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A Trip To Gettysburg (Part 2)

August 31st, 2023

In Part 1 of my post about my family’s trip to Gettysburg, I discussed our experience on the first day of our trip which included the Dobbin House, the Jennie Wade House, a stroll up Baltimore Street, Ronn Palm’s Museum of Civil War Images, and the Gettysburg National Cemetary. In Part 2 I will discuss our second and third (half) days, including a Double Decker bus tour of the battlefield, the Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum, and the Gettysburg Museum of History.

Gettysburg Battlefield Bus Tour

On day 2 of our trip, we woke up and had breakfast in our hotel, the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg. Our bus tour, which is run by Gettysburg Battlefield Tours, started at 10am and we arrived a half hour early. It was nice that the meeting place for the bus tour was just a 2 minute walk from our hotel. We sat on the top of a double decker open-air bus. Each person is supplied with headphones to listen to the professional licensed battlefield guide who sits below. He was willing to address any questions about the tour and the battle.

We got started a little after 10:00am and headed through town to the north of Gettysburg where much of Day 1 of the battle took place. I absolutely loved the experience of riding on the open-air double decker bus. It truly was an amazing experience and we were lucky with such a nice day. It was surreal to be at the very location where this great battle took place. I have read and taught about the Battle of Gettysburg for many years, so to be at the very site, seeing it with my own eyes was unbelievable. You could look out into the open farmland and picture Union and Confederate troops on the battlefield. I couldn’t imagine what they went through and the horrors they experienced during such a deadly battle, where thousands of soldiers lost their lives or were severely wounded. I was quite amazed at just how large the battlefield is. Fighting during The Battle of Gettysburg happened all around the outskirts of town (And some even within the town). After we were taken to the north of town, we made our way to landmarks south of town, where the heavy fighting of day 2 and 3 took place.

We made our way to Culp’s Hill where we were allowed to exit the bus and climb a high tower that gave breathtaking views of the battlefield and the town of Gettysburg. On the tower are signs that highlight important landmarks on the battlefield.

After leaving Culp’s hill we made our way along Seminary Ridge, the point in which the Confederacy started their famous, failed, Pickett’s Charge. We saw the Virginia Monument and Robert E. Lee Statue. We made our way past the Peach Orchard.

We were not able to see Devil’s Den because of road paving, or Little Round Top which is closed due to the restoration project there. We were told that they are planning to re-open Little Round Top by Spring of 2024. I hope to go back soon and see the sites that were closed down. We drove along Cemetary Ridge and were able to exit the bus again to see the Pennsylvania Memorial which is the largest monument on the Gettysburg Battlefield. The monument honors and names the nearly 35,000 Pennsylvanians who fought in the battle. We were able to climb the stairs within the monument to stand on the top and see great views of the battlefield.

We got back on the bus and continued to head up Cemetary Ridge and we saw the monuments and markers that made this site so significant to the battle, as this was the ground that the Union was holding throughout the second and third days of the battle, including during Pickett’s Charge. After the Union held the high ground and inflicted heavy casualties on the Confederacy at this site, the Confederate Army could not fully recover and was forced to retreat.

After a two hour tour, we made our way back to where the bus tour began. I would highly recommend this bus tour and doing it on the double-decker bus. Of all of the sites that we saw in Gettysburg, this truly was the highlight. We were able to see these hallowed grounds first-hand, as well as the monuments and markers that honor those who fought in the battle. It was nice having a guide explaining all of the landmarks and features of the battlefield along with the history of the town of Gettysburg. For more informaton on Gettysburg Battlefield Tours check out- https://www.gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com/

After we got off the bus, my family and I ate lunch at O’Rourke’s Family Eatery, a casual Irish restaurant, which is right around the corner from where the bus dropped us off. Check out their site here: https://www.ororkes.com/

Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum

After lunch, our next stop was the Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum. We got in our cars and made the 4 minute drive down the street. The visitor center is a beautiful building that has a huge bookstore. One thing I noticed is that T-shirts/ sweatshirts are much more expensive here than in the smaller shops in town. I’d hold off on buying souvenirs until you make it back to those smaller shops.

