Do you search along the roads for history? Do you seek out places where you can learn about the difficulties and sadness brought upon families who were struggling to start a new life of freedom and happiness in their often adopted country? If you travel with my dh you will get to see everything related to the history of this great country, and then some! Or, as traveling granddaughter Jasmin said, "not another battlefield granddad, please"!!!!
After visiting the battlefield in Fredericksburg, VA on the way to Washington, D.C., this road trip of 1,100 miles included a stop on our return journey to North Carolina in Gettysburg, PA. Founded in 1786, it was the site of the terrible three day Civil War Battle in July 1863.
Below, the historic Gettysburg Railway Station ~ President Abraham Lincoln arrived here on November 18, 1863 to dedicate the national cemetery.
Walking along the streets of this historic town, many of the old buildings had characteristics which caught my eye ~ this magnificent iron porch railing and matching decorative ends being my favorite.
As the house is so old - well here in the USA it is as we are still a young country - I can imagine this intricate ironwork would create another Gettysburg battle if ever up for sale! Can't you just see people frantically bidding on it at auction?
Looking toward Devil's Den on the Gettysburg Battlefield from Little Round Top
An important stop for us during the battlefield tour was here at the North Carolina State Monument on Seminary Ridge. This cast bronze sculpture is an impressive design by Gutzon Borglum, the Danish-American artist sculptor most famous for creating the monumental presidents' heads at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota.
With dramatic flair, Borglum made arrangements for an airplane to fly over the monument during the dedication ceremony on July 3, 1929, and during the unveiling, the plane scattered roses across the field as a salute to those many North Carolinians who had fought and died at Gettysburg.
My next post will conclude our trip and show some "sweeter" moments where the only battle was for chocolate and antiquities to bring home.
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Welcome home, my Mary!
ReplyDeleteI love learning about historical happenings that took place in areas where we travel...however, those interstates seem to cut out a lot of what I could see, especially when I have a husband who wants to get from point A to point B as the crow flies. I don't like interstates!
Can't wait to see what you brought home.
Love ya!'
Deborah
Mary,
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing tour you are taking us on. Like you, I find the social history of an area just as interesting as it's political history, more so in many cases as it brings history to life often in a very emotional way. The wrought ironwork on the railings is stunning and brings to mind the old buildings in the war torn area of Nicosia in Cyprus. In the part they call, "No man's Land" which marks the dividing line between the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus and the Cypriot side, the buildings are just as they were in 1974 when the war was taking place. The elegant buildings with their top storey balconies of gently bowed and entwined wrought ironwork stand battle scarred with bullet holes and peeling plaster work. The wooden shutters with their faded blue and green paintwork stand open revealing large, spacious and stately rooms empty for over 30 years. It is here you can see beautiful doors, wonderful door knockers and large locks for the chatelaine's key :>)
I look forward to joining you on the remainder of your tour soon.
Hugs, Angela
You were in my neck of the country here. I grew up at 45 minutes from there and live about 2 hours away now. Sounds like our husbands would have a lot in common. :-) Rosie
ReplyDeleteThe pictures that you got are wonderful! I love the iron gates as well!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite places to go! We have been as a family and had a wonderful time! What a wonderful way to truly appreciate the trials that our country has experienced. After a long day of sightseeing we headed over to a wonderful little cafe that looked very inviting. It was absolutely delicious and was also reasonably priced! It was called The Avenue Restaurant and was on 21 Steinwehr Avenue in the historical district of Gettysburg. I do hope that you happened to find this little gem!
The pictures that you got are wonderful! I love the iron gates as well!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite places to go! We have been as a family and had a wonderful time! What a wonderful way to truly appreciate the trials that our country has experienced. After a long day of sightseeing we headed over to a wonderful little cafe that looked very inviting. It was absolutely delicious and was also reasonably priced! It was called The Avenue Restaurant and was on 21 Steinwehr Avenue in the historical district of Gettysburg. I do hope that you happened to find this little gem!
Yes, I love doing the same thing.
ReplyDeleteHistory is a wonderful thing.
I love old historic places and buildings.
Thanks for sharing,
Rosemary
Mary, as always, your pictures and narrative make me feel like I am along with you.
ReplyDeleteWe, too, have visited those places you share. My husband made a point of seeing the NC monument.
And, I think from your tease for next time, we soothed our tooth at the same place.
We all so visited sites of interest in Lancaster County on the same trip.
Oh Mary, I really like Gettysburg. We stayed in a B&B and really enjoyed our time there.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to take a ghost walk, but so far I have not.
Harpers Ferry is another great place to visit for civil war.
I love iron gates and fences Mary. This is really beautiful. We have an old salvage monger here near us where we got the vintage gate we made into a headboard for our bed. They have many vintage and antique iron work but they have very modern and high prices. We were shocked at how much things cost now in Holland. I adore David Dickinson who was a big name on the BBC for antiques but he has made sure people know what they have too.
ReplyDeleteHumm...a battle for chocolate and antiquities is a real battle indeed. I can't wait to see the photos.
Hugs ~
Heidi
Your Gettysburg pictures are great. Thanks for posting. We stopped there a few years back on the way to visit our daughter who is finishing up grad school in Philly. There was something about the place...you can almost feel the agony of the horrendous battle.
ReplyDeleteLove this post, Mary! I know this would be something J and I would enjoy seeing. We toured Cowpens, in North Carolina, three years ago. My ancestor fought there during the Revolution. It was eery, walking the battlefield and thinking about what had happened there.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this and I'm looking forward to more!
Pat
Great pictures Mary. Love the one of the ironwork! I'm looking forward to the chocolate and antiquities!!
ReplyDeletemanuela
Dan, Kristen and I drove up to Gettsyburg one day when we were visiting DC. All three of us were profoundly affected by the presence of "something" we felt at the battlefield.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had had time to visit the town as well but we had to hurry back to DC.
You are right---what a spectacular iron porch railing. Your trip sounds just heavenly.
ReplyDelete