Visiting Gettysburg

G

growr

Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2006
Messages
5,250
Reaction score
6,436
Location
Montana
This summer I REALLY want to tour the Battlefield and take in as much as possible on the anniversary. Anyone have suggestions for an all inclusive sort of trip that will get me rooms, tours, museums, horseback tours if possible, re-enactments etc?

This has been on my mind for many years.

I am an active SASS member and dress in Union Cavalry gear as my great-great grandfather really was Union Cav. Even thought about doing the tours in uniform for the fun of it...Yes, I know that July 1-4 is beastly hot!! Just an idea...

Your help fellow forum members will be deeply appreciated!

Randy

AKA Bugler
 
Register to hide this ad
growr said:
This summer I REALLY want to tour the Battlefield and take in as much as possible on the anniversary. Anyone have suggestions for an all inclusive sort of trip that will get me rooms, tours, museums, horseback tours if possible, re-enactments etc?

This has been on my mind for many years.

I am an active SASS member and dress in Union Cavalry gear as my great-great grandfather really was Union Cav. Even thought about doing the tours in uniform for the fun of it...Yes, I know that July 1-4 is beastly hot!! Just an idea...

Your help fellow forum members will be deeply appreciated!

Randy

AKA Bugler
Click to expand...
Do the guide, it's pricey but worth it. Also check out the haunted ghost tours, pretty fun! One of them is done by ric savage, he used to be in ECW back in the day.
 
Last time we went my wife and daughter took a horseback tour offered by Artillery Ridge Campground and really enjoyed it. I've had a lot of fun talking to the tour bus drivers while the tours are walking the field. So far most I've run into are retired military and have a very strong interest in history. They are a great source of information on off the main route historical sites and local history.
 
Just for fun, bring a watch with a sweep second hand, and see if it stops while your on the battlefield. It happened there, to my husbands watch for the first and only time, and then restarted when we got back in the car to leave. :eek:
 
I don't know the name of the organization, but I've heard several people talk about the walking tours provided by a group of retired military officers who were also West Point instructors. I'm told they speak knowledgably about the battle as it unfolded, and the significance of the different actions by the different field commanders.

I have a good friend who retired from the Army with 40 years of service. He used a private tour guide who drove them in his own car and gave a highly detailed and intimate tour of Gettysburg. I will ask him for the name and contact information for this guide, and will provide it to you once I have it.

Enjoy your tour. I envy you - even though you're on the wrong side :).

Regards,

Dave
 
WE stayed in a "haunted" room in town and drove ourselves around. Unfortunately, all the tours killed it for us. Overall, too commercial.

I had attached annual leave to a training session in West Virginia and the wife flew back to join me. The training campus was across the river from Antietam and 12 miles from Harper's Ferry. Both seemed, to us, more interesting. The most touching was The Sunken Road at Antietam. One of the places you automatically whisper.
 
We did the "self guided "tour, buy a CD and map and drive around.the CD and map have corresponding numbers so when you get to "site #15...Devils den" the cd tells all the info about units there, deaths etc. .
We were there in June before the big JULY 4th battle celebration. not too many people there then and it was fairly easy to get out the car and stand where Gen. Picket stood when he sent his men Across the open field.
 
Last edited:
As a Civil War reenactor in the past I have spent a considerable amount of time at Gettysburg and GNMP. The lower town is over run with commercialism. The battlefield is the draw. It is hallowed ground for both North and South.

Unless you enjoy massive traffic jams and huge crowds I would think twice about visiting on the anniversary weekend. Look at the GNMP website for scheduled activities on the battlefield.

A Battlefield Guide is not a bad idea, you may have to schedule one in advance.

Firearms are not allowed within the park unless regulations have changed in the past 6-7 years.

Everyone should expearance the Gettysburg Battlefield at least once.

LTC
 
growr said:
my great-great grandfather really was Union Cav.
Click to expand...

I ain't going.
My GrGr Grandaddy went there once.
He said folks shot at him.
Might have ben your GrGr Grandfather.;)

I once thought about reenacting.
Tried to join up with a group,
but they said they already had
enough bloated bodies.
 