“A New Birth of Freedom”

I bought the family tickets for $19 per adult which includes entry to the musuem, a 20 minute film in a theater, and a viewing of the Cyclorama (which I explain below). The family and I first watched the film entiteld “A New Birth of Freedom” in the theater which was entertaining and informative. Narrated by none other than Morgan Freeman, the film discussed the tensions in the country leading up to the Civil War, the start of hostilities and the importance of the Battle of Gettysburg. It emphasized the fact that at stake in the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War was the freedom of the 4 million slaves in bondage in the country.

Cyclorama

After the 20 minute film we were taken to see the Cyclorama, which you have see to believe just how incredible it is. The Cyclorama is a 360 degree painting of the battle of Gettysburg that surrounds you and depicts the third day of battle during Pickett’s Charge. There is a short demonstration that takes place with a narrator, highlighting different scenes from the battle. The Gettysburg Cyclorama is 377 feet long, 42 feet high, and weighs 12.5 tons. The canvas was painted by French artist Paul Phillppoteaux and it opened to the public in Chicago in 1883. Pictures do not do the Cyclorama justice. You must go see for yourself. (https://www.nps.gov/gett/learn/historyculture/cyclorama.htm)

Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War

After the Cyclorama, we used our tickets to enter the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War. I was very impressed with the museum in terms of the amount of exhibits on display and the breadth of information to read on each exhibit. There are also interactive exhibits and multi-media presentations. As you walk through the museum you are taken through time starting with the writing of the Constitution and tensions in the country over the issue of slavery. The musuem highlights the tensions of the 1850s that eventually led to Lincoln’s election in 1860 and the secession of the Southern states. The musuem highlights the war leading up the Battle of Gettysburg. There is then an extensive emphasis on the three days of battle. The museum then takes you through the later phases of the war, the Confederate surrender, the Lincoln assassination and the aftermath of the war. Truly a wonderful and informative museum, I highly recommend visiting.

We spent a great deal of time at the Gettysburg National Military Park and Musuem, so that by the time we left and headed back to the hotel, we were thinking dinner. We again walked up Baltimore Street, this time to the center of town at Lincoln Circle. We first tried to go to the Blue and Gray Bar & Grill but there was almost an hour wait for us. So we then decided on The Pub & Restaurant close by because there was only a 5-10 minute wait. The service at this place was not great, but the food was good. After we were done eating we headed back up to our hotel for the evening.

Day 3

On our third and final day in Gettysburg, we decided to hang out in town until about lunchtime, eat in town and then make the trek back home. We again had a great breakfast in our hotel, packed up our belongings and checked out. We first went to a couple of shops to buy souvenirs and Gettysburg sweatshirts. We then walked back up Baltimore Street and stopped in Christmas Haus and then went to check out the Gettysburg Museum of History, which is a free musuem on Baltimore Street. I was impressed by the amount of artifacts, memoribilia and relics they had in the museum. Not only did they have Civil War artifacts, but they also had other periods of history as well. I was surprised to see a 3,000 year old mummy’s head from Ancient Egypt. They also have artifacts from the World Wars and an entire room dedicated to John F. Kennedy. The museum is fairly small so you’re not gong to spend a ton of time there, but it is definately worth the visit.

After we left the museum we headed back to the car. The family was in the mood for Mexican food for lunch so we headed to Montezuma Restaurant which was really great food. After we ate we made the 3.5 hour ride back home.

I really loved my first trip to Gettysburg. I had high expetations and the trip exceeded them. It truly is such an interesting place. It was just a small town in 1863 that became world famous because of an accidental battle that happened there, a battle that became one of the most famous in history. The town essentially became a Civil War themed town that is so rich in history after 160 years of preservation. The trip is a dream to anyone who loves the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War. There are so many musuems and shops to visit that there are still so many museums on my list of places to go. I hope to go again soon and visit those places that we didn’t have time to see. Again, the highlight of the my trip was the double decker bus tour. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t yet had a chance to see the battlefield. If anyone reading this blog has advice on places to see or different ways to view the battlefield, please share. Thanks for reading.

