OT:Gettysburg recommendations needed
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We stayed at the Gettysburg Inn for a wedding a number of years ago and it was fine - the location is nice and quaint. Probably a tad pricey, for what you're getting.
The battlefield is big. If you've been there, you already know that. I've always walked it, but it might be hard to do that with an 8 year-old.
The battlefield is big. If you've been there, you already know that. I've always walked it, but it might be hard to do that with an 8 year-old.
Don't about what to see once u get there, but I would look at hotels on Wesley Dr in Mechaniscburg, Pa. You will be basically 30 min from Gettysburg going south and 20 min from Hershey going east. Now if you have no interest in taking your 8 yr old to Hershey Park disregard and stay in Gettysburg. I hope this helps:)
perhaps read some about the battle and then maybe some of what you see may make a lot more sense
You know at a point this could have go the other way
Anyway for you and your wife its a really nice walking, strolling town but an 8 year old boy might not see it that way
There are a lot of cute bed and breakfasts that may be preferable to a hotel
As best as I remember the parks service runs tours by either jeeps or minibus and they deal with children all day in the "" keep it interesting for them "' mode
stay focused on the weather as everybit of this town is outside stuff
You know at a point this could have go the other way
Anyway for you and your wife its a really nice walking, strolling town but an 8 year old boy might not see it that way
There are a lot of cute bed and breakfasts that may be preferable to a hotel
As best as I remember the parks service runs tours by either jeeps or minibus and they deal with children all day in the "" keep it interesting for them "' mode
stay focused on the weather as everybit of this town is outside stuff
There is an option to have a guide drive your car and guide you through the battlefield. I have done it twice and the guide gets to know you and tailors the tour to your interests. In my case, he specifically went to the spots where the New York regiments were located as well as the main sites.
living in Rochester NY as a kid meant hitting Gburg every time we went to Fla(every year)
EVERYONE should visit at least once
we cycled it almost every time........but I would do the car/guide for a first time
statue after statue.....amazing tributes
a powerful experience
EVERYONE should visit at least once
we cycled it almost every time........but I would do the car/guide for a first time
statue after statue.....amazing tributes
a powerful experience
Read Allen Guelzo's book - Gettysburg, the last invasion and try to go on as many of the ranger guided tours as possible. Watching the film Gettysburg with Jeff Daniels etc also isn't a bad idea. With older kids a horseback tour of the battlefield is great - you get to see it from a participants viewpoint.
It's been a number of years and I can't recall the name of fhe operation buf it's about a two hour tour of part of the battlefield and I think there were about 10 riders in total.. What was cool (and I'm not necessarily a big fan of reenactments) was when we were by ourself on the field and an individual dressed as a union officer on horseback rode up to us - sort of surreal. Unfortunately, as I indicated, it's been a number of years so I'm not sure which entities operate those rides and what the rules are currently as to where the horses can go. But I can tell you that as someone who's been to many battlefields in United States and in France, it was a unique participants eye way to see a battlefield.
Lived there for 4 years, depends on your price range. There's the gettysburg hotel in the center of town, Wyndham hotel, Marriott hotel, and a few others...just naming the nice ones. All the hotels will be very expensive, and tourism will be out of control in late June and early July. I personally recommend going the last weekend in August as it will be much calmer. Look at hotels in Biglersville or Hanover for cheaper prices, they are both about 8-10 miles from Gettysburg. If you have any restaurant recommendations let me know. The battle was so large that invent really recommend skipping anything. I guess you could ignore walking through the college, a part of the battlefield but nothing exciting there. Make sure Yu hit the eternal flame, unfinished railroad, pickets charge, little round top, Devils den(you'll spend a lot of time there large rock formation and kids like scaling them), the wheat field and peach orchard. Definitely go to the cemetery and Culps Hill(stop at the NY 42nd regiment Dekalb B statue, was my grandfathers regiment)
Sounds good. Any idea what the service is for the private tour guide? I've only visited Gettysburg once, but it was on a 2-day guided tour with Professor McPherson and that was awesome beyond words.
