Posted on 04/14/2005 6:31:24 AM PDT by John Robertson
Sounds like fun. My husband and I both went to Gettysburg College. I would suggest eating at the "Lincoln Diner". If you are really into the battles, I would suggest getting this book (it's the best book on this subject. He walks you through the battle in order) ...
Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg (U.S. Army War College Guides to Civil War Battles)
by Jay Luvaas
Have fun!
I'll second the Lincoln Grill. Nice atmosphere, too.
Assuming you've boned up on the battle as much as possible, the only other thing I'd recommend is going out to The Angle in time to watch the sunrise, or at least before the crowds get there. The silence is deafening.
You can get a nasty bump running into them.
You can hardly see the battlefield because of them.
Yeah, it's called 'Diner' not 'Grill'. Great place where the waitrtesses call you 'Hon'.
Bump on that. I was in Gettysburg for a day and got the tour in my rental car from a older park guide. The guy knew tons of stories about the battle. I think it's the best way to see the park and learn the history.
Thank you, Freepers--thank you all! Good suggestions. We are now armed for our weekend. Again, you all have a great weekend, too.
At the battlefield, definitely get out of the car for a while. Stroll around, look at all the monuments, relax. Enjoy the springtime, the quietude and refreshing lack of advertising, noise, and the modern world. It's hallowed ground.
The site where Lincoln spoke is beautiful, too.
I am a Rev-war reenactor. We share a common place at Endview Plantation in Newport News. That was a Rev-war hospital and a Civil War hospital. That place is haunted!
You can spend all day in the museum alone. Watch your time. I found the tape-guided tour a little too slow. I was anxious to get to Seminary Ridge, to Buford's spot where he first threw out his skirmish lines, to Little Round Top, and, of course, to the "high tide" spot at Cem. Ridge. That takes some time to go to all those spots---you are covering three days' worth of battle.
This is a perfect time... the morning dew and haze, with the surface fog disipating gives it a solemn feel.
You need to get there early so you and the Mrs. can find a good spot.
I've heard of that place but haven't yet been to it. I'll take your word on the spooks. I used to not put much stock in such things but since I've been sleeping and living for days at a time in places where men fought and died violently and suddenly I've had a change in attitude.
General Pickett's All-U-Can-Eat Buffet is a nice place. Great food,Breakfast, Lunch and dinner. It is located across the street from the main entrance to the battle field.
You can almost hear the battle going on if you think about it hard enough.
That's one of my all-time favorite Maxine Waters quotes.
(My other favorites are the lovely and gracious Maxine accusing Henry Hyde of doing a "360;" and Maxine's assertion that the US Senate would "squash" the Clinton impeachment.)
1. Get an early start. The park gets VERY crowded after lunch. The crowds are thickest at Little Round Top, Devil's Den and the High Water Mark (near the visitor's center)
2. There used to be a tape and book package that you could buy at the visitors center that would allow you to tour the battlefield in 3-4 hours and get a feel for the history. It is worth it, if you are history buffs.
3. Scenery is nice everywhere, but must-see vistas are found on Seminary ridge north of town (look for the Peace Light memorial) and Little Round Top south of town.
4. Devil's Den (south of town) is small but amazing. The rock formations there would be worth a look without the history.
5. There are several observation towers around. They are all well worth a climb. So are the New York and Pennsylvania monuments (High Water Mark and Little Round Top, respectively), assuming they are open.
6. There used to be a working mid-1800s farm staffed by voulunteers in period costume on the main loop road to the west of Big Round Top. I don't know if it is still there, but it was very cool, especially the blacksmith's shop.
7. There also used to be a year-round "ghost walk" in the town. It was very, very interesting and gave something to do after dinner. There are a bunch of great restaurants on the town square, too.
8. Be prepard for a lot of walking, and bring bottled water or soda.
Things to avoid:
1. Busses. They whip around the park so fast you won't see anything. The park is best seen by car. If you have more time, it is a joy to bike it.
2. Park service bathrooms. They used to be amazingly bad, as were the drinking fountains...scalding water anyone?
3. Souveneir shops. Most of the stuff is junk, and the shops are overpriced and crowded. Find one of the many antique dealers downtown instead. They often have interesting period artifacts.
4. The old "round" visitor's center. It had a circular painting of the battlefield that you used to see advertised on billboards as far away as Harrisburg and Hagerstown. When you actually saw it in person, it was a massive letdown. The museum up the street across from the National Cemetary is worth it, though.
5. The National Cemetary. It's a cemetary. Unless you know someone who is buried there, don't bother. Parking there is hopeless, too.
No offense to Jim Robinson, but don't get a CD, as its (very) easy to get confused about who, when and were things happened (that happened to me last time I was there). If at all possible, hire a guide--either as part of a group tour or if you can afford it, one for your family. The park service has both kinds, and I think even private guides are available.
Don't be surpised to almost feel the vibes of the place...as parts of Gettyburg's battlefield were incredible killing fields. Some have reported camera malfunctions and other unexplainable phenomena in places where men fell so thickly the bodies were nearly on top of each other. I know for myself, if you had dropped me off blindfolded there, I would know it wasn't a normal place.... there's something intangible that makes one sense something very serious happened there.
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