Battlefield tours

[4065921]

I have read several posts about excursions to Gettysburg that give me the impression there are tours that allow you to get down onto the battlefield grounds. It has been years since I have been there and if they allow it I would love to get an "up close and personal" type tour that would be connected with a thesis paper I am writing. Any suggestions, contacts and advice would be greatly welcome.
Thanks

Bob

 

[pamc153PA]

I have read several posts about excursions to Gettysburg that give me the impression there are tours that allow you to get down onto the battlefield grounds. It has been years since I have been there and if they allow it I would love to get an "up close and personal" type tour that would be connected with a thesis paper I am writing. Any suggestions, contacts and advice would be greatly welcome.
Thanks

Bob

You certainly can get "down onto battlefield grounds," as you put it, and you don't need a tour to do it. There are also battle walks with park service Rangers, and if you want tailored, specific tours, you can hire a Licensed Battlefield Guide who can take you on anything from a general battle tour to a specific regiment's movements. If you want something as specific as that, I'd recommend calling ahead to reserve a guide, but otherwise, you can go to the VC and hire one when you want one.

I have used tours of both kinds, but I go out to Gettysburg once a month, more in the summer, and I just take my books, maps and apps, and plan my own tour. It's a lot of fun, in my book, to be on the battlefield in some of the more remote areas. Within the park, there's no place you can't go (except for the historic buildings).

 

[4065921]

Great info, just what I was hoping to hear. I am primarily interested in the second day of the battle; 3rd corps , Devils Den, Wheatfield, and Little Round Top areas. I'll drag my sons along with me ... they love a good hike.

 

[pamc153PA]

Great info, just what I was hoping to hear. I am primarily interested in the second day of the battle; 3rd corps , Devils Den, Wheatfield, and Little Round Top areas. I'll drag my sons along with me ... they love a good hike.

You might pass me along the way. That's what I'm studying right now, and those are the areas I tend to hang out. I often park in the Big Round Top lot, walk down past Devil's Kitchen to the Slaughter Pen, up through Devil's Den to the Rose Woods, Houck's Ridge and the Wheatfield. If you see a short woman in a silver SUV, that's me!

 

[Warren]

Check out Randy Drais's battleofgettysburgbuff.com and contact Randy about his schedule of upcoming tours for this season. He's got an interesting variety of tours/topics and they're all normally given by licensed battlefield guides.

 

[MRB1863]

I have read several posts about excursions to Gettysburg that give me the impression there are tours that allow you to get down onto the battlefield grounds. It has been years since I have been there and if they allow it I would love to get an "up close and personal" type tour that would be connected with a thesis paper I am writing. Any suggestions, contacts and advice would be greatly welcome.
Thanks

Bob

Members of the forum are planning a CWT trip to Gettysburg Saturday, June 13th. Eric Wittenberg has offered to present one of his programs that day for us. His presentation is sure to be chocked full of good information (as his books are)!!! You are most welcome to join us! The trip is sure to be informative, fun and a great opportunity to meet fellow CWT members. For more information and to comment, visit the thread here in our forum: http://civilwartalk.com/threads/any-cwt-members-interested-in-a-trip-to-gettysburg

 

[timk]

It's a lot of fun, in my book, to be on the battlefield in some of the more remote areas.

Absolutely! Off the beaten path - someplace where you can feel the ground talk to you.

 

[ole]

Great info, just what I was hoping to hear. I am primarily interested in the second day of the battle; 3rd corps , Devils Den, Wheatfield, and Little Round Top areas. I'll drag my sons along with me ... they love a good hike.

How old are the sons and how strong is your heart? Boys love to clamber on rocks and it is best if you don't watch.

Meanwhile, what Pam said. You can get a personal tour tailored to your interest, for a price. Or you can just buy that guy's maps (a really good deal, by the way) and do your own. Depends on your dedication and bank account. (And a place to put those danged maps.)

 

[cash]

How old are the sons and how strong is your heart? Boys love to clamber on rocks and it is best if you don't watch.

