January 23rd, 2009 | Posted in Gettysburg, Museums
David Wills House in Gettysburg is being transformed into the Lincoln Museum and is set to open 200 years after its namesake, Abraham Lincoln, was born. That date is Feb. 12, 2009.
The project has cost $7.2 million and took an old run down house then reconstructed it from the ground up to be the Lincoln Museum. Lincoln slept in the house the night before giving his now famous Gettysburg Address. The David Wills house was built originally in 1818. The recent restoration project put it back in the condition that it was in in 1863. The museum will also house many of the original furnishings of the house. It is now owned by the National Park Service.
January 22nd, 2009 | Posted in Business, Gettysburg
Three local businesses are the target of an American With Disabilities Act lawsuit brought forward by a Maryland woman. Those businesses, according to an article in the Gettysburg Times, are Codori House of Gifts on Lincoln Square, Wentz Stained Glass Studio on York Street and The Spirited Ladies Shoppe on Chambersburg Street. The woman who filed the lawsuit is named Marilynn Phillips.
I’m not sure how long Ms. Phillips has been pursuing these businesses to get in compliance with the ADA, but it seems that she has had some success with some local businesses. Handicapped persons who find difficulty in accessing some of the historic places in Gettysburg should contact the appropriate agency to complain. The federal historic sites in Gettysburg seem to have no issue.
The problem for many businesses is that they have to meet certain city codes in order to modify their businesses. If those codes are a stumbling block to compliance for those businesses then Ms. Phillips, or others, may end up targeting the borough rather than go after the individual businesses. But before that happens Ms. Phillips and her attorney will have to navigate through the discovery phase of her lawsuits with the individual businesses. This is an issue I think that affects all of us, handicapped or not.
January 21st, 2009 | Posted in Business, Gettysburg
Welcome to the Gettysburg Pennsylvania Blog. For eight months now we’ve been writing about things to do and places to see in and around Gettysburg Pennsylvania and within a day’s driving distance. But we decided it was time to get a new design. We hope you like it.
Please take the time to tell us what you think of this new design. Do you like it? Detest it? Prefer a different color? Your feedback is appreciated. You can leave your feedback in one of two ways:
- Leave a comment here on this blog post
- Use our contact form at Taylor and Associates
However you decide to leave your feedback, feel free to be honest. We value your opinions and ideas. And while you’re at it, we’d like to hear your story ideas. Is there anything in particular you’d like us to write about? Please let us know. And if you’re a visitor to Gettysburg Pennsylvania, welcome!
January 20th, 2009 | Posted in Battlefield Sites, Business, Gettysburg, Hotels, washington d.c.
President Barack Obama’s inauguration today has given the local economy a big boost. In fact, many people have found that the closest hotel they could find to Washington D.C., the location for today’s ceremony, is in Gettysburg. That’s good news to local hoteliers, other businesses, and the economy as a whole.
If you are staying in Gettysburg and drove down to the nation’s capital to see the inauguration of the nation’s first black president then we hope you stick around a few more days and see what else we have to offer besides a few hotels. Stop and see the battlefield while you’re in town. Better yet, take the two-hour tour.
You might also want to visit the Eisenhower Farm. And be sure to make your way to Hanover and see the walking tour of the Battle of Hanover in the town square. There’s plenty to do here. Stick around a couple of days and explore Gettysburg Pennsylvania. Find out what you’ll want to do no your next visit here.
January 17th, 2009 | Posted in Adams County, Farming
It seems that there are several alpaca farms in Adams County Pennsylvania. They’ve been showing them off at the Pennsylvania Farm Show this week in Harrisburg.
Alpacas have been in the U.S. for only about 20 years. Originally from Peru, Chile, and Bolivia, their wool is softer than that of the llama and for that reason it was once the wool of royalty. It is difficult to mass manufacture clothing made from alpaca wool because there aren’t enough alpacas in the United States to justify it. So alpaca products are made by small farmers, several of which reside right here in Adams County Pennsylvania.
Pasa Ligero Alpacas is located in East Berlin. Owned by Kim Pongpat, it is home to 15 alpacas and growing.
Quarry Critters Alpaca Ranch is located in Littlestown.
Alpacas of Gettysburg specializes in suri alpacas, the breed with the highest quality wool. Alpacaholic Acres is located York Springs Pennsylvania. Almost Alpaca Ranch is in Mohrsville. Cloverleaf Alpacas is situated in Mount Joy Pennsylvania.
In all, there are probably 30 alpaca farms in Adams County Pennsylvania. Most of them likely raise anywhere from five to 25 alpacas. The owners are friendly people who don’t mind showing off their alpacas and even offer products for sale. Why not check out one of these alpaca farms while in your Gettysburg?
January 16th, 2009 | Posted in Tours, York County
Just a hop and a skip from Gettysburg Pennsylvania, in York County, is the York County Heritage Rail Trail. The trail runs 21 miles from the Mason-Dixon Line to New Freedom, running through Glen Rock, Hanover Junction, Seven Valleys, and York. The Colonial Courthouse, one of the great historic places to see in the area, sites on the trail as well. The train is still operational today and provides a great tour of the countryside from Maryland to York.
It is highly recommend to tourists and visitors to the Gettysburg area to experience the York County Heritage Rail Trail.. If you have an extra day set aside for your trip you’ll want to visit the York County Heritage Rail Trail. It’s more fun and awe-inspiring with a personal visit.
January 15th, 2009 | Posted in Adams County, Arts, Biglerville, Day Trips, Elsewhere, Events, Gettysburg, History, Motorcycles/Harleys, Museums, Recreation, Small Towns, Tours, washington d.c.
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.
January 14th, 2009 | Posted in Battlefield Sites, Gettysburg, History
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.
January 13th, 2009 | Posted in Adams County, Battlefield Sites, Gettysburg, People
I thought it was time to ask visitors and local residents of Gettysburg Pennsylvania where you favorite places to visit are. Leave a comment on this post and tell us where you like to go in the Gettysburg / Adams County area. Be specific. Don’t just say “the battlefield”, for instance. Instead, give a specific site on the battlefield such as Culp’s Hill or Cemetery Ridge. Or better yet, think of someplace other than the battlefield that you like to visit.
Tell us your favorite sites to see in Gettysburg and the surrounding area. Yes, feel free to mention York, Hanover, Harrisburg, Carlisle, Lancaster, or anywhere within a reasonable driving distance.
January 12th, 2009 | Posted in Events, Farming, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
This weekend the Pennsylvania Farm Show got its kick off. We’re now on day three of the greatest show in Pennsylvania and people everywhere are falling in love with tractors again. And if you think tractors are sexy, there is no better place to be.
This year’s farm show theme is “Keep Pennsylvania Growing.” The event takes place in Harrisburg every year and it’s just a hop and a skip, or a short tractor pull, away from Gettysburg.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is a week long celebration of America’s agricultural heritage. The farm show started on Jan. 10 and will run through Jan. 17. Several hundred thousand people are expected to attend by the end of the week. Don’t you want to be one of them?
For more information, call (717) 787-5373.
