The Keystone State - Gettysburg

Pennsylvania - part 1

(Sightseeing)

June 11, 2018 - June 13, 2018

Gettysburg National Military Park, PA

A panoramic shot of Gettysburg in 1863.
A beautiful rural farming community about to witness an awful battle.

The scope and size of the Gettysburg battlefield is impossible to relate.  I was amazed how large it was.
It encompasses all the area around the north of the town and stretches south along both sides for miles.
Each side set it's lines along areas they felt would give them an advantage over the other.
There were scores of cannons aimed at the enemy along those lines.
The cannons are still there today, interspersed with numerous monuments to
 various state regiments and statues to specific hero's of the battle.

The ordinance used in cannons comes in more shapes and sizes than I could have imagined.

Although this is difficult to see, every little dot on this map represents a field hospital in the Gettysburg area.
A testament to the incredible number of men wounded in the battle.

Union Faces of War - Gettysburg
3,155 killed
14,529 wounded
5,365 captured or missing

Confederate Faces of War - Gettysburg
3,500 killed
18,000 wounded
6,500 captured or missing

Abraham Lincoln gave a short speech at the dedication of the new Soldiers National Cemetery on Nov. 19, 1863.
Now referred to as "The Gettysburg Address" it's brevity and humanity will never be forgotten.

Eisenhower National Historic Site

Dwight David Eisenhower

Mamie Doud Eisenhower
I was surprised to learn that she came from such a wealthy family.
Another interesting fact - her hairstyle of curled bangs was designed by Elizabeth Arden.

Panoramic picture of the home the Eisenhower's built on their property near Gettysburg, PA.
The appearance of a curve is a result of the camera.

Half of the living room.

Other half of the living room.
The piece of furniture in the foreground is called a puff. 
One was made for the couple in the White house and Mamie loved it and wanted one for her home..

Dining room.

Stairway with specially designed wall paper.

Closeup of the wallpaper going up the stairway.
It consists of the official seals of every state.

Ike's dressing room.  After his heart attack he used this room for afternoon naps.

The couples very spacious bedroom.

One of the guest bedrooms.

Half of the kitchen.

The other half of the kitchen.

The Den.  This might actually be the very first "Man Cave"

Secret Service office attached to the barn.

Interior of the Secret Service Office (above and below)

This was the only home Ike and Mamie Eisenhower ever owned.  When the sellers somehow found out the Eisenhowers were interested in the property they took it off the market for awhile then put it back on the market at double the price!