Gettysburg & President Eisenhower’s Farm, PA

We needed fuel for the truck so Kevin asked the guys at the guard shack at Gettysburg Farm Campground where to get diesel. Guy said, “3 lefts and a right” to Rutters. HAHA That is farm-directions, right?! Well, after some turns I saw we were headed east, the wrong direction from where we wanted to go. Kevin told me the name of the place the guys had said, I put it in Garmin, and saw the next one was 8 miles farther east. We turned around and went back west. Finally we saw one and he thinks it is the one the guys mentioned.

Cannon At Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA 09/24

We went to Gettysburg National Military Park. This is the Civil War battle that most Americans have learned about in school, along with the words from President Lincoln. The cost for this park is only if you want see the film and cyclorama and/or the museum. It was $15.00, I think and well worth it. I had contacted this place months ago to make sure films were captioned or if they needed to provide an ASL interpreter for me. I got a good reply and yes, they are captioned. Kevin made sure to double check when we got our tickets and then, with the next film starting in 5 minutes, we headed to the theater. This place gets an A. The film did a very good job of showing the battle.

Then we were sent to the next room that has the Battle of Gettysburg cyclorama. This is a painting that is in a circle; the original one measured about 377 by 42 feet. That is longer than a football field and as tall as a four story building. The painting was done in 1884. The words were captioned on a stand and lights flashed as it told about the battle. Kevin said it was really loud and that added to the experience. After the show was over, it just lasted a few minutes, then you could walk around the circle and look closer at the painting. It was very unique to see. I thought it was neat how the artist painted himself into the picture. Also interesting, and I don’t understand why, he added a field hospital but the words about it say, “Field Hospital, creatively inserted by the artist where no building actually stood.”

Conceived In Liberty? Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA 09/24

Out in the museum we thought the flow was very well done, even with arrows to point to the next place to go along the curvy path. One overhead sign said, “Conceived in Liberty?” I thought the question mark was very appropriate. Liberty for who? Gettysburg had 10 roads converging and this was what drew both armies. During the Civil War there were more than 400,000 soldiers in about 150 prison camps and around 13% of them died there. 

Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA 09/24

The next day we went back to Gettysburg National Military Park. We used the National Park Service’s great app to do the Auto Tour of the battlefield. 24 miles, 16 stops, 3 hours. Driving around added a lot because you can see the terrain of the land and can see “He who holds the height, wins.” Here is a link to the National Park Service App:  https://www.nps.gov/subjects/digital/nps-apps.htm

Lincoln’s Address & Soldier Graves, Gettysburg National Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA 09/24

We ended at the Gettysburg National Cemetery. We saw where President Lincoln spoke. He was invited here to give a speech for the dedication of the cemetery, a few months after the battle here. 

Graves Of Soldiers, Gettysburg National Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA 09/24

Something that impacted both of us was the thought of the town after the battle. (This applies to any place after a battle, I am sure.) So many dead bodies and animals and just the clean up would be horrible. We read at the visitor center yesterday that people hired themselves out to take care of the bodies. The stench, we can’t imagine! It told how some farmers and townspeople moved away and only a few of those returned. It took years for the town to get back to normal. We also read the battle at Gettysburg lasted 3 days, was the only one fought in the north, and if Meade would have obeyed Lincoln’s orders, to pursue and act, the war would have been over quickly and not last another 2 years.  

In our driving around, we saw a flashing sign that said Eisenhower Farm was closed today for set up for an event this weekend. We looked it up and discovered a World War 2 event https://www.nps.gov/eise/world-war-ii-weekend.htm 

WW2 Weekend, Eisenhower National Historic Site, Gettysburg, PA 09/24

The following day we went to Eisenhower National Historic Site for the WW2 Weekend and to see President Eisenhower’s farm. As we pulled in, we were parked by volunteers and some were Scouts. In the field they parked us with plenty space down the rows to pull out. That is good. This event is free and there was nothing sold except food at the food truck. The day was cloudy, warm, and very humid. In the field was set up all sorts of tent camps. Some of the sites were: medical, church, message, photography, etc and lots of jeeps, guns, and things from the WW2. People in uniforms, too. You could tell the people here were passionate about their collections. It was neat to see. There were speakers throughout the day and lots of family activities. At the church tent there was a small pump organ complete with hymnals that were used.

German / USA Guns, WW2 Weekend, Eisenhower National Historic Site, Gettysburg, PA 09/24

Kevin liked seeing the guns and the jeeps. 🙂 One guy had a display for guns. One side of the table had many German guns and the other the US guns. His opinion is that we won the war because we had interchangeable parts and guns, where Germany didn’t. 

Eisenhower’s PA Farm House, Eisenhower National Historic Site, Gettysburg, PA 09/24

We were glad Eisenhower Farm was opened. At other events, the main place would be closed. We didn’t take the house tour but walked around the barns. Kevin said Eisenhower had his priories right – the barn is bigger than the house. HA

Barn Window Reflection, Eisenhower National Historic Site, Gettysburg, PA 09/24

We didn’t even realize Eisenhower lived here in PA. He bought this 189 acre farm and then went into partnership with someone else and had a very successful cattle business. We got to see and walk around those buildings, too.  Way out in the back, we saw Scouts tents and food set up. Glad they were here for service. Eisenhower liked to golf and there is even a putting hole near the back of the house that he had installed and liked to use.

Eisenhower’s Grill Where He Liked To Cook His Fresh Steaks! Eisenhower National Historic Site, Gettysburg, PA 09/24

What a fun “just so happened to be here” and get the opportunity to not only see the farm but a large tent city of military. We were glad we came. OH, just outside the house is a nice brick patio and a large grill where he liked to grill fresh beef steaks. 😃