Meanwhile, what Pam said. You can get a personal tour tailored to your interest, for a price. Or you can just buy that guy's maps (a really good deal, by the way) and do your own. Depends on your dedication and bank account. (And a place to put those danged maps.)

Kids need to be supervised. A girl fell off a boulder last year and had to be medevaced.

 

[ole]

Kids need to be supervised. A girl fell off a boulder last year and had to be medevaced.

Goes with the territory, Cash. If you're going to take two boys into Devil's Dean, you have to be there.

Personally, kids doing dangerous things drive me nuts. Your kids, my kids, anyone's kids. And yes, supervise. It's why I recommended having a strong heart.

Just where does one draw the line when interfering with fun? Was just warning 406591 that rock-climbing is irresistible in the youngers and frankly risky. It is not a place to let them run wild.

 

[Just Jim]

Bob,
These can get you started and see what the Ranger Tours and Walks are like:

 

[4065921]

How old are the sons and how strong is your heart? Boys love to clamber on rocks and it is best if you don't watch.

Meanwhile, what Pam said. You can get a personal tour tailored to your interest, for a price. Or you can just buy that guy's maps (a really good deal, by the way) and do your own. Depends on your dedication and bank account. (And a place to put those danged maps.)

My sons are both in their 30's, I have 2 grandson's 3 and 5 that bear watching ... a lot of watching.

The personal tour is what I am looking for ... tailored more towards to my research.

 

[4065921]

Members of the forum are planning a CWT trip to Gettysburg Saturday, June 13th. Eric Wittenberg has offered to present one of his programs that day for us. His presentation is sure to be chocked full of good information (as his books are)!!! You are most welcome to join us! The trip is sure to be informative, fun and a great opportunity to meet fellow CWT members. For more information and to comment, visit the thread here in our forum: http://civilwartalk.com/threads/any-cwt-members-interested-in-a-trip-to-gettysburg

I may take you up on that, thanks for the invite.

 

[4065921]

Goes with the territory, Cash. If you're going to take two boys into Devil's Dean, you have to be there.

Personally, kids doing dangerous things drive me nuts. Your kids, my kids, anyone's kids. And yes, supervise. It's why I recommended having a strong heart.

Just where does one draw the line when interfering with fun? Was just warning 406591 that rock-climbing is irresistible in the youngers and frankly risky. It is not a place to let them run wild.

Which is the reason I would take my sons 30 and 32, they are not necessarily history buffs but they will pretty much follow me anywhere.

 

[ole]

Which is the reason I would take my sons 30 and 32, they are not necessarily history buffs but they will pretty much follow me anywhere.

In that case, I suspect they have learned some good sense from you.

 

[4065921]

In that case, I suspect they have learned some good sense from you.

Well perhaps I should add "they will follow my anywhere ... as long as I pay for it."

 

[kholland]

My sons are both in their 30's, I have 2 grandson's 3 and 5 that bear watching ... a lot of watching.

The personal tour is what I am looking for ... tailored more towards to my research.

Here is a site I have gone to for a few years. At the bottom of the page are tours of various aspects of the battle in short videos along with maps for reference. That should give you a feel for the battlefield.
http://www.gettysburgdaily.com/battlefield-guides

 

[lelliott19]

The personal tour is what I am looking for ... tailored more towards to my research.

If a personalized "live" tour is what you're after, you can check out this website http://www.gettysburgtourguides.org/ Choose a licensed battlefield guide from the list and make specific arrangements for him/her to tailor the tour to your specific areas of research. The guide will drive your car for you so you can concentrate on the tour. You could also email the reservations link and ask who would be best for the tour you are wanting. They will know the best guide to lead your tour.

Some of them can even do a specific tour "off the cuff." My husband and I went a couple of years ago and made an appointment through the visitor center. When we met our assigned guide at the appointed time, we told him what we wanted and he delivered.

However if you want specific content, Id suggest making arrangements ahead of time. They really are very knowledgeable and professional but making arrangements ahead will allow whoever the guide is to brush up on the specifics.

 

[4065921]

Thanks to all for all the great information, tips, links and video's ... it will be put to good use.

Bob