The Gettysburg National Reenactment

[ringoblood]

Hey guys and Mrs.Wargamer, as you all know I love the American Civil War. For the past 12 yrs my buddies and I have been going to the largest war reenactment in North America. That would be the Gettysburg Reenactment. Every year, 30,000 Reenactors come here to Pennsylvania the First weekend of July to honor the turning point of the American Civil War.

Now my friends and I we order our tickets 10 months in advance and just forget about reserving a hotel, we just get a camp ground and and bring the RV. If your interested in tickets PM me and I will send you the website to order. As of the 3/15/2018, there were still tickets for sale.

Josh

[JReb]

Wish I could make it. Loved visiting there before. Wonderful experience. When you stand where the Union forces were and look out across the field where Pickett made his charge....I thought at the time, man that was a LONG way to run under heavy fire! Definitely gave me a new appreciation for some of the things I read about in books.

Love Pennsylvania too. Great people! Take pics if you can and post them here.

Did they ever take that observation tower down? I personally loved it but a lot of folks thought it detracted from the scenery too much.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: JReb

Wish I could make it. Loved visiting there before. Wonderful experience. When you stand where the Union forces were and look out across the field where Pickett made his charge....I thought at the time, man that was a LONG way to run under heavy fire! Definitely gave me a new appreciation for some of the things I read about in books.

Love Pennsylvania too. Great people! Take pics if you can and post them here.

Did they ever take that observation tower down? I personally loved it but a lot of folks thought it detracted from the scenery too much.

I lived in Pennsylvania from 1995-2000, visiting Gettysburg on July 4, 1995 or 1996. Quite the hullabaloo there that week. While the battlefield and monuments were befitting and thoughtfully placed and cared for, the surrounding town of Gettysburg that abuts the battlefield was appalling.

In particular, near the site of Picket's charge-where hundreds of Americans gray and blue alike were maimed or killed fighting over an open field-sat a cheesy strip mall. This classless joint was crowned by a buffet-style restaurant named "Picket's buffet". I kid you not.

The town and surrounds reek of commercialism in the worst sense. While the battlefield is a worthwhile trip and visit, the town and area surrounding it is worthy of contempt.

[JReb]

"The town and surrounds reek of commercialism in the worst sense. While the battlefield is a worthwhile trip and visit, the town and area surrounding it is worthy of contempt."

Absolutely agree. Too much a tourist trap. Still the battlefield is an enjoyable trip for anyone who enjoys that period of history.

[pz501]

I live in Chambersburg, which is not too far (25-26 miles) away, and also figured in the Gettysburg Campaign.

It is true what you say about the over commercialization of the Gettysburg area, and (especially) the town itself where everything is "Battlefield" this or that, and prices are high.

However, much has been done to clean up the area around the Battlefield proper, both by the Local and Federal governments. For instance, the strip mall mentioned in post #2 is not visible anymore from any part of the battlefield. I've been to Gettysburg plenty of times, up on Cemetery Ridge more than once, and have walked Pickett's Charge. Nothing destroys the view or sightlines anymore. If there is a "Pickett's Buffet", it's either moved, or is no longer visible - I would have noticed, and would have also been as disgusted.

The eyesore Observation Tower was taken down in the summer of 2000, and good riddance!

The US Park Service has done a wonderful job restoring the Battlefield to it's 1863 appearance (as much as they can - some areas are still private property, and there are budget issues). The Local Government has tried to help also, but hasn't been as successful in all areas. (At one time both entering and leaving Gettysburg, one would have sworn Lee won the battle, based on the amount of Confederate Flags on display....that has been reduced a lot - the Local Government encouraged this.)

All in all, there is a big difference now compared to 1995-2000. Not as "cheesy", but there's still work to be done.

EDIT: I stand corrected! "Pickett's Buffet" is still there, located just on the SW edge of Gettysburg, where Route 15 (Emmitsburg Road) exits the built up area. It can't be clearly seen from Cemetery Ridge (at least from The Angle or The Clump of Trees) anymore because of the work the Park Service has done with the terrain restoration. My apologies for making it sound as though you were wrong.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: pz501

I live in Chambersburg, which is not too far (25-26 miles) away, and also figured in the Gettysburg Campaign.

