An excellent train ride

A new venue has opened in New Freedom, PA, called Steam Into History.  The ticket office is freshly painted and interesting inside.  The train itself has a brand new locomotive created in the style of the 1860's engine with three passenger cars--one of which is an open air car.  While on the ride there was a lady in period attire to discuss what happened to the civilians during the battle of Gettysburg.  The train ride lasted for 2 1/2 hours through very pleasant countryside.  You can check out their schedule for train rides and the different first person interpreters or the musicians who will be on board for train rides at steamintohistory.com

I talked with one of the volunteers about when this project was first started, but he was too new to have all the information.  I was amazed at how complete everything was from the buildings with their fresh paint and new displays to the excellent condition of the railroad cars, especially since they just opened in June of this year.  All in all a very pleasant afternoon.  Just one word of advice--bring along some bottled juice or water for the ride--I was so thirsty by the time we got to Hanover Junction, and the line for the ice cream truck was too much for me to be standing out in the heat.

Remembering another big anniversary

In the art gallery at the Majestic Theater there is currently a display of photographs showing the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.  There were many scenes of old enemies gathering now as comrades.  These photos will be on display until early December.  I only hope more people can be made aware of them.

Mater has been found!

For weeks I have seen a truck sitting in an empty lot, and then suddenly it was gone.  A couple days later I again saw it in front of a towing company garage all decked out and looking a whole lot like Mater from Cars.
Just be aware Mater is happy advertising for this local towing company in Littlestown, PA.

New museum opens in Gettysburg

A new museum, the Seminary Ridge Museum, opened in Gettysburg on July 1.  This opening was in conjunction with the 150th celebration of the Battle of Gettysburg.

The museum building was a part of the Lutheran Seminary.  And, it was up in the cupola that Brig General Buford surveyed the area before the Battle of Gettysburg.  The building has been restored, and the exhibits showcase how the building was being used as a hospital during the battle.  Many of the rooms are decorated with enlarged paintings by Dale Gallon.  There are interactive things to do.  The one I enjoyed the most was where you could sit down at a screen and go through a series of questions to see how you might handle a situation--such as, If you were a Quaker, and found a slave hiding in your barn, what would you do?  You go through a series of questions about the scenario, and then they tell you who this actually happened to and what that person did.  There are also a number of rooms that are decorated to look like they did when used as a hospital.  There has been a great deal of attention taken in putting these rooms together--right down to seeing flies on the faces of some of the sleeping men.

This museum is open from 10AM to 5PM, and they will let people enter up until 4:30PM.  However, a half hour could never be enough time to see all this museum has to offer.  When visiting, you would want to have at least 1 1/2 hours to enjoy all four floors.  Also, for an extra charge, you can be taken on a special tour to the cupola and get a wonderful view of the entire area just like General Buford.  If, however, you don't have the nerve--like me--to climb all the way up there, there is a display with photographs showing you the 360 degree view from the cupola.

Another interesting note is that as you go from room to room, you will occasionally find a light gray stripe of paint on the floor at times.  These indicate where a wall used to be.  In many cases as you enter a room through an archway, you will find a door to your left and a door on your right with fireplaces at either end of the room.  But when you see the paint marks on the floor, you then realize you have entered an area that was formerly two students rooms.  A unique use of space.

I feel this museum has been very well done and well worth the admission.

The 150th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Gettysburg

 The battle scene on Friday was all cavalry.  Seeing several hundred troops on horseback getting into the fight was really something.  You can see how big the crowds were by looking at how full the grandstands were in the background of this picture.

 

I sat and talked with some of the ladies of the Dixie Rose Aide Society.

 

 

I was also glad to be able to sit in the shade on a bale of hay to listen to the 2nd South Carolina String Band play Civil War music.

 

The heat was extreme all day long.  The only way I was able to stay out there for over six hours to enjoy the encampments and lectures on fashions, spies and the Generals of the North was because I had taken with me a six pack of Gatorade.  By the time I left I had consumed 5 of the bottles and never had to go to the bathroom.  Ok,  a little too much information.  Then when it was time to leave I could hardly walk any further.  A very kind person who was riding around in a golf cart got me to the entrance gate, and then another person with a golf cart helped me to get across the road to the particular parking area where I had left my car.  Thank heavens that person helped me.  Even though I remembered the green flag with the letter "D" below it was my area and I had parked in the third row back, I still had difficulty in finding my car.  If I had been on foot, I know I would have sat down in the grass and just cried from the heat and frustration.  Anyway, I am glad I attended this event; but I was so tired by the time I got home, I probably looked like the man below.

 

A rededication of the National Soldiers Cemetery in Gettysburg

For a part of the 150th celebration of the Battle of Gettysburg, there was a rededication of the National Soldiers Cemetery.  A military band played before the ceremonies for a while along with a female vocalist.  One of the keynote speakers was Charles Gibson.

Then there was a slide presentation on the big screens while individuals on stage read quotes from soldiers and civilians.

I left a little early and headed toward the cemetery.  Every grave there had a flag and a lite candle.  I was glad I got there when I did as the sun was setting quickly, and I had just enough time to get a couple of pictures before it was too dark.

People moved about the cemetery and spoke in hushed voices.  The entire evening was truly inspiring.

There is a new exhibit at the Gettysburg Military Park and Visitors Center.  On display at this time are articles used by a number of famous individuals.

Pictured left is the saddle that General Reynolds was riding when he was killed at the beginning of the battle of Gettysburg.

And, below is the uniform and hat worn by General Meade.

Other important articles on display were owned by Clara Barton, General Grant, President Lincoln and others.  This new addition to the museum was very interesting.