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A Trip to Gettysburg (Part 1)

August 27th, 2023

Intro

As someone who loves learning and teaching about the Civil War, I’ve been wanting to go to Gettysburg for many years. Gettysburg is the closest Civil War site to where I live and the 1863 battle is one of the most important battles in our nation’s history. Throughout the spring of 1863, the Confederate Army led by Robert E. Lee had won a series of battles in Virginia. They were feeling confident enough to invade Union territory and decided to march into Pennsylvania. This was the Confederacy’s second attempt at invading the North (after Antietam in 1862). So much was at stake at Gettysburg. Lee was hoping for a victory that would turn Northerners against the war and invade further into Pennsylvania or other Union states. The Union army knew that they had to stop Lee and the Confederate army at this battle. The Battle of Gettysburg, a three day battle from July 1st- 3rd, 1863, was the deadliest of the Civil War, resulting in about 51,000 casualties. At the battle’s end, the Union was able to stop the Confederate advance as Lee and his army were forced to retreat back to Virginia. The Confederacy would not be able to invade the North again, although bloody fighting would resume for almost 2 more years.

Gettysburg was a bucket list type of location that I felt I needed to see. I planned a 2 night, 3 day trip with my family, along with my parents. Let me tell you, this trip did not disappoint. Besides touring the battlefield, there are so many museums and shops to visit. We did as much as time would allow. I’m looking forward to going back and visiting the sites we didn’t get to see.

I’m breaking this blog post into two. In the first one I plan to discuss what we visited on Day 1- The Dobbin House, the Jennie Wade House, Ronn Palm’s Museum of Civil War Images and the Gettyburg National Cemetary. In my second post, which you can read (here) I will discuss what we visited on Day 2 and our Half Day 3, which includes a Double-Decker bus tour of the battlefield, the Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum, and the Gettysburg Museum of History.

The 1863 Inn of Gettysburg

My family and I made the 3.5 hour drive into Gettysburg and arrived at about 12:30pm and parked at our hotel, the 1863 Inn of Gettysburg. The hotel was great and I would definately recommend. The rooms were pretty standard hotel rooms, with a nice bathroom and comfortable beds. The location is great; you are walking distance from so many sites, museums and shops to see in town, and you’re just a 10 minute walk from the center of town. One of the best aspects of the hotel is the free breakfast. They serve a high quality breakfast, and you have the convenience of not having to search for somewhere to eat. You can eat and get on your way to seeing sites in town. I would definately stay there again. Check out their site here: https://www.1863innofgettysburg.com/

The Dobbin House

When we arrived at 12:30, we met my parents at the Dobbin House Tavern for lunch. There was about a 30 minute wait. I learned that the Dobbin house was built in 1776 and is the oldest building in Gettysburg, built at the time for one of the area’s most prominent citizens, Reverend Alexander Dobbin. When our table was ready, we were walked down into a basement that felt like you were living in the late 18th century, very dimly lit with candles on each table. The food was also very good. After eating, we went upstairs to find that the house is a museum itself. You’re allowed to wander around the house and look at the 18th century rooms and decor. There is also a set of narrow stairs that leads to an upper floor which served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. There are also artifacts on display there from throughout the 19th century. Find out more info here: http://www.dobbinhouse.com/

The Jennie Wade House

After leaving the Dobbin House, we decided to visit the Jennie Wade House because it is right next door to our hotel. When we visited we found out that the next tour of the house was in about 30 mins. That gave us time to check in to our hotel rooms and make it back down.