It is true what you say about the over commercialization of the Gettysburg area, and (especially) the town itself where everything is "Battlefield" this or that, and prices are high.

However, much has been done to clean up the area around the Battlefield proper, both by the Local and Federal governments. For instance, the strip mall mentioned in post #2 is not visible anymore from any part of the battlefield. I've been to Gettysburg plenty of times, up on Cemetery Ridge more than once, and have walked Pickett's Charge. Nothing destroys the view or sightlines anymore. If there is a "Pickett's Buffet", it's either moved, or is no longer visible - I would have noticed, and would have also been as disgusted.

The eyesore Observation Tower was taken down in the summer of 2000, and good riddance!

The US Park Service has done a wonderful job restoring the Battlefield to it's 1863 appearance (as much as they can - some areas are still private property, and there are budget issues). The Local Government has tried to help also, but hasn't been as successful in all areas. (At one time both entering and leaving Gettysburg, one would have sworn Lee won the battle, based on the amount of Confederate Flags on display....that has been reduced a lot - the Local Government encouraged this.)

All in all, there is a big difference now compared to 1995-2000. Not as "cheesy", but there's still work to be done.

EDIT: I stand corrected! "Pickett's Buffet" is still there, located just on the SW edge of Gettysburg, where Route 15 (Emmitsburg Road) exits the built up area. It can't be clearly seen from Cemetery Ridge (at least from The Angle or The Clump of Trees) anymore because of the work the Park Service has done with the terrain restoration. My apologies for making it sound as though you were wrong.

No worries. You had me hopeful for a moment that sanity, decorum and respect for our historical traditions had overcome latent greed and debasement. Apparently, there's still work to be done. [:-]

[elmo3]

Visited the battlefield with the family many years ago, before the buffet thankfully. An amazing place and I hope every effort is made to preserve it. I don't think some other battlefields have been as lucky, but can't recall which ones off hand.

Developers can't stand the sight of a bare piece of ground, even an historical landmark. [:@]

[Mike Dubost]

I would like to put in a plug for 2 fine preservation organizations at this point. Don't settle for cursing development, contribute to the effort to limit it.

If you want to help with maintenance and preservation at the Gettysburg battlefield, the Gettysburg Foundation is a great organization.

For a more general effort, the Civil War Trust works to buy up land and/or conservation easements to prevent development. In a few cases, they have even done some restoration. Recently, they expanded to cover Revolutionary War and War of 1812 sites under the banner of Campaign 1776.

I am certain that both organizations would welcome any money or time that you can afford to aid the cause of preservation.

Even if all you can do is send a few $, a little bit each from a large number of people can go a long way.

[ringoblood]

Thank you Mike, I been waiting for someone to post something like what you wrote here. I for one will give what I can, most likely to the Gettysburg Foundation but again thank you.

[Capt. Harlock]

"I live in Chambersburg, which is not too far (25-26 miles) away, and also figured in the Gettysburg Campaign."

It figured even more later on when most of it was burned to the ground by Jubal Early's command. Are there any plaques or exhibits worth seeing there?

[pz501]

No, there aren't any monuments to speak of. Just a statue of a Union soldier in the center of town, and a few historical markers here and there. Nothing at all like Gettysburg.

IRC, Stuart's Cavalry also paid Chambersburg a visit in 1862 or early 1863 as part of one of his "rides around", before McCausland's Brigade burnt out the center of town in 1864.

[MrsWargamer]

ORIGINAL: ringoblood

Hey guys and Mrs.Wargamer, as you all know I love the American Civil War. For the past 12 yrs my buddies and I have been going to the largest war reenactment in North America. That would be the Gettysburg Reenactment. Every year, 30,000 Reenactors come here to Pennsylvania the First weekend of July to honor the turning point of the American Civil War.

Now my friends and I we order our tickets 10 months in advance and just forget about reserving a hotel, we just get a camp ground and and bring the RV. If your interested in tickets PM me and I will send you the website to order. As of the 3/15/2018, there were still tickets for sale.

Josh

Just acknowledging the politeness of the OP
Likely would be one of the few US destinations that might be interesting to see.

[Zorch]

A tip: If you go, don't bet on the Confederates.