A 3-day battle fought in 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the turning point for America’s Civil War (1861-1865). If you are an American history buff, there is no better place to learn the significance of this historic battle between North and South than the Gettysburg National Military Park.
There is no park entrance fee for the Gettysburg battlefield and visitors center. Map access to a full self-guided tour is available to download. There are also a variety of guided tours available for a fee. Tickets for the Museum of the Civil War, the film “A New Birth Of Freedom,” and the 360° Cyclorama painting also require purchase. Plan on spending the day.
Our first stop on the driving tour was the Longstreet Tower. Perched atop Seminary Ridge, the 19th century tower rises 75 feet in height and is the tallest of the metal towers that remain on the battlefield. We couldn’t resist the 121 step climb to the top and were rewarded with a 360° view.
We made a point of stopping at the Gettysburg National Cemetery where over 6,000 American service members and veterans have been laid to rest. It is also the site where President Abraham Lincoln gave his 271 word Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. Take a minute to read through the words below.
We ended our day on a far less solemn note with a visit to the Eisenhower National Historic Site, a place we had never heard of. General Eisenhower and his wife Mamie purchased the home, farm and 189 acres in 1950. Renovations were needed and when completed the property served as a weekend retreat for President Eisenhower and meeting place for world leaders.
We thoroughly enjoyed the house tour. The Eisenhowers donated their home and farm to the National Park Service in 1967 and both lived there until their deaths. The home remains frozen in time, filled with nostalgia, gifts from around the world and stories of world leaders.
As our day drew to an end, we felt as though we had walked through a 100- year American history lesson.
Leave a Reply