September 15, 2006

September 15, 2006 This morning we head to the Gettysburg Battlefield Visitor Center. We first watch a presentation over a giant lighted map of the battlefield that reviews the troop movements of the three-day battle. We then tour the attached relic museum that probably has the largest collection of Civil War memorabilia anywhere. The museum has an astonishing collection of muskets/rifles that cover every variation made during the war, all in mint condition.

Afterwards we have lunch at a restaurant in the nicely preserved town of Gettysburg. The town was devastated by the battle and housed wounded soldiers for four months after the battle. After lunch we walk to the National Cemetery and hear an excellent and moving talk by one of the park rangers. This Cemetery was the first national one and was dedicated four months after the battle. That was when Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg address. This is a nice tie-in to our trip to the Lincoln Museum in Springfield last month. After the talk we walk thru the adjoining city cemetery atop Cemetery Hill and look at all the Union gun emplacements that were here. Having spent all day here again, we retire early to a local campground to do laundry and hit the Internet.