James Pierce is perhaps best known as the father of Tillie Pierce, the young heroine who authored At Gettysburg: What a Girl Saw and Heard of the Battle. Yet his story is interesting in its own right.

Originally from Maryland, Pierce wore many hats in Gettysburg, serving as a butcher, grocer, property owner, and businessman. A neighbor of the Shriver family, he was an eyewitness to sharpshooter action in the Shriver House attic during the Battle of Gettysburg. In addition, Pierce was the father of four children, including two sons who served in the Union Army.

Join Abbie Hoffman, Director of the Shriver House Museum, to explore the life and legacy of James Pierce. This program will be held in the new Garden Room, located just behind the Shriver House Museum at 307 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA.