorable in a way that sticks with visitors long after they leave.

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