Sure, they looked like tourists. The strollers, especially, were a nice touch.

But this group of 13 family members were on a top-secret mission, and their directions were clear.

“You must not speak to anyone of this mission. You must act as tourists,” Kelly Clark told the group before they departed on a trek throughout Gettysburg.

If they succeeded, Clark said, the group would be handsomely rewarded. In the case of failure, the group may be the latest addition to Gettysburg’s ghost tours.

And off they went – after paying about $30 per adult – on Gettysburg’s latest entertainment attraction called Lincoln’s Lost Treasure.

On the weekends, anyone looking for a little adventure can sign up for a chance to sleuth around town in search of clues. Actors like Clark play street musicians, construction workers and even spies and are staged at different points of the journey to provide warnings, clues and advice. Even the starting point is not revealed until hours before the treasure hunt begins.

The ultimate goal: Discover the code hidden inside President Abraham Lincoln’s five copies of the Gettysburg Address.

Of course, the code is made up. But it’s the fusion of history and theater that makes the experience unique. The production is set in modern times but capitalizes on Gettysburg’s historical significance.

Lincoln’s Lost Treasure is the brainchild of two men from York who have a background in entertainment and a knack for entrepreneurship.

But even they aren’t really sure whether to call the production a play, a treasure hunt or a clever combination of the two.”There’s no one word that sort of describes it,” co-owner Phil Cohen said.

Cohen compares Lincoln’s Lost Treasure to the movie National Treasure, in which Nicholas Cage’s character interprets a map discovered on the back of the Declaration of Independence to find historic artifacts kept secret for centuries.

“It’s like that but live,” he said.

Cohen’s business partner, Doug Hieatzman, said he is particularly fond of the potential for improvisation and the ability for actors to interact with the treasure hunters.

“The idea is that the story is always changing,” he said. “It’s not a straight-cut storyline. That makes it interesting for the guests.”

Not long ago, the two owners began a project of writing dinner-theater mysteries, but “we wanted to do something different than what was already out there,” Hieatzman said.

What they came up with was a 2 ½-hour romp around Gettysburg.

And now they’re looking for acceptance from other local businesses and organizations – some of which already volunteer their properties as part of the story.

Cohen and Hieatzman said they’re hoping to carve out a niche in Gettysburg tourism and provide visitors a new way to enjoy their stay.

“At least this would be a whole different experience for them,” Cohen said.

IF YOU GO

What: Lincoln’s Lost Treasure, a live theater production that uses actors, clues and Gettysburg attractions to lead treasure hunters on a search for copies of President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

When: Various times on  Sundays

Where: Starting points are not revealed until hours before start times, but all productions take place on the streets of Gettysburg.

Tickets: For tickets, call 1-800-838-3006 or visit www.lincolnslosttreasure.com. This weekend, tickets will cost $31.99 per person but will be $39.99 in the future.