Eisenhower

  I knew about LBJ and the ranch in Stonewall. I knew about George W and the  ranch in Crawford. I did not know about Eisenhower.

 Story goes he came here as a visitor and fell in love with the place. I can understand that, beautiful country. Like us, learn something you did not know.

With this stop we have reached apogee and begin our drift south. Our path will take us thru the heart of Dixie. We will learn more about the civil war, both good and terribly bad. We will walk in the footsteps of presidents, and of common men.

 Stay tuned and let us learn together...

carpe diem

Gettysburg Museum and book store

  Nearly all the parks we have been to have something in common. That would be a visitor center and a park store. Gettysburg has that on steroids. The bookstore here is huge in itself. The adjacent museum and education area, including dining options far exceed what we have experienced before. To be fair, the museum and bookstore are owned and run by a foundation created to protect the park and its history. The artifacts on display, the many many films on different aspects of the battle as you tour are impressive. The history on how we ended up having a civil war in the first place taught us things we did not know. Impressive. While we tried to soak it all in, I believe we failed. Partly due to my eyesight letting me down, partly due to the fact we were drinking from a firehose information wise. I feel somewhat like the people looking over the edge at Mather Point and saying they have seen the Grand canyon. Lifetimes can, and have been, spent trying to fully grasp what happened here. How we got there, where have we gone improvement wise since then. This speaks nothing about the cyclorama, (huge 360 degree painting depicting the entire battlefield).

 A brief glimpse at the facilities

My words fail to convey the information available here. The bookstore has hundreds of books on different aspects of the battle, and underlying cause and effect.

 I leave you with these words by others.

the information is out there, you just have to let it in...

Gettysburg part 2

  There are about 1700 monuments on this battlefield, spread out for miles. As one does a driving tour they are in the meadows and tucked away in the woods. All were erected in honor of the troops that had been positioned in that location. At first no Confederate monuments were allowed. That restriction was lifted and states installed monuments to their fallen just as the Union had done. Some are simple, some very ornate. Enjoy a brief sample of the many, many monuments.

Lee's army of Northern Virginia had invaded Pennsylvania, we are in Pennsylvania, so it is not surprising the largest monument by far is theirs.

Inside one of the columns is a circular staircase so one can access the viewing platform just below the rotunda. From that vantage point you can view parts of the battlefield.

A lot of men died on those fields you are looking across. The mind can't help but wonder how it must of been July 1,2, and 3 1863

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Gettysburg

 Where to begin? Perhaps as we did, visiting the cemetery. President Lincoln came here to help dedicate this cemetery. The main speaker spoke for two hours and no one remembers what he said. Lincoln spoke for two minutes. That short speech encapsulated what happened far better than anyone could have imagined. We visited his birthplace, now we visit the scene of perhaps his finest speech.

 As Lincoln stated, this is hallowed ground. This next sign speaks volumes, without saying anything at all.

We have seen this next sign before at Shiloh National cemetery. It is part of a longer poem (?). I think it is very fitting and appropriate.

This is the soldiers monument that now stands where Lincoln gave his address. The concentric rings mark graves, grouped by states, of the fallen. The small individual markers you see are for those known only to God.

Because this is a National cemetery, warriors from other wars are buried here. The next two markers caught our attention. Pay attention to the dates.

Next I will take you out onto the field(s) of honor. I need to gather my thoughts so that will be on the next posting.

with head bowed in honor and respect...

Something personal

  Before we get knee deep in historical importance, something personal. We are at the Gettysburg National Military Park. A place that will make you think and will take you days to just skim the surface. More about the important stuff, but let's start off light and personal first.

 In the summer of 1964 Mary visited here with her family. A brief visit but one that provided a couple of old photos. We had no idea where the photos were taken, but wanted to find them. Relive some personal history if you will. Armed with only these scans of sixty year photos we went in search of a view and a monument. Dear reader should know there are some 1700 different monuments in this battlefield.

 Well our searching was a success. Below will be the old photos followed by our new version. First up will be Mary sitting on a cannon 60 years ago.

 Now Mary standing by cannon. Note the curved road in background. That is the proof along with monument and cannon on right side.

Next up is Mary's Mom, sister and Dad in front of monument.

Same monument 60 years later with Mary in place of her Mom.

There are about 1700 monuments spread out over thousands of acres. The hunt was fun, frustrating and a challenge.

 Next up, serious history.

making new memories

carpe diem

Tid bits and a tease

  Moving day come along no matter how long you have been there, or what you have done. So it was today. Decided to drop south of the Mason Dixon line an pick up I-68 in Maryland. Speaking of that have you looked at western Maryland, northern West Virginia on a map? Where we crossed from Ohio to Pennsylvania, we went thru Wheeling West Virginia. West Virginia was all of 10 miles wide at that point. From central Texas it is 350 miles to Louisiana, and 450 or so to El Paso. A little different.

 At any rate I-68 saved us the cost of the Pennsylvania toll road. The western stretch was a roller coaster to be sure. Truck warnings to use low gear and 6% grade for 13 MILES. Crawl up a long grade then try not to burn up your brakes on the downhill. Beautiful country but not such a a fun drive pulling a trailer. Not as bad as scenic route 12 in Utah thankfully. At any rate we are safe in our new home for 3 nights. Where you ask? Well that is the tease part.

Next several days heavy with history.

carpe diem

Well, I lied

  Yesterday I stated we had a date with a museum, that was wrong. it was/is more of a living history center. Very enjoyable, very informative.

 They had great exhibits depicting the settlement and history of the area. Outside they had buildings for a typical farm from the 1830's

 The next three plaques that came as a total surprise to us.

Interesting factoids, maybe you knew already. Good campground, beautiful area and good fishing in the pond. Caught 3 bass and lost something I believe was a large trout. great fun.

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