May 2016

The Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania has a large museum that explains the events of the three day battle in detail.  After the battle the residents were left with having to help to bury the dead and help care for the wounded.  You can tour the battlefield in your car or bicycle. 

     Rangers give talks at various locations through the park during the day.  I went on a Ranger led hike from the Visitor Center to the Cemetery Ridge.  I also toured the battlefield on my bike.  There are four observation towers along the battlefield.  On Culp's Hill is a 95 step tower.  At Warfield Ridge where the confederates were, there is a 121 step tower.  When you look east you see Cemetery Ridge (Union Line).  When you look west you see President Eisenhower's home and barn.  There is a 40 step tower at Oak Ridge.

     The battlefield has hundreds of monuments honoring each regiment.  The largest monument is the Pennsylvania Monument honoring all Pennsylvania soldiers.  It has a 60 steps inside the monument you can climb to the top.  I climbed all the towers.

     Pennsylvania Monument