At the Jennie Wade House, the tour guide instructed us that Jennie Wade was the only civilian casualty of the Battle of Gettysburg. She was only 20 years old at the time of her death. Jennie, her mom, and two brothers were visiting Jennie’s sister, Georgia Anna Wade McClellan, who had a newborn baby. They came to her when the battle began because they thought that Georgia’s house was in a safer location. They unfortunately were wrong. The lines of battle between Union and Confederate soldiers formed in the vicinity of her home. The house was continously hit with bullets throughout the three days of battle, which you can still see to this day (and in the photos below). A Confederate artillery shell also hit the South side of the house near the roof, although it did not explode. On July 3rd, (the third day of battle) Jennie was kneading dough to make bread for Union soldiers, who were upstairs, when a stray bullet from a sharpshooter pentrated the kitchen door and the parlor door, striking Jennie through the shoulder blade and through her heart. She died instantly. Horrified, the rest of the family rushed to the basement and spent nearly a day in pitch-black hiding. The battle luckily ended the evening of July 3rd, but now the family was grieving the loss of Jennie. Today, Jennie is honored for dying while serving the Union cause. A monument was erected at her grave in the Evergreen Cemetary. For more info on the Jennie Wade House, visit the website: https://www.gettysburgbattlefieldtours.com/jennie-wade-house/

A Stroll Up Baltimore Street

Without having a set plan in mind as to what exactly we were going to do after leaving Jennie Wade’s House, we decided to head North on Baltimore Street in the direction of the center of town since we knew that there were sites to see on the way there. We stopped for ice cream at Mr. G’s for the kids. We later learned that the location of Mr. G’s was about the location of the historic start of town in 1863. We continued heading North seeing the historic buildings that stood at the time of the battle. We saw the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church where Lincoln visited on Nov. 19th, 1863, the day that he gave the Gettysburg Address. We also saw his statue which stands about a block away from the church.

Ronn Palm’s Museum of Civil War Images

We decided to turn around and head back south on Baltimore Street in the direction towards our hotel. I stopped in Ronn Palm’s Museum of Civil War images. When you walk in, you are simply amazed at the amount of images and artifacts that are on display. Ronn has over 4,000 original photographs and artifacts from the Civil War. There are many on display when you first walk in. Then if you pay $6, which is well worth it, you are able to visit other rooms that are completely covered with photographs of soldiers, artifacts, relics and memoribilia. I was able to chat with Ronn Palm for a short time. His passion for all things Civil War comes through. He has been collecting items for so long and goes to a few Civil War shows throughout the year to trade and collect. He truly is a fascinating person and his museum is a must visit if you’re in Gettysburg. The photos below only scratch the surface of what you will see there. Check out more info about the museum here: https://www.ronnpalmmuseum.com/

Dinner at Gettysburg Eddie’s

After leaving Ronn Palm’s Musuem of Civil War Images, we stopped in the Shriver House Museum but we had missed the last tour. We were told that every evening at 7pm in the Gettysburg National Cemetary “taps” is played to honor the fallen soldiers. This runs between Memorial Day and Labor Day. We planned to attend after dinner. So we decided to eat at Gettysburg Eddie’s, which is right next to the Cemetary. So we headed down Baltimore Street and down Steinwehr Ave. There was about a 10-15 minute wait before we got a table. They also had very good, American style food. When we left the restaurant, it was about 6:45 so we decided to visit the Gettysburg National Cemetary in time to see “taps” played at 7:00pm. https://www.gettysburgeddies.com/

Gettysburg National Cemetery

When we entered the cemetary, it was quite humbling to see all of the graves of the fallen victims, as well as the monuments in their honor. Also, listening to taps played in front of the Soldiers National Monument was surreal and quite moving. When finished, the family and I walked through the cemetary to the Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address Memorial, honoring the most powerful speech in American history. After visiting the memorial, we made our way out of the cemetary and towards our hotel for the evening.

In Part 2, I will focus on our next day and a half in Gettysburg, including our double decker bus tour of the battefield, our visit to the Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum, and a visit to the Gettysburg Museum of History. Read HERE.

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