Visiting Gettysburg In A Few Weeks

[Moonshiner]

In a few short weeks I'll be making my first visit to Gettysburg plus the surrounding battlefields at Antietam, Bull Run, South Mountain and Monocacy plus what ever else I can fit in.

I had a question about Gettysburg - Is the park open after dark?

I would think finding a nice place to sit and reflect in the shade of darkness would be good for the soul.

If it is, where would you suggest I do this?

 

[Gandycreek]

The park is open until 10pm this time of year.

 

[Mary763]

The signs state that the park is open until 10pm during this time of year.
As for somewhere to sit - there's Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, Devil's Den, and other nice stops. You may just want to drive the route and stop at what feels right to you.

Enjoy! I was just there last weekend!

 

[Moonshiner]

This is a bucket list trip so I am extremely excited.

 

[theoldman]

My suggestions would be, in no particular order, LRT, the Angle, Lee's statue. As someone has already mentioned, you will feel the spot that is right for you. I am certain you will enjoy the visit and probably leave with plans to return.

 

[cash]

In a few short weeks I'll be making my first visit to Gettysburg plus the surrounding battlefields at Antietam, Bull Run, South Mountain and Monocacy plus what ever else I can fit in.

I had a question about Gettysburg - Is the park open after dark?

I would think finding a nice place to sit and reflect in the shade of darkness would be good for the soul.

If it is, where would you suggest I do this?

The park is open until 10PM. See here. If you want to sit at night, my recommendation would be at the GAR monument on Cemetery Ridge at Ziegler's Grove. It has two benches which will make your sitting more comfortable. Another spot is at the High Water Mark. There are a couple benches there, too. Both are easy to get to with parking spots right near them, and it's easy to leave the park from them. I prefer the GAR monument because if you can see anything [perhaps there's enough moonlight], you can look out across the Pickett's Charge field. At the High Water Mark you are looking in the opposite direction. Another possibility is the Peace Light Memorial at Oak Hill. Plenty of places to sit, and it overlooks the whole first day field. Those options keep you from sitting on the ground where you will pick up ticks or other bug-type pests.

 

[Mary763]

My suggestions would be, in no particular order, LRT, the Angle, Lee's statue. As someone has already mentioned, you will feel the spot that is right for you. I am certain you will enjoy the visit and probably leave with plans to return.

I forgot about the Angle! Good one!

 

[E_just_E]

In a few short weeks I'll be making my first visit to Gettysburg plus the surrounding battlefields at Antietam, Bull Run, South Mountain and Monocacy plus what ever else I can fit in.

A word of caution: Gettysburg and these MD/VA battlefields are not that close. You minimally want to spend an afternoon and evening at Gettysburg and stay overnight there. Minimally. And think at least a day to get to Antietam and then Bull Run and a day each, that's 5. You are looking for a week's investment.

Sitting and reflecting in darkness. I would suggest 4 places (ranked easiest to hardest and most crowded to least crowded, and for the last 2, you'd need a light source to make it back safe) :

- the angle looking west
- top of little round top looking west
- top of big round top looking northwest
- top of the observation tower by the Longstreet monument looking east

 

[Moonshiner]

Thanks to each of you for the great suggestions!

Did anyone "feel" differently being there in the evening as compared to the light of the sun? I've heard stories that you get a different perspective.

 

[Moonshiner]

A word of caution: Gettysburg and these MD/VA battlefields are not that close. You minimally want to spend an afternoon and evening at Gettysburg and stay overnight there. Minimally. And think at least a day to get to Antietam and then Bull Run and a day each, that's 5. You are looking for a week's investment.

Sitting and reflecting in darkness. I would suggest 4 places (ranked easiest to hardest and most crowded to least crowded, and for the last 2, you'd need a light source to make it back safe) :

- the angle looking west
- top of little round top looking west
- top of big round top looking northwest
- top of the observation tower by the Longstreet monument looking east

Thanks for the suggestions. We are actually staying in a central location - Frederick, Maryland to make our travels easier.

 

[ole]

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[E_just_E]

Thanks to each of you for the great suggestions!

Did anyone "feel" differently being there in the evening as compared to the light of the sun? I've heard stories that you get a different perspective.

Different? Not sure I can answer that. I have been there many times and throughout the seasons and day and night. I am just open and try to "listen" and feel. And in my olden age I am trying to calculate stuff and figure out why, but listening and feeling is a better way to go...

 

[LittleGuy1864]

Thanks to each of you for the great suggestions!

Did anyone "feel" differently being there in the evening as compared to the light of the sun? I've heard stories that you get a different perspective.

