Browsing Category: "History"
10 Things To Do In Gettysburg (Besides Visit The Battlefield)
Visitors to Gettysburg, Pa. often don’t realize the many great things you can do here without visiting the battlefield. Of course, I’m not saying you shouldn’t see the bloodiest ground on the face of the earth. I’m just saying don’t stop there and stay. Here are 10 other wonderful things to do while in town:
- Ski Liberty – Just a couple of miles out of town and slopes for the entire family.
- Visit the National Apple Museum - Located in Biglerville, just a stone’s throw away from Gettysburg. A must see for the whole family using a pre-Civil War built barn as a museum to honor the nation’s fruit.
- Eisenhower Farm – Actually located in Gettysburg and one of the favorite sites among visitors to Gettysburg.
- Take a ghost tour – I think Gettysburg has more ghost tours than we have ghosts. Really. It’s not hard to find a ghost tour in Gettysburg any time of the year. And it’s something you’ve got to do at least once.
- Eastern Museum Of Motor Racing - Located in York Springs, Pennsylvania near the Latimore Valley Fairgrounds, this museum houses vintage racing cars and memorabilia of one of America’s favorite sports.
- Go on a scenic train ride - For 75 minutes, or three hours if you prefer, you can take a train tour through Adams County and see the beautiful landscapes from a different perspective.
- Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival – Like music? Like Bluegrass music? Then you can enjoy great Bluegrass music twice a year at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival. Takes place between Gettysburg and Fairfield in the spring and fall each year.
- Golf - The Links at Gettysburg is an 18-hole golf course carved out of indigenous red rock formations and meandering streams.
- Visit Washington D.C. - The nation’s capital is just a two-hour drive away.
- Ride a Harley – Every year, thousands of bike riders descend upon Gettysburg for Bike Week. You can join them.
There are lots more things to do in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. Don’t wait for an invitation. Plan your next trip now.
Historic William Patterson House Gets Facelift
The William Patterson House in Gettysburg is 210 years old, but it’s time for a new face. That’s what the National Park Service and a few local people are saying. In fact, the deconstruction has already started. If you drive along Taneytown Road you’ll see nothing of the building left as construction crews take away the last bit of remaining dead wood. They’re going to rebuild the house from scratch.
The house was built in 1798 and has been a part of Gettysburg history every since. It is believed that William Patterson offered his house to be used as a field hospital during the battle at Gettysburg. The reconstruction of the house will make it look just like the original.
Much of the material that will be used to rebuild the William Patterson House is the same material that was originally used. However, an inspection team will look at all the pieces and anything that is deemed unusable will be replaced by new materials that look exactly like the original in every respect. It’s possible that 40% of the original logs have been rotted.
This is one reconstruction project that will be worth seeing when it’s done.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show Kicks Off 2009 With Vintage Fun
One of Pennsylvania’s best events is the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Scheduled for January 10 through 17, 2009, the Pennsylvania Farm Show promotes agriculture, Pennsylvania’s biggest industry. The theme for this year’s farm show is “Keep Pennsylvania Growing”.
It doesn’t matter where you are from. You will enjoy the farm show. This is one of Pennsylvania’s most attended events. More than 400,000 visitors are expected to run through the show that week.
During the week, visitors to one of the biggest farm shows in the country will see live livestock, vintage tractors, delicious regional foods, and grand world-class events. There will be a Best Chef In Pennsylvania Contest and a Sheep-to-Shawl competition. Other events scheduled for the week include:
- A wide variety of livestock shows and competitions
- Agricultural contests
- Educational opportunities
- State police mounted drill ceremony
- Cooking demonstrations
- Youth activities
- Historical exhibits
- Government celebrations
- Square and folk dances
- Family living demonstrations
- Dairy showcases
- Tractor pulls
- Flag races
- Talent contests
- And a whole lot more
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is always a week-long family extravaganza. Tourists and travelers from all over the world attend and are welcome. The location is in Harrisburg, just about 40 minutes away from Gettysburg so the drive is reasonable. For more information about the Pennsylvania Farm Show call 717-787-5373.
Two Gettysburg Museums You Should Visit In February
If you’re planning a visit to Gettysburg Pennsylvania in February 2009, keep in mind two local museums as must sees: Shriver House Museum and David Wills House.
The Shriver House Museum tells the story of civilians during the Battle of Gettysburg. The house was built just before the war started and sat vacant, except for several families of wild cats, until 1996 when the house was rebuilt and research went underway to discover the story of this old structure. You’ll definitely want to visit this museum on Friday and Saturday, February 13 and 14. The Shriver House Museum will host a Restoration Tour on both dates at 7 p.m.
Just a few blocks away, in downtown Gettysburg, David Wills House will host its grand opening on February 12, 2009 in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday.
David Wills invited Abraham Lincoln to stay at his house when the president came to Gettysburg to deliver the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln finished writing his speech in the David Wills House guest bedroom. You can learn more about that story by visiting the David Wills House and taking the grand opening tour on February 12.
Veterans Group Down To 20 Members
A World War II Veterans group in Gettysburg started with 172 members in 1974. They are now down to 20 and met over the weekend for their annual get-together. As history moves on, so too will those who made it. The Gettysburg Pennsylvania blog honors veterans who served in World War II and other wars. I wish our national leaders would realize that most wars aren’t necessary. World War II may have been the last war that was absolutely necessary from a U.S. standpoint. Not that others wouldn’t have been, but if we are truly honor those who serve in uniform then we need to elect leaders who know how to exercise wisdom and good judgment. God bless the veterans of World War II.