1. Walk Pickett's Charge from the Virginia Monument to the the Angle/Copse of Trees
2. Devil's Den/Little Round Top
3. Walk out to the position of the 20th Maine on the end of the Union line at Little Round Top.
4.McPherson's Ridge to look down the road that the Confederates came in to start the battle.
2. Devil's Den/Little Round Top
3. Walk out to the position of the 20th Maine on the end of the Union line at Little Round Top.
4.McPherson's Ridge to look down the road that the Confederates came in to start the battle.
If you are still in the planning stage try to schedule your visit between from July 1st through July 4 to see the 153rd reenactment of the battle. There will the thousands of reenactors participating and all dressed accurately to represent the various armies. It is living history. We saw the 145th reenactment and enjoyed every aspect. You can walk through the camps, talk with the participants and even visit a sutler's village where actors are dressed as the locals who were spectators to the battle. Their will be makeshift battle field where you watch staged engagements from the tree lines where it is nice and shady. Bring a cooler, chairs and lots of water.
One thing that stood out was the amount of rocks in the fields. Many Civil War soldiers wrenched or broke ankles during the battle. We observed the same for the reenactors too.
As for places to stay, you may want to consider Frederick, Maryland which was on the path of the Confederate Army's march into PA. There are lots of good hotels in the area and downtown Frederick still has the look of a mid-1800s town. There is a museum dedicated to Civil War medicine and dentistry. Many of the tools look like something you might find in an old garage. The Antietam battlefield is just south of town.
http://www.gettysburgreenactment.com/
One thing that stood out was the amount of rocks in the fields. Many Civil War soldiers wrenched or broke ankles during the battle. We observed the same for the reenactors too.
As for places to stay, you may want to consider Frederick, Maryland which was on the path of the Confederate Army's march into PA. There are lots of good hotels in the area and downtown Frederick still has the look of a mid-1800s town. There is a museum dedicated to Civil War medicine and dentistry. Many of the tools look like something you might find in an old garage. The Antietam battlefield is just south of town.
http://www.gettysburgreenactment.com/
There is a restaurant in the middle of town with a pub downstairs that is a must visit. There are mini-ball holes on the outside wall. Don't recall the name but you can't miss it. When we went down there for a burger and a beer the place was filled with re-enactors and with the candles made you feel like you traveled back in time.
Gettysburg is the most haunted place in America. Make sure you take the evening Gettysburg ghost tour. It is really great. I would also recommend walking the route that Picket's men took. Stand under the trees and look up at Seminary Ridge and then do the mile or so walk in open field and imagine the union troops shells coming at you with nowhere to hide.
Here is what makes Gettysburg so fascinating and unexpected. Back in 1992 I went there with a friend who taught HS history and was a Civil War fanatic. We were at Little Round Top on the day and time that Joshua Chamberlain's Maine boys were defending the right flank of the Union Army. We were walking along the still existing rock wall that the 20th Maine was behind. I was kicking some leaves along the wall and saw this very round (what appeared to be) rock. So I pick the rock up and see on the flip side there is a series of concentric circles. Turn out it was a flattened mini-ball. I found it around 4PM right around the time that the Texas infantry was charging the hill.
Finally, I would recommend a side trip down the road into Maryland and visit Antietam. Another great place to visit. It is about 30 miles away.
Gettysburg is the most haunted place in America. Make sure you take the evening Gettysburg ghost tour. It is really great. I would also recommend walking the route that Picket's men took. Stand under the trees and look up at Seminary Ridge and then do the mile or so walk in open field and imagine the union troops shells coming at you with nowhere to hide.
Here is what makes Gettysburg so fascinating and unexpected. Back in 1992 I went there with a friend who taught HS history and was a Civil War fanatic. We were at Little Round Top on the day and time that Joshua Chamberlain's Maine boys were defending the right flank of the Union Army. We were walking along the still existing rock wall that the 20th Maine was behind. I was kicking some leaves along the wall and saw this very round (what appeared to be) rock. So I pick the rock up and see on the flip side there is a series of concentric circles. Turn out it was a flattened mini-ball. I found it around 4PM right around the time that the Texas infantry was charging the hill.
Finally, I would recommend a side trip down the road into Maryland and visit Antietam. Another great place to visit. It is about 30 miles away.
