Has anyone ever made the trip out to Gettysburg? I went last week, and it was incredible. I'd be curious to hear other people's impressions of the site.

Actually, one summer after I get "rich" (LMAO) I would like to do a Civil War tour...

I was there when I was about 10-11 years old, so this was around 1980-1981. I really liked it and found it interesting, and I hated history stuff back then. Now days I would probably love it. I do want to go back.

I was there 2 summers ago. It was very cool. The town was really nice and quaint, and the battlefield was very haunting. I only spent an afternoon there, but it was very cool.

My family and I hopped in the RV when I was 12-13 (mid 90's) and hit up most of the Civil War sites. Gettysburg was cool, although the town sorta detracts from everything (too touristy). I watched the Gettysburg film with Jeff Daniels on the drive there and remember being very informed about what happened. The coolest part I think was that hill that they defended for so long. I remember walking around that area and looking at the crazy slope those guys ran up just to get shot down.

 

If anyone is interested in this stuff, I think my favorite is the battlefield museum at Vicksburg. The driving tour was awesome.

Some years ago while living in Tennesee, I actually participated in a Civil War re-enactment. I had a friend who was a sergeant in a re-enacting regiment, so I borrowed some period garb and joined up for a weekend at a place called Shiloh. Shiloh was considered the bloodiest battle of the "West" (quoted because West, in the Civil War, meant anything west of the Appalachians). I spent the weekend marching around with a working musket rifle, firing in line, camping out on a kilt, and playing the character to all the parents and kids who came out for a demonstration at the military park. One of the cooler experiences I had in TN. Firing that musket rifle and re-enacting a battle maneuver were a blast. And we actually got to march and skirmish along the historical battle lines, which was a cool way to learn about it.

 

Oh, and, it was kind of fun being with a regiment from the South. I tried my best to not talk like a yankee.

 

One scary part - there are some people down there who really don't seem to know that war is over.

My family and I hopped in the RV when I was 12-13 (mid 90's) and hit up most of the Civil War sites. Gettysburg was cool, although the town sorta detracts from everything (too touristy). I watched the Gettysburg film with Jeff Daniels on the drive there and remember being very informed about what happened. The coolest part I think was that hill that they defended for so long. I remember walking around that area and looking at the crazy slope those guys ran up just to get shot down.

 

If anyone is interested in this stuff, I think my favorite is the battlefield museum at Vicksburg. The driving tour was awesome.

 

Little Round Top is the spot you are talking about. The coolest story I heard during our tour was about the General who abandoned the top of that spot thinking his troops would be better served at a different spot on the battlefield (Sickles I think) and then the story about the CSA and the Union troops literally racing up the side of this hill to try to claim it.

 

I couldn't believe the scale of everything there. The pictures, movies, and history books don't do the area justice. It is so emmense. It is really something I have never experienced before. I can't wait to go back and stay for a while.

Little Round Top is the spot you are talking about. The coolest story I heard during our tour was about the General who abandoned the top of that spot thinking his troops would be better served at a different spot on the battlefield (Sickles I think) and then the story about the CSA and the Union troops literally racing up the side of this hill to try to claim it.

 

I couldn't believe the scale of everything there. The pictures, movies, and history books don't do the area justice. It is so emmense. It is really something I have never experienced before. I can't wait to go back and stay for a while.

 

I remember we ran that. I had this great teacher in 8th grade for everything Civil War, and at the end of the year we took a trip there. We hit a lot of the key areas around the town; my favorite was thing was the rocks at Devil's Den.

 

We did a lot of awesome things there. Our teacher had us all research a soldier, and "adopted" them. At the end, we all ended up searching for our soldier's grave in the national cemetery and laying a rose on it.

 

I really would like to go back now, that I could appreciate it more. I really love US history (taking an elective credit of such in the fall, as I haven't really had anything since early HS).

I remember we ran that. I had this great teacher in 8th grade for everything Civil War, and at the end of the year we took a trip there. We hit a lot of the key areas around the town; my favorite was thing was the rocks at Devil's Den.

 

We did a lot of awesome things there. Our teacher had us all research a soldier, and "adopted" them. At the end, we all ended up searching for our soldier's grave in the national cemetery and laying a rose on it.

 

I really would like to go back now, that I could appreciate it more. I really love US history (taking an elective credit of such in the fall, as I haven't really had anything since early HS).

 

That's an awesome idea with the adoption of a soldier. Very cool teacher you had.

 

I might be the last person to have read this, but did anyone else read Devil in the White City? I finished it in like 4 days. Fascinating stuff.

what the crap.... you come to PA and don't call?

what the crap.... you come to PA and don't call?

You stupid dork ass... it only took you two weeks to figure it out.

what the crap.... you come to PA and don't call?

 

Its not like you were a little busy planning a wedding or something...

You stupid dork ass... it only took you two weeks to figure it out.

 

 

I've been in baby making mode every day for the past two weeks....what can I say, Mike was the LAST thing on my mind during that process.