Get Away to Gettysburg, PA

We spent a few days in Gettysburg, PA during reenactment weekend and it was fun and humbling to learn about this pivotal 3-day battle and walk the hallowed ground where soldiers fought and died.

Here we are with the Hotel Gettysburg in the background - where we stayed.

The view looking out front of the hotel.

We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Dobbin House Tavern.

I remembered dining here as teenager with my parents and sitting upstairs in a bedroom in a “canopy bed” so I requested the same. Here we are with my sister and brother in law who joined us for the visit.

We spent time at the Museum & Visitor Center where we watched a film, took in the spectacular Gettysburg Cyclorama Painting: The Battle of Gettysburg by French artist Paul Philippoteaux depicting Pickett's Charge, the climactic Confederate attack on the Union forces during the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. (a cyclorama is a panoramic image on the inside of a cylindrical platform, designed for a 360° view) and toured the museum.

We met up with John Torkos (a friend of my brother in law) and his son Tommy who were in Gettysburg for a living history weekend as reenactors. After lunch at Gettysburg Eddie’s we walked Gettysburg National Cemetery. We saw where President Lincoln gave the The Gettysburg Address. It was wonderful to have a personal tour guide.

The only image of all of us… Steven, Liam, Bob, myself and Noreen.

We visited the Mary Thompson House which was General Robert E. Lee’s headquarters during the battle.

The Eternal Light Peace Memorial was dedicated on July 3rd 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the 75th anniversary of the battle.

Here are my brother in law Bob, Tommy, John and my husband Steven. We stopped at the Appalachian Brewing Co. and more history lessons from John.

This vintage Thunderbird was parked in front of our hotel when we got back.

John and Tommy slept outside Friday evening at Spanglers Spring.

The New Jersey Regiment went through their paces and shot their guns. It was really something to see.

Next we headed to the The State of Pennsylvania Monument. The largest monument in Gettysburg. It was dedicated in 1910. The monument has plaques surrounding the base and inside the first level with 34,530 names of Pennsylvania soldiers who served at the Battle of Gettysburg including my husbands Great Great Grandfather Solomon King who enlisted at age 42.

Here we are pointing to Solomon King.

My husband, son and sister at the top.

Next we went to Little Round Top. The view was incredible.

The view looking up from the valley.

We enjoyed a marvelous and yet surprising dinner at Sign of the Buck inside the Union Hotel.

On our last morning we headed over to The Eisenhower Farm.

The house is frozen at 1967 the year President Eisenhower signed the house and grounds over to the the National Park Service.

Gettysburg is known around the world for it’s monumental role in the Civil War. July 1, 2, 3 1863 marked a turning point for the Union Army and were bloodiest battles of the entire war. Gettysburg though - is more than battlefields and a cemetery; it’s a sweet town with shops and dining.

Til next time friends be well and I’ll see you over on Instagram.