Visiting Historic Gettysburg, PA
The rolling hills of Gettysburg are beautiful to view, both in the summer months as well as the fall and winter. The National Park Service takes special care of the battlefield and over 1,400 monuments, which are scattered throughout the town and surrounding countryside. It is said that you can stand in one spot in this town and find at least one monument within a 15-foot radius of yourself. The Gettysburg cemetery has over 3,500 interments from the Civil War including one mass grave of unknown soldiers.
Included in the many attractions are homes that are riddled with bullet holes, such as the Farnsworth House, and buildings of historical significance, such as the hotel room in the village square where Abraham Lincoln finished his famous Gettysburg Address. The town also pays tribute to the only woman civilian killed during the war, Jennie Wade. The house where the fatal bullet struck the young woman is still standing as are the two doors that the bullet traveled through to hit its’ unsuspecting mark.
Gettysburg also attracts ghost seekers from all over the world. According to the Travel Channel, Gettysburg is one of the ten most haunted places in the United States. Visitor’s won’t have to go far to find an establishment that offers a haunted tour of the town. Enjoy candle lit tours, trolley tours and personal tours of the most haunted spots in town. Bob Michels is one of the best ghost storytellers and he can be found leading ghost hunters on the Haunted Trolley Tour. The trolley drivers can be just as interesting, such as Bob Minter, a local who grew up in Gettysburg. Favorite ghostly places to visit are the old town orphanage across from Cemetery Hill, the Jennie Wade house and the old brickyard. Be sure to bring your camera on the tour since many ghostly activities can be captured on film. You may be surprised what shows up in your pictures when they are printed out!
For travelers who enjoy Civil War history, Gettysburg is definitely one of the best places to visit. If you are interested in visiting Gettysburg during the anniversary of the famous battle, be sure to make your reservations at least a year ahead of your visit. Re-enactors flood the town each year during the first week of July and it is very difficult to find a hotel room during this peak time. A great alternative to the anniversary of the battle is Memorial Day weekend. It is easier to find a hotel room at this time and you can see an incredible parade complete with re-enactors and a horse-drawn carriage with old Abe on board.
Visitors shouldn’t miss a battlefield tour while in town. Whether you hire a personal tour guide or take the bus tour, it is a memorable experience. Most battlefield tours take approximately two hours, depending on whether you drive yourself or take a bus. It is impossible to ignore the magnitude of this battle when you see the monuments that were erected from each state on the battlefield where they fought. Seasoned National Park Service tour guides will explain the specifics of the battle and answer any questions you may have while on a guided tour. Visitors on a tour bus will be able to disembark at several significant locations so that you can take pictures as you go along.
The food in this town will satisfy any pallet. There are charming bistros such as the Pub and The Plaza in the town square, and delightful breakfast and lunch establishments such as The Avenue on Steinwehr Avenue and Ernie’s Texas Lunch on Chambersburg Street. Gettysbrew on Hunterstown Road is a unique restaurant and microbrewery that makes rootbeer that both children and adults will rave about. If you are searching for a fine dining establishment, a memorable repast can be found at the historical Dobbin House Tavern, which was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. In the evenings, cap off a great evening with a carriage ride around town.
You won’t have to spend a fortune enjoying yourself in this town. The hotel rates are very reasonable during the week and only slightly higher during the weekends. Campers and RVs are welcome at the many sites around town, including several that accommodate horses. A variety of tours packages are available and many include discounted rates for seniors and children at the Gettysburg Tour Center. Tickets for the many attractions can also be found at any hotel or tour site and the ticket prices are the same wherever you purchase them.
Whether you came for the history, a re-enactment or even the ghosts, you will surely leave with a sense of wonder about the hallowed ground that comprises the town of Gettysburg.
