Campfire Chat - General DiscussionsThis is a forum for posting discussion topics, questions, current events, and anything else you'd like to chat about. Please post serious Civil War History threads in appropriate History Forums.
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Try to stay as long as you can. We went a few years ago, and planned to spend just part of the day there. I found I would have liked to have had at least 3 or 4 days. There just wasn't anyway to really get a feel for the place in as short a time as we spent. Take care, and enjoy.
I'm flying into Richmond, VA on Aug. 7 and won't be flying out until Aug 30. I plan to see the sites around Richmond that I didn't see the first time. Fort Monroe, the Naval Museum (Monitor's turret), some battlefields (Malvern Hill, Cold Harbor, Drewy's Bluff, more of Petersburg), Virginia Historical Society, Museum of the Confederacy & perhaps even an hour or two to research in the Virginia State Library. Haven't gone up the Shenandoah Valley and will do so. Drop into the Smithsonian and also the National Archives.
Concerning Gettysburg, will take advice to spend 3-4 days there. Any suggestions as to places to eat at or otherwise?
Keep a sharp eye! Watch out for all the tourist traps! This is almost as bad as Branson. Everything with a GETTYSBURG decal on is up for sale. Buyer beware!
Better that you are going in August rather than early July. Hotel rates should be cheaper.
If you haven't been to Gettysburg before, I'd recommend taking in the Electric Map show at the Visitors Center. It's not exactly what you would consider high-tech by today's standards, but it gives you a very good picture of where the troops were positioned and how they moved during the battle.
Places I've eaten and enjoyed include General Pickett's Buffet on Steinwehr Avenue, The Pub on Lincoln Square, and Hoss's on Route 30 on the east side of town. If you like Italian and don't mind driving a few miles, Gina's in Bonneauville (pronounced Bonnie-ville) is pretty good. You can get there by following Route 116 east from Gettysburg.
When you go to Gettysburg be sure to park somewhere and walk the whole battlefield. If you're a re-enactor you could just dress up in your uniform and possibly get into some shops or museums for free (For example: Gen. Lee's HQ.), but be prepared for people to ask you questions about your uniform.
Thanks Guys. I plan to bring some notes and do quite a bit of hiking when I'm there. BTW, I'm not a reenactor though my Whitworth mentor drafted me once for a day. After that, I deserted the colors and went back to my books.
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