Last edited:
finesse_r said:
I am not certain I could stand to see such massive death field, where so many of the best of the south were slain, and the war for our freedom was really lost. I can think of no more depressing place in the world.
Click to expand...

Interesting, how views differ. I see it as the place where so many died to keep us a single nation, indivisible, with freedom for all.
First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment | MNopedia
The next day, the First Minnesota contributed to the repulse of Pickett's Charge, which effectively ended the Battle of Gettysburg and served as a turning point in the war. Two soldiers from the First Minnesota, Corporal Henry O'Brien and Private Marshall Sherman, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their actions that day. But the regiment's fighting at Gettysburg came at a cost: hundreds of Minnesota soldiers died or were wounded, and the regiment was nearly destroyed.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
finesse_r said:
I am not certain I could stand to see such massive death field, where so many of the best of the south were slain, and the war for our freedom was really lost. I can think of no more depressing place in the world.
Click to expand...

It is-- I as well lost some relatives there, who I believe were on the right side,and have gone through many times down through the years-- The older I get the more I realize the waste of so many lives and realize even more it was the beginning of the downfall of this country--- you never were taught the sadness of all this in school-- not even today -- needless to say we are in deep trouble today- but I won't elaborate any more.:(
 
Last edited:
Make sure you go on the ghost walk at midnight across the
battlefield. They say you can feel a warmer spot when you pass
over where a soldier has died.

Also make sure you eat at the Lincoln Diner. Good food and great
pies and cake for dessert. They are on Carlisle and the railroad
tracks. 32 Carlisle St, Gettysburg, PA 17325

Stu
 
  • Like
Reactions: LTC
A couple of people have already mentioned hiring a guide. The guides are from the National Park Service and stationed at the battlefield. Cost of a bus tour is $60.00 each. Cost of a Licensed private guide who will drive your car with up to 6 people is $65.00 total. We were fortunate to have Ron Frampton who has been with the park since 1968. An amazing and sobering experience. This battle unfolded far differently from what I had envisioned. A must for all Americans.
 
Double-O-Dave said:
I don't know the name of the organization, but I've heard several people talk about the walking tours provided by a group of retired military officers who were also West Point instructors. I'm told they speak knowledgably about the battle as it unfolded, and the significance of the different actions by the different field commanders.

I have a good friend who retired from the Army with 40 years of service. He used a private tour guide who drove them in his own car and gave a highly detailed and intimate tour of Gettysburg. I will ask him for the name and contact information for this guide, and will provide it to you once I have it.

Enjoy your tour. I envy you - even though you're on the wrong side :).

Regards,

Dave
Click to expand...

Does the name Stewart Dempsey ([email protected]) ring a bell? He does this type of tour, and we got a great tour. He also does a Normandy guide every couple of years, I'd like to do this one someday.
 
One of my wife's relatives was Gen. Richard B. Garnett who fell during Pickett's charge.
Another Garnett relative was Gen. Robert S. Garnett who has the distinction of being the first General from either side to fall in combat in the Civil War.
They were cousins. Both fought for the South.
 
I'll be in Gettysburg Valentine's Day weekend to propose to my girlfriend. I even booked several days stay at a nice Bed and Breakfast. I dragged my girlfriend to at least 7 weekend trips to Gettysburg since we have been dating. At this point, I feel like anything less than a Gettysburg proposal would be a major let down. When I said that to my girlfriend's dad, he was crying from laughing son hard.

When you're on the battlefield, you can feel a chill run up your spine. You can feel the history. It's emotional for both sides.
 
Have been there 4 times over the years.
Always soul stirring.
I always had strong sensations of loss.
Every time, had the feeling of souls tugging at me , some at peace, some not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

RM Vivas
NYPD - Bloomingdale Trophy - S&W .32HE #520705
Replies
1
Views
659
SS336
S
G
Invited to sound TAPS at Gettysburg Labor Day!
Replies
14
Views
623
growr
G
PALADIN85020
The Civil War Model 1860 Spencer Carbine
2 3
Replies
55
Views
5K
Eltioloco
E
Harkrader
SD Takes on The Fencing Master
Replies
8
Views
753
hangnoose
H
M
The disabled private detective
Replies
6
Views
875
rock doc
rock doc

Latest posts

Back
Top