Do a ghost hunt at night , kids loved it and would be fun for an 8 year-old . There is difference between ghost hunt and tour , you want to do the hunt .
Unless things have changed, you can reserve a licensed battlefield guide by phone in advance. During peak season, you might wait a while for a Licensed Guide if you walk up to the guide desk. If you want one, make sure you get your name on the list when the Visitors Center opens. I was a Licensed Guide there twenty years ago, so things may be alot different now.
Get online and study maps of the three day battle. Orientation is tough the first couple of times on the battlefield. Especially hard in the Wheatfield and on Culp's Hill/Cemetery Hill.
Best breakfast (and lunch isn't bad either) is Lincoln Diner in downtown Gettysburg. Other place you may want to try (see 20 years ago warning above) is the Cashtown Inn. Back in the day they had good bar food, and lots of beer.
If this is your first time there bring extra cash for buying books. Chances are you will be hooked. Try to avoid driving through the town during the day. Modern road map is your friend. Traffic is sick during peak season. Have fun.
Another relatively new attraction is the museum in the Lutheran Seminary building. It is not a huge exhibit and there is a charge. For an additional fee you can go up into the cupola where Reynolds and Lee et al. went up to survey the terrain. I went in April and was the only one there - in summer, I understand advance reservations are suggested (can reserve on line).
First time I went to Gettysburg I was probably 10. My father paid to have a guide in our car drive us around the battlefield, I remember him telling some really neat stories.
Just went again last year. We stayed outside of Hershey PA. Watch the Gettysburg Movie before you go. I would also read up about the battle and look at some maps, it will make things much easier. This time around, my wife and I purchased the CD audio tour at the gift shop and did a self guided tour. My wife (who isnt really into historic sites) enjoyed the fact that we could do it at our own pace and we hit up the spots we were most interested in (Seminary Ridge, Pickets Charge, Round Tops, Devils Den).
We also took a short horseback ride of the battlefield and it was AMAZING. Did not need experience riding and it was SO neat to be riding right where many of the soldiers rode and seeing the battlefield from that perspective.
We drove around the battlefield at night, which was very eerie. I got out and walked around Devils Den and it gave me chills. We also took a ghost tour of the downtown area near the high school. It was pretty neat, caught a pretty creepy shadow on my camera, not sure if that is something you are interested in.
A lot of good info in this thread....most important thing is to make sure your read up about the battle before you go.
Just went again last year. We stayed outside of Hershey PA. Watch the Gettysburg Movie before you go. I would also read up about the battle and look at some maps, it will make things much easier. This time around, my wife and I purchased the CD audio tour at the gift shop and did a self guided tour. My wife (who isnt really into historic sites) enjoyed the fact that we could do it at our own pace and we hit up the spots we were most interested in (Seminary Ridge, Pickets Charge, Round Tops, Devils Den).
We also took a short horseback ride of the battlefield and it was AMAZING. Did not need experience riding and it was SO neat to be riding right where many of the soldiers rode and seeing the battlefield from that perspective.
We drove around the battlefield at night, which was very eerie. I got out and walked around Devils Den and it gave me chills. We also took a ghost tour of the downtown area near the high school. It was pretty neat, caught a pretty creepy shadow on my camera, not sure if that is something you are interested in.
A lot of good info in this thread....most important thing is to make sure your read up about the battle before you go.
I go out to Gettysburg several times a year, in fact im going there April 10th for an 8 hour hike. The site to reserve a licensed battlefield guide tour is www.gettysburgfoundation.org. The foundation also runs the visitors center/museum and cyclorama painting which you'll want to visit. Also, the national park service offers many free tours daily led by park rangers. Their site lists a daily schedule as you get closer to your visit. http://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm. They offer 1 hour tours of key areas of the battlefield as well as daily 2 hour 'battlewalk' which goes into greater detail with topics varying each day. Also, in the summer months, the park service has a campfire program each night in the Pitzer woods on Seminary Ridge, with topics varying each night. Again all the park tour programs are free. Enjoy your visit!
You've done the really important part already in deciding to go. Unless you have really bad weather or complete history-phobes in the group it is hard to have a bad time.
Lot's of good stuff on offer here.
The above are all good choices. Walking the "Pickett's" route is really something.
