08.06.08 - Gettysburg

08.06.08

Gettysburg

Gettysburg township is extremely quaint and
picturesque. Narrow streets are lined with cute
little houses as well as the many shops catering
for the tourists that visit.

It had been rather nerve racking driving through
these narrow streets with the large trailer attached
the day before.

We spent the next few hours at the new
museum. Thank goodness the building was
air-conditioned. Outside the temperature
was close to unbearable.

'Even the dog went to war.'
A portion of the large mural in the foyer of the museum.

Wandering through the exhibits really started
to bring the history to life. Film clips were being
played throughout and explained the lead up,
the three days of battle and the aftermath.
It was quite an amazing experience.

Use the link below to visit one of the museum exhibits
http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/exhibits/gettex/index.htm

We then took what’s called an ‘auto tour’ of the
battlefield itself. Basically, you drive around the
24 miles of the battlefield following the directions
of strategically placed little signs. The route
traces the three day battle in chronological order
and there are hundreds of memorials and
monuments along the route.

As you look around the fields, where much is
preserved to look like it must have in 1863, and
remember the museum exhibits, the battle starts
to become a very ‘real’ experience. One that I
will certainly never forget.

Looking from left to right in these photos over part of the
battlefield, it wasn't hard to remember that hundreds
of lives were lost here.