I just wanted to share about our day trip to Gettysburg on Memorial Day. As students we always went to Gettysburg for a field trip. Usually, you don’t care, it’s a day out of school or you care a little bit but don’t get to see the whole thing.
We started out at the newer visitors center. I remember going to a museum downtown when I was in school. We didn’t pay to get in but saw a mini exhibit outside of the ticketed area.
They had this ‘interesting’ specimen of a tree trunk that had shrapnel and bullets lodge in it all over the place. It reminded me of Groot from ‘Guardian of the Galaxy’ although I have never seen it, I have seen pictures!
We picked up a map of the battlefield and got back in the van. My husband decided to start from site #1 and proceeded to find a audiovisual tour and played it at each one. This got old for me after awhile. I was more interested in taking pictures and posting to instagram 🙂
We packed a picnic lunch but ended up eating it in the van.
There is a monument of the Eternal Flame commemorating the battle. This overlooks a big portion of the battlefield.
We stopped along the way and took a little walk through the woods. We saw a tree that must have been struck by lightening because it was charred black and part of it looks like it was thrown in the air and landed precariously in a forked tree. Sorry no pictures!
We then went to Little Roundtop. Our six year old had a blast climbing over all the boulders and I was busy chasing after our two year old who wanted to be like big brother! Not yet son, not yet!
There is a monument up there to honoring all the soldiers that fought that portion of the battle. What a view. Honestly being the Scotland obsessed that I am, it reminded me of Scotland!
Onto Devil’s Den…
Needless to say this was my oldest and my husband’s favorite. It’s normally, mine too but I was busy chasing after the toddler so he didn’t hurt himself! This is a big stopping off point on the battlefield tour and you are free to climb at your own risk and heart’s desire!
Next time, I want to stop in town at some of the shops. We did not have time to do that due to the fact that the self guided battlefield tour took most of our day, that we had available.
I recommend visiting Gettysburg to anyone, especially for any history enthusiast or taking kids to check it out. I wanted to give my six year old a bit of a head start for when he will take the tour with his school. That is, if they still in fact do that.
So fun! Love all the history! Great to teach littles so they can actually see!
I love to do this kind of thing with them!