Month: February 2012
The Full Package
February 19, 2012Our Packages are changing for the 2012 season:
The Value Plan will consist of choice of Bus Tour and 3 tickets for 3 museums out of the following 8 locations:
1.Hall of Presidents & First Ladies
2.Soldiers National Museum
3.The Jennie Wade House Museum
4.The Lincoln Train Museum
5.The Gettysburg Battle Theatre
6.The Gettysburg Diorama
7.The American Civil War Museum
8.David Wills House
Cost: Adults $42.00 Children (ages 6-12) $24.50. 5-7 hours to complete.
The Package Plan will consist of choice of Bus Tour and 5 tickets for 5 museums out of the following 8 locations:
1.Hall of Presidents & First Ladies
2.Soldiers National Museum
3.The Jennie Wade House Museum
4.The Lincoln Train Museum
5.The Gettysburg Battle Theatre
6.The Gettysburg Diorama
7.The American Civil War Museum
8.David Wills House
Cost: Adults $53.00 Children (ages 6-12) $30.00. 7-9 hours to complete.
Tickets in the Value Plan/Package Plan can be used throughout your stay, they do not need to be used all in one day.
Learn more!
Tips for Terrific Tours
February 9, 2012With winter waning, soon to succumb to spring, many of our attractions are making their final preparations to reopen for a brand new Gettysburg season. That makes now an excellent time to talk about the best ways to have a safe and happy visit. Take the following advice and you can make sure your vacation doesn’t turn into a National Lampoon Vacation!
As with any outdoor attraction, you must protect yourself from the elements! Nature can be outwitted if you prepare. First of all, hydrate. Make sure you drink plenty of water, especially in the summer. It’s also wise to know where and when you can use the restroom. Sunglasses, sunhats, and sun block can protect you from our solar friend. Be wary of poison ivy (leaves of three, let it be!) and other poisonous plant species. Always check yourself for ticks after you’ve been on a hike. And on the off chance that you encounter a snake, try not to surprise it. Emergency first aid is available; contact a park employee immediately.
It’s a good idea to purchase your tickets online and early: tours sell out and you don’t want to leave that to chance! Plan to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time of the tour and know that tours typically last about 2 hours. Remember to lock your car and keep valuables out of sight. Leave any backpacks and large bags in your vehicle or motel room, they will not be allowed in the Visitor Center. Cameras, however, are highly encouraged. Get some great shots and then send them to us!
Why wait? Reserve your tour now on our website!
The Bullet that Killed Jennie
February 5, 2012Period attire isn’t the only new thing at Jennie Wade House—2012 brings a new display that features the bullet Jennie was shot with. This unique piece of history packs a tragic tale into a tiny ball of metal.
Also, look for exciting new souvenirs in the gift shop! Our inventory grows every day!
The “Harvard Regiment”
February 2, 2012“Scarcely any Union regiment was in the heart of the storm longer than the Twentieth Massachusetts,” says History Today magazine. They weathered through nearly every battle of the Army of the Potomac, and a few others to boot. At Gettysburg, the men defended a pivotal position during Pickett’s Charge—an assault that, if successful, could have turned the tide of the Civil War. For all that they accomplished, the War took its toll on them: they suffered the highest casualties of any Massachusetts regiment and the fifth highest in the Union.
Known as “The Harvard Regiment,” the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was formed in Roxbury, MA. All of the officers, and a portion of the enlisted men, were Harvard graduates, hence the nickname. The regiment was catapulted into battle in October, 1861, a mere month out of basic training; it was four years before they laid down their weapons at the end of the war. Among the Harvard men who served was Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., who would go on to be nominated to the Supreme Court by Teddy Roosevelt and be remembered as one of the most influential Justices in American history.
One “celebrity” of the Harvard Regiment was Colonel Paul J Revere, who was killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. He was the grandson of his namesake, the midnight rider and patriot of the American Revolution. An unusual monument—a puddingstone boulder—was erected in memory of Revere and the 43 other men of his company who died at the Battle of Gettysburg. The 30-ton colossus, dedicated in 1886, was imported by train from Roxbury, where many of the soldiers grew up. Now, it can be visited on Hancock Avenue, near the immortalized “copse of trees” and the Confederate High Water Mark.