In addition to the above I'd second also recommend hiring a Licensed Battlefield Guide. It is a unique service you can't get anywhere else. If not that, as many Ranger led guides as you can.
Also reading Killer Angels and/or watching Gettysburg is very good prep as recommended above for the general visitor.
There's a lot to see, do what you can, don't worry that you'll miss stuff because it is unavoidable.
Heard that's a pretty good story.
I wonder where the author went to school?
I did Gettysburg as a Boy Scout and another time as an adult. Super fun trip as a kid but didn't really appreciate until I went back those many years later.
As others have said do the tour with the Battlefield Guide.
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About 20 years ago while walking through the cemetary nearby the Gettysburg visitor center, I stumbled across the grave of a soldier with my family name who served in the NY 40th Regiment, Company C who was killed on the second day of the battle. I've never been able to establish if he was an ancestor. If I ever have the time it would be interesting to research further.
You could go to the National Archives in D.C. and get his service and potentially pension records. Could have valuable info that might help you establish a family relationship.
One last tip on the Licensed Battlefield Guides. You can request a guide that specializes in certain things like NY Regiments, or Culp's Hill, 1st Day, etc. Not guaranteed, and you may have to wait a little longer to go out. I specialized in NC, NJ, First Day and Wheatfield for example.
The way things used to work was guides would show up in Guide Room prior to Visitors center opening. We'd sign in in order of arrival. The sheet would then go upstairs to VC 5 mins or so before opening. Guides were assigned in order. If a special request was made by customer, the person working the Guide Desk could assign a guide based on that request. Some guides don't do special requests. Being a Guide was like being a golf caddy. If you got out early, you could go out four times a day if you wanted to. Like the caddy room, the guide room was a great place to hear and tell stories about the battlefield, and customer encounters. I miss those days.
The way things used to work was guides would show up in Guide Room prior to Visitors center opening. We'd sign in in order of arrival. The sheet would then go upstairs to VC 5 mins or so before opening. Guides were assigned in order. If a special request was made by customer, the person working the Guide Desk could assign a guide based on that request. Some guides don't do special requests. Being a Guide was like being a golf caddy. If you got out early, you could go out four times a day if you wanted to. Like the caddy room, the guide room was a great place to hear and tell stories about the battlefield, and customer encounters. I miss those days.
Took my 8 year old son and 10 year old daughter last summer and they loved it. I knew they would enjoy it at least a little but they already told me they want to go back. I had been there once before so my reqs fwiw are: Stay in the Quality Inn as it is nice enough and affordable and located PERFECTLY. At first glance you may think staying in the exact center of town is the best option but I dont believe it is. The best battle highlights actually took place closer to the southern and western edge (where the hotel is located) plus you can hit the cemetery and site of the Gettysburg address with a baseball from the hotel. It is also 100 yards from the Gettysburg diorama and 3/4 mile to the must see visitors center and museum which houses the incredible cyclorama and film narrated by Morgan Freeman. Enjoy and make an awesome memory. Oh, and tour the battlefield by bus imho. The tour guides are BEYOND knowledgeable and friendly and it affords you both the opportunity to easily see the entire battlefiled comfortably but still get off the bus and get intimate with the highlights during the stops
Oh and definitely read Killer Angels as some have said. Its an easy and incredible read. Also, let me stress that the highlights for ANYONE, especially with children, are the diorama, cyclorama and film. These things bring the battle to life and because kids are especially visual coupled with short attention spans I would strongly recommend you do them BEFORE your tour to best set the stage for everyone. These are "musts" imo.
Definitely add a trip the Eisenhower's home... he was an amazing man and this retirement home showcases how this brilliant military mind decompressed. (Plus it has some gorgeous views) You can add that on at the park.
And if you are into the paranormal, I would suggest a ghost tour - there are plenty of options, in town, on the battlefield, one house, the orphanage... its all creepy.
Interesting guy. Grew up Italian-American in Jersey City (Family name had been Sciarra)
Graduated Rutgers 1951. Was a Theta Chi.
Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne and Jersey City cop before focusing on writing. Associate Professor English at Florida State U. Won Pulitzer Prize for fiction with Killer Angels in 1975.
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