Posted on 09/07/2021 8:22:53 AM PDT by MplsSteve
In one week from today, The Wife (aka Mrs. MplsSteve) and I will be in Gettysburg for a few days. Obviously, we're gonna visit the battlefield. We lined up a tour guide thru the Gettysburg Heritage Center and at least for the first night, we'll be staying at the Best Western on Steinwehr Avenue.
I have a few travel brochures and have looked them over but I'm looking for any recommendations or advice on what else to see and do there. That includes places to stay that don't cost an arm and a leg as well as places to eat.
What did you like? What did you not like?
I'd appreciate whatever assistance you can give me.
I said this on another post about somebody visiting Gettysburg, it’s a short drive up route 15 to Harrisburg, I would highly recommend the Civil War Museum in Harrisburg. C-SPAN has done a special on it just after it opened and I got many reviews that said it was one of the best Civil War museums in the country. My boss visited it and she told me it was incredible, I’d lived in Central PA most of my life but unfortunately before I moved I never visited it. Harrisburg was a staging area for Civil War soldiers.
All I remember of the place was standing at the angle and looking cross the field to the tree line and thinking..who the hell was dumb enough to order a charge across that?
We all know who that was.
I dont know if you can walk across that by yourself or not.
Every Thursday i go to the blue and gray on the square for steak night then I cross the street for a cigar at the union cigar store. You can meet me there.
Try Earle’s Inn Pub & Grille on Route 30 (York Rd), heading east out of town. It’s almost a dive bar with decent food. I particularly like their fried oyster sandwich. Sit at the bar. People are friendly and it easy to get into a conversation, particularly if you go there for lunch and it isn’t too crowded. This is a haven for MAGA. You’ll swear these folks read FR all the time - but they don’t. You’ll get a sense what ‘normal’ people are like in South Central PA. It is advisable to dress down - jeans & t-shirt (sweat shirt).
Its woke history, Dont expect to see many Confederate flags or much of a mention the Confederacy was even there... Its been 5-6 years since I was there but that was the impression I got. Its been ken burns/ PBS’d. Charleston is better. You may find some good white peaches in the area, there was a huge amish/ teddy bear barn place with lots of things to see and buy near by. Thurmont had the george Washington house restaurant.
Be sure to see the General Longstreet, Monument in the woods along the confederate side. It’s the newest monument to be erected. It is awesome.
Excellent choice in CW historical site to visit. The battlefield site has many excellent things to see, but the downtown is also itself a historical site; just wander there and go in wherever strikes your fancy.
Was on my bucket list, but I think I better move it up before the monuments are all pulled down in the name of inclusion, or something.
It was a union victory. Nothing to do with Wokeness Most confederate monuments are state monuments. lots of union regimental monuments each have a story to tell.
You might notice the horse statues are all positionally different. Some with all 4 legs on the ground, some with one raised leg and some with 2 front raised legs.
There is a reason for this.
You’ve already made an excellent move by hiring a certified tour guide to take you through the battlefield. I remember my father doing that when we went there in 1962, and we spent the next 2 days visiting several of the places the guide showed us and explained the fighting there. I’ve been back many times.
Please note that due to Covid, many hotels/motels in PA, MD, & VA that pre-covid had full breakfasts, my now have a “grab and go” type. I saw that mentioned in a review of the B&W hotel where you have reservations. Unfortunately, since my visits, except for the one in 1962 were mainly day trips from the metro DC area, I can’t comment on hotels in the town.
I’m not sure if the old electronic battlefield was moved from the old museum to the new one, if it is there, spend the $$ to view it, it shows the entire 3 days battle in about 30-45 minutes. Wear good walking shoes/boots for traipsing the battlefield, especially Little Round Top, Devil’s Den and Culps Hill. Also visit the National Cemetery where the Union soldiers who dies are buried.
If you have an extra day, drive an hour north to Carlisle, PA and visit the Army Heritage Research Center and Museum there. https://www.armyheritage.org/ It is on the “back side” of Carlisle Barracks thus can be visited without having access to Carlisle Barracks itself.
I also recommend buying one of the “Staff Ride” guides to the battle before you arrive. Either of these two are a good value.
A Field Guide to Gettysburg: Experiencing the Battlefield through Its History, Places, and People
by Carol Reardon and Tom Vossler
Gettysburg: A Battlefield Guide (This Hallowed Ground: Guides to Civil War Battlefields)
by Mark Grimsley and Brooks D. Simpson
There is a FREE downloadable .pdf copy of the U.S. Army Center of Military History Staff Ride Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg at: https://history.army.mil/staffRides/_docs/staffRide_Gettysburg.pdf
Have a good visit.
Check out the museum and cyclorama battlefield painting.
Thats mythology. Not true you know the 4 legs on ground the officer lived. 2 legs off ground officer killed 1 leg wounded. There was no coordination about that at all. But the myth persists
There are some battle-damaged buildings around. But some of the damage is fake!
https://www.gettysburgdaily.com/gettysburgs-mcclean-house-artillery-shell/
There is a farmhouse and barn in the battlefield where you can see damage - lots of bullet holes.
It is eerie walking up the hill where Pickett’s Charge happened.
Don’t forget the “address”.....
you've made my point..
I have visited gettysburg every few years since the 90's. Its changed, The confederacy has been all but erased from the area.
I have heard many credible accounts like yours. Unfortunately I’ve not experienced it. Going for the third time (from CA) next spring. I definitely agree with thoroughly checking out the visitors center and seeing the diorama. Watch the movie of the same name in advance. I’d actually recommend the bus tour but, as others have said, reserve 5 or 6 hours . After the bus tour you can drive back to the spots you found particularly interesting.
And FRiends, go while you can. They may hold out for a while, but I don’t see how the “logic” behind dismantling confederate monuments can spare the national battlefields over the long term.
That charge was ordered by someone who thought the place you were standing, there at the angle, would be under JEB Stuart’s attack from the rear. Pickett’s Charge was going to be part of a coordinated attack. Instead it was a solo act.
George Custer saw to it that that never coordinated attack from the rear never happened.
But Custer is worthless and the butt of endless jokes. But he saved that battle, and likely the union.
Pickett’s Charge Buffet!
It was the highlight of our trip, and delicious is not enough praise. It has been years and years, I hope it is still open.
One year we went back on our vacation to specifically eat at Pickett’s Charge Buffet, never mind the Battlefield.
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