Gettysburg

This year marks the 145th anniversary of the battle at Gettysburg, during the Civil War. Some would say that this battle was the most important battle of the Civil War. Now, I don't know if that is true, but this three day battle has made an incredible mark in history.

I decided it would be fun to drive over the Gettysburg and be apart of the celebration and look around this historic place. I also knew that the three hour drive would be pretty worthless if I didn't make more of it. So, after work on Wednesday I drove to Gettysburg and only made one wrong turn (which turned out to be a 20 minute mistake, but I'm used to doing things like that). My friend, Allyson, made me a great road trip CD that got me through the trip and I rolled into Gettysburg about 3pm.

The whole "battlefield" is 6,000 acres. It's incredible to think what happen in the very places I was standing. While you may not appreciate all the monuments and memorials, there was a very historic feeling to this place and you know that great and terrible things happened here. I stopped at the visitors center and walked around for a few minutes. Then, I went into the American Civil War Museum and enjoyed the nine or ten sections they have devoted to different parts of the battle of Gettysburg (and in some parts, the entirety of the war).

To make this trip worth it, I decided to stay in Frederick, MD with some family. The drive there was about 45 minutes, so I knew I couldn't be at the battlefield all day. I settled on a driving tour and omitted the first four stops because I saw them on my way in and drove around. The pamphlet said to allow two and half hours for the whole tour (16 stops), but I did it in about an hour.

I saw some incredibly important sites and took a bunch of pictures. A few of my favorites: Walking around Little Round Top. Seeing all the old houses and hospitals that were there during the Civil War. The battlefield where "Pickett's Charge" took place and is also the mark of the last battle in Gettysburg. I must say that it was hard doing this alone because there was so much to take in. Occasionally, I would say, "Wow, can you believe..." or "Hey, look at that!", only to remember that I was talking to myself.
Looking down from Little Round Top. The large rocks in the upper right hand corner are called "Devil's Den". This too was an important site during the battle.
The field where Pickett's Charge took place....


So, after the driving tour I went to Frederick and had dinner with Cindy, Cassidy and Jenna. We hung out and chatted and the Czarniak's were so kind to come over. We made an ice cream run and it was so nice to spend time with family. On Thursday, Cindy, Cassidy, Jenna and I went to the outlets in Hagerstown. It was a lot of fun and Cindy and I had a great time trying on clothes with great discounts!!

So here I am, back home. We went to Altoona for the 4th and celebrated with our friends Al and James and Al's family. We saw a great fireworks display and ate a lot of yummy food!!! Whew. I'm ready to stay put for a bit :)

A actual sign from the Civil War era. I'm guessing this was a declaration from the North.
Pictures of actal men who fought and died during the Civil War. On the left, the Confederacy. On the right, the Union.
The Gettysburg Address.
Me with Little Round Top and Big Round Top behind
This house was the headquarters of General Robert E. Lee during the battle of Gettysburg.

Cassidy and Aunt Ashley before the outlet mall!