The Lutheran Theological Seminary is a Gettysburg landmark, and has been for over 180 years. Long before soldiers wearing blue and gray struggled in the pivotal battle in 1863, they studied together at this, the first Lutheran seminary in North America. The following are some interesting facts about this historic seminary:
1. The seminary was established by 27-year old Samuel Simon Schmucker in 1826.
2. Gettysburg was selected as the place for the seminary because of its central location to Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia – and because of its sizeable German/Lutheran population.
3. The seminary has distinct ties to nearby Gettysburg College. Both were founded by Dr. Schmucker. He decided that secular learning was essential, too, so he established Pennsylvania College (now called Gettysburg College) in 1832 – at the age of 33.
4. The placement of the seminary on the ridge at the western edge of town gave the ridge the name of Seminary Ridge.
5. Dr. Schmucker was a noted abolitionist, and published many books and articles on the subject. When the Confederates invaded Gettysburg, he was top on their list for capture. Dr. Schmucker went into hiding and managed to avoid a trip south. To this day, no one knows where he hid.
6. The seminary building with the famous cupola, forever associated with the battle, is known as Schmucker Hall. It was here that General John Buford anxiously watched for Union reinforcements on the morning of July 1, 1863.
7. The Christ Lutheran Church, located at 30 Chambersburg Street in Gettysburg, was the chapel associated with the Lutheran Seminary in the 19th century. It was called the College Chapel and housed many wounded soldiers after the Battle of Gettysburg.
8. The Lutheran Seminary, and notably Schmucker Hall, served as a hospital for the myriad wounded of the battle. Both Union and Confederate soldiers were treated and housed there. Some who did not survive were buried in the garden area.
9. General Robert E. Lee purposely chose the home of the widow Mary Thompson as his headquarters because of its location near the Seminary because his troops, after their victory on the first day’s battle, were deployed there. Because he was a gentleman and did not wish to evict the resident of the home, he slept in a tent across the road, and used the home for meetings.
10. Author Elsie Singmaster lived in the house on Seminary Ridge that bears her family’s name. Her father served as president of the seminary in the early 20th century. She was a nationally acclaimed novelist, on the list of Who’s Who in America. One of her fans was President
Theodore Roosevelt.
11. The only non-Civil War, non-military statue on the battlefield is located at the Lutheran Seminary. It is the portrait statue of Martin Luther.
12. The Schmucker home, which still stands at the seminary, still bears a wound from the Battle of Gettysburg – a piece of artillery remains embedded on the front porch.
13. The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg was the first seminary to admit women students in the 1970s. It is still a co-ed seminary.
14. Today, Schmucker Hall houses the Adams County Historical Society, which was established in Gettysburg in 1939.
