What makes an exceptional Battlefield ?

[J C J Barefoot]

Am I the only one that usually skips the visitor centers? I tended to find they are geared towards the person that knows nothing to very little about the battlefield. I do usually step in and talk to the ranger at the desk and get a map and then i'm out the door.

For most posters that follow CWT they can be simplistic. Most of them are weak. Yet, some are highly helpful for someone just digging into the the ACW. Look at a VC from the view of The good ones offer vivid hour by hour timeline , maps, and even a 3D model-- or a good film overview. Gettysburg is a class act with on site lectures, and the cyclorama. Saylers Creek is very good for it's detailed time line of the the retreat from Petersburg. Antietam is exceptional for the opening presentation by the park guides over looking the slopes.

 

[Zakk]

Am I the only one that usually skips the visitor centers? I tended to find they are geared towards the person that knows nothing to very little about the battlefield. I do usually step in and talk to the ranger at the desk and get a map and then i'm out the door.

Sometimes. I find that the videos definitely cater to casual visitors -- plus I can usually find the video online and watch it from home instead of spending valuable trip time watching it.

As to the thread subject, I agree with Orientation and Preservation, in that order. For some reason I couldn't orient myself properly at Chickamauga and therefore felt like I didn't get much out of it other than seeing a bunch of monuments. I thought Shiloh was great due to color-coded signage that made it easy to follow. So Orientation is definitely a winner for me.

 

[dhh712]

Am I the only one that usually skips the visitor centers? I tended to find they are geared towards the person that knows nothing to very little about the battlefield. I do usually step in and talk to the ranger at the desk and get a map and then i'm out the door.

I usually do not go to them as well. Typically, especially for a first visit, I'll have a guidebook with me (or a couple).

As to the thread subject, I agree with Orientation and Preservation, in that order. For some reason I couldn't orient myself properly at Chickamauga and therefore felt like I didn't get much out of it other than seeing a bunch of monuments.

It took me a while to get straightened out at Chickamauga too. The last time I was there I had it down fairly well, but then its been a good like 7 or 8 years since I've been there so now when I look at the maps I'm getting confused again about who was where and when. I'm really trying to set up a visit there next fall since I've been dying to go back there for a good 5 years now.