Harrisburg - Civil War Museum (Gettysburg: houses, office, trees)

[megabyte]

Originally Posted by susquehannock

Your son will love Gettysburg and I wish him all the best. It's great to read that some young minds are still capable of thinking for themselves instead of the nanny state doing it for them. The Antietam Battlefield is only about 30 miles south of Gettysburg. He'll be in history buff nirvana.

Seeing the battlefield (with museums near by) is far better than seeing just a museum. Gettysburg is something every american should see especially devils den and the suicide march across the meadows at the main point of attack on the last day of the battle. I have walked it many times to walk it under fire (more than a mile) is just courageous.

[susquehannock]

Originally Posted by megabyte

One good thing about the museum is it isnt crowded.

I wonder why?

[susquehannock]

Originally Posted by megabyte

Seeing the battlefield (with museums near by) is far better than seeing just a museum. Gettysburg is something every american should see especially devils den and the suicide march across the meadows at the main point of attack on the last day of the battle. I have walked it many times to walk it under fire (more than a mile) is just courageous.

I took a college class on Gettysburg about 10 years ago and we went down on a bus trip.

Many on the bus had never walked the field before. People were crying when they realized what those soldiers went through including grown men. You can see the cannon on Cemetery Ridge staring you down. You can feel it when walking the mile across the open field. It's a real experience.

Personally, I prefer the battlefield over the museums too. Culp's Hill is generally quiet and a nice place to visit on a crowded day. I don't know what causes it, but there seems to be a large magnet that draws me to the battlefield. I have a very difficult time resiting the urge when it strikes.

I'm still hoping to run into Ed Bearss some day. That guy is great but he's really getting up in age.

[megabyte]

Originally Posted by susquehannock

I wonder why?

A number of reasons bad location (its in a warehouse urban area). No tours or educated historians. Bad items most people who would want to visit the museum many times know most of the items are fake. I would highly suggest taking a day trip to Gettysburg its not that far and its a once in a lifetime historical museum.

[megabyte]

Originally Posted by susquehannock

I took a college class on Gettysburg about 10 years ago and we went down on a bus trip.

Many on the bus had never walked the field before. People were crying when they realized what those soldiers went through including grown men. You can see the cannon on Cemetery Ridge staring you down. You can feel it when walking the mile across the open field. It's a real experience.

Personally, I prefer the battlefield over the museums too. Culp's Hill is generally quiet and a nice place to visit on a crowded day. I don't know what causes it, but there seems to be a large magnet that draws me to the battlefield. I have a very difficult time resiting the urge when it strikes.

I'm still hoping to run into Ed Bearss some day. That guy is great but he's really getting up in age.

I also like culps hill did you know about the maiden at the springs? The little hut that hold the springs is part of the haunted gettysburg tours. Located within the union lines near the start of the hill looking south towards the inside of the fishhook. At night you can take a haunted tour of the battlefield even in the town. Nice dinner nice candlestick walk throughout the town. Great experience.

[susquehannock]

At one time Spangler Springs was functional for visitors and the local folks. They had an dipper to dip the water out of the spring. After awhile they realized unsanitary conditions resulted and replaced the dipper with paper cups. Now it's sealed and has been for a long time.

The wife and I have also been on several of the walks. They also have a program in the basement of the Farnsworth House that we attended.

[megabyte]

Originally Posted by susquehannock

At one time Spangler Springs was functional for visitors and the local folks. They had an dipper to dip the water out of the spring. After awhile they realized unsanitary conditions resulted and replaced the dipper with paper cups. Now it's sealed and has been for a long time.

The wife and I have also been on several of the walks. They also have a program in the basement of the Farnsworth House that we attended.

Yes I remember seeing a postcard of the springs before that concrete tomb was placed over it. Isnt the Fansworth house the house where a union soldier was buried alive (on the cold barn floor) under dead bodies? This was a feature on TV right? One of those history channel haunted shows right?
Really spooky to visit the orchard and places between west of the Devil Den near twilight. To walk the distance between Big roundtop and little roundtop with all those southern boys mowed down in the small valley.

[susquehannock]

The Farnsworth House is on the main street on the southern end of town, just about a half of a block north of where Steinwerher Ave.(Emmitsburg Road) and the Taneytown Road intersects. It's where southern sharpshooters hid in the attic and took shots at the union troops on Cemetery Hill. That is where the shot that killed Jenny Wade supposedly came from. The Farnsworth House is still full of bullet marks.

The barn you mentioned is on the NW side of town where the first day's battle took place. I'm not exactly sure which barn it was, but I remember seeing the story. It could have been McPherson's barn but I'm not sure. It may not even exist any longer.

They're doing a lot of work in the area you mentioned. The Peach Orchard has been replanted to the original size during the battle and they have been clearing a lot of trees in the Slaughter Pen area.

[Icy Tea]

Have they stopped that insane proposal to bring slots parlors to Gettysburg?

[michiganmoon]

Originally Posted by Icy Tea

Have they stopped that insane proposal to bring slots parlors to Gettysburg?

Yes they did, at least for now.