Bronze Abraham Lincoln May Move To Gettysburg
Stanley Watts, who constructed the bronze memorial of fire fighters for Ground Zero in Manhattan following Sept 11, 2001, has built a similar bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln reading the Gettysburg Address. He wants to put it in Gettysburg. Of course, there is already a statue of Lincoln reading the Gettysburg Address on the square. So where will it go? No one knows. But they do have ideas.
Watts, from Salt Lake City, Utah, wants the statue placed in a prominent location. But most of the prominent locations are already taken. The target date is February and the Borough Council doesn’t know where they want to put it. But they’ve narrowed it down to six locations. Oh, the sweet dilemmas!
Well, I like bronze statues. Lincoln I could take or leave. But if he’s made of bronze then I’m thinking he might make a good pigeon stool. Whatever they decide to do with Lincoln, I’m sure he’ll make himself right at home in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. I just hope they don’t ask me to polish his boots.
Jeff Shaara Book Signing
You may first know Jeff Shaara for his cooperative effort with his father Michael Shaara; together they brought the Civil War into comfy chairs all across the country. The two partnered to render the thrilling Civil War trilogy: “Killer Angels,” “Gods and Generals” and “The Last Full Measure.”
Maybe books aren’t for you, but you’ve sat through all 261 minutes of Martin Sheen’s Gettysburg, or you’ve memorized all the lines to General Stonewall Jackson’s first brigade speech in the 2003 prequel Gods and Generals. Either way, Shaara’s ability to weave history into fiction has been capturing audiences for over a decade. In his newest novel, “Steel Wave,” Shaara trades Longstreet and Gettysburg for Eisenhower and Omaha Beach as he uses his pen to recapture the Allied invasion of France on D-Day 1944.
You cannot miss this opportunity to meet Jeff Shaara at the Gettysburg Gift Center on Thursday, November 20 and Friday, November 21. From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Jeff will oblige history buffs and fiction freaks alike, adding his autograph to his recently released WWII novel.
The Gettysburg Gift Center is located in the Gettysburg Museum, 297 Steinwehr Ave. For more information you can call the museum at 717-334-6245.
Pennsylvania State Capitol – A Masterpiece Of Architecture
This afternoon, my wife and I took the family to see the Pennsylvania state Capitol building in Harrisburg. We went with my grandson’s Cub Scout troop.
When we first planned to make our visit I though it would be just like any other state Capitol. Being from Texas, I’ve had several chances to see that Capitol building, which is huge in comparison, but nowhere near the work of art. The Pennsylvania Capitol was built in 1906 and cost $13 million to build. In 1906, $13 million would have been a fortune. There aren’t enough zeros in the solar system to cover what that would be in today’s dollars.
From the green glazed terra cotta tile on the outside roof to the inlaid 24-karat gold ornaments on the inside chambers, the Capitol building is a site to see. I’m sure the Senate and House chambers would have been 10 times more beautiful had there been sunlight instead of cloudy skies as the stained glass windows were incredible.
Architect Joseph Huston blended Greek, Roman, and Victorian styles to create a masterful Renaissance-era architectural work of art in the state’s capital. I highly recommend a visit to the Capitol building while you are in Gettysburg. Harrisburg is straight up Hwy. 15 about 40 miles. It’s worth the drive.
Happy Veterans Day From Gettysburg Blog
Well, it’s Veteran’s Day and I’m sure we have plenty of veterans that visit Gettysburg every year. We have plenty of veterans buried here.
The U.S Civil War is one of the bloodiest wars in history. Ever since this historic moment in our nation’s history, we have honored our veterans in a very special way. Today marks that day. While Veterans Day was not observed officially until November 11, 1919 to commemorate the day that ended World War I, Americans have always honored its fallen heroes. Initially, President Woodrow Wilson named the holiday Armistice Day. In 1921 Congress officially declared the day a federal holiday.
President Dwight Eisenhower, who retired to Gettysburg after leaving the Oval Office, changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to include veterans who served in World War II and the Korean Conflict. In 1968 Congress passed a law changing the date of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. In 1975 it was changed back to November 11 again. The law took effect in 1978 and observance of Veterans Day has been on November 11 ever since.
Gettysburg Blog honors America’s veterans on this day.
Congratulations To President-Elect Obama
Well, the election is over and now Gettysburg Pennslvania, along with the rest of the country, has a new president-elect. Barack Obama won the election handily and already his historic win is receiving accolades and driving a nostalgia for a time when another historic president made his way through Gettysburg. Obama has been compared with Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Emancipation Proclamation and freed the slaves in the U.S. Lincoln is also recognized as the president who saves the union.
Well, here we are again, in the 21st century, and we’re as divided as ever. Maybe not with guns and weapons of warfare, but with stark differences in ideology, and the incoming president is promising to unite us once again. Can he do it?
Whether he can or not, one thing is for sure. Barack Obama has already made history. There is no doubt that he is destined to have his place in the Hall of Presidents and First Ladies, located right here in Gettysburg Pennsylvania.