Like E_just_E said, I too, have been there during all the seasons and all times of the day, and each time my experience has been different. I guess for me it depends on the weather, how many people there are around me, location on the battlefield etc. to have that certain "moment." I have to say, that on each trip I've taken up there, I always have that "moment" though, it never fails.

I'll be heading back up in a few weeks myself, as I have to go a pick up my new John Paul Strain Canvas Giclées . Enjoy your trip!

Rebecca

 

[MRB1863]

In a few short weeks I'll be making my first visit to Gettysburg plus the surrounding battlefields at Antietam, Bull Run, South Mountain and Monocacy plus what ever else I can fit in.

I had a question about Gettysburg - Is the park open after dark?

I would think finding a nice place to sit and reflect in the shade of darkness would be good for the soul.

If it is, where would you suggest I do this?

To sit atop of Little Round Top or Devil's Den at twilight is magical. What days are you going? Have you considered our forum group trip on June 13th? Everyone here's invited! Thread here: http://civilwartalk.com/threads/any-cwt-members-interested-in-a-trip-to-gettysburg

 

[Moonshiner]

Like E_just_E said, I too, have been there during all the seasons and all times of the day, and each time my experience has been different. I guess for me it depends on the weather, how many people there are around me, location on the battlefield etc. to have that certain "moment." I have to say, that on each trip I've taken up there, I always have that "moment" though, it never fails.

I'll be heading back up in a few weeks myself, as I have to go a pick up my new John Paul Strain Canvas Giclées . Enjoy your trip!

Rebecca

I want several of "those moments!"

To sit atop of Little Round Top or Devil's Den at twilight is magical. What days are you going? Have you considered our forum group trip on June 13th? Everyone here's invited! Thread here: http://civilwartalk.com/threads/any-cwt-members-interested-in-a-trip-to-gettysburg

Can't make those dates, shoot, it took 50 years to make the ones I have planned .... Hahahaha

 

[tonijustine]

Hey Moonshiner,

LRT can be tough to hit without anyone else there, but it has happened to me once. And you may have better luck going later in the day.

On a different note, and not to hijack the thread, I was just in the area (got home yesterday) and wanted to share some logistical insight.

I stayed outside of Dulles, about 25 minutes northeast of Bull Run. And from that location, I went up to Frederick and hit Antietam and Harper's Ferry. The good thing was that I was going against rush hour traffic as I travelled. I took VA 7 to US 15 up to Frederick. US 15 is a two lane road, and every time I went north (in the morning), I passed a solid line of south-bound traffic for miles. I am talking like 7 or 8 miles. They were moving, but pretty slowly. Just something to consider as if you are staying in Frederick and heading to Bull Run you may be told by Google Maps to take that road. It is nice and scenic and an easy drive, but I would consider an alternate route if going southbound in the morning (though this route does take you by the Balls Bluff Battlefield and over the Potomac at Point of Rocks).

 

[Moonshiner]

Hey Moonshiner,

LRT can be tough to hit without anyone else there, but it has happened to me once. And you may have better luck going later in the day.

On a different note, and not to hijack the thread, I was just in the area (got home yesterday) and wanted to share some logistical insight.

I stayed outside of Dulles, about 25 minutes northeast of Bull Run. And from that location, I went up to Frederick and hit Antietam and Harper's Ferry. The good thing was that I was going against rush hour traffic as I travelled. I took VA 7 to US 15 up to Frederick. US 15 is a two lane road, and every time I went north (in the morning), I passed a solid line of south-bound traffic for miles. I am talking like 7 or 8 miles. They were moving, but pretty slowly. Just something to consider as if you are staying in Frederick and heading to Bull Run you may be told by Google Maps to take that road. It is nice and scenic and an easy drive, but I would consider an alternate route if going southbound in the morning (though this route does take you by the Balls Bluff Battlefield and over the Potomac at Point of Rocks).

Thanks for the travel tips! I will certainly put that advice to good use

 

[tonijustine]

Have you looked into the podcasts at www.civilwartraveler.com? They have driving tours for Monocacy and South Mountain (I've done both and both were good, but the directions on the South Mountain tour were a bit sketchy...or it could have been me) and hiking tours for Antietam, Bull Run and Gettysburg. I can't speak to the quality of the tours for the latter two, but I have done four of their Antietam hikes (I think all they have) and they have been excellent. I just completed the Final Attack hike, and have previously done The Cornfield, Sunken Road and Burnside's Bridge.

 

[Moonshiner]

I do have a driving tour CD made by Travel Brains to use for Gettysburg, and we may even do a tour bus just to get a "lay of the land" first.

I'm not too keen on how podcasts work. Can they be downloaded and burned to a CD?

 

[tonijustine]

I would assume so. That should work for the two driving tours, certainly. It would also work for the walking tours if you had a portable CD player. Do you have a smart phone?