August 19
Wednesday
The Civil War, all wars really, hold no interest for me. All that killing and bloodshed...
But in addition to being the site of a Civil War battle, Gettysburg was also the retirement home of Ike and Mamie Eisenhower. That is what I was here for.
Driving into this charming little town with its central circle might be fun to explore.
Most of the buildings have been here since the Civil War.
I was to learn later that many still have bullet and canon ball holes from the battle that went right thru town.
At the Visitor Center I had to have a photo with another famous person. Wanted to sit on Abe's lap but that darned book was in the way.
Purchased a $43 ticket which included a tour of the Eisenhower home, the museum, battlefield tour and something called the Cyclorama, a 377 foot circular painting with a viewing platform that put us in the middle with the battle swirling all around us.
Complete with sound and light, it was war as entertainment.
Painted on canvas in 1884, it was shown all over the world before movies became popular. Then it was stored away to be renovated and installed here in 2008. Definitely worth a visit if you haven't been here since then.
Out on the battlefields I learned more about the Civil War than I wanted to know but found it very interesting. These canons each weigh 900# and took 6 horses to pull, so of course the enemy aimed for the horses, killing 5000 horses and mules which weren't buried until weeks after the 11000 men who died here in battle.
Unlike most other Civil War battles, Gettysburg was a sort of surprise. Each side was going to this little town of 1200 people because of the 5 roads that converged there and the surrounding hills which would make it easy to defend. The didn't know the other side was coming until they got there. And of course the townspeople didn't know what hit them.
The fields are dotted with over 1300 monuments erected by different states that sent men to fight. It is the world's largest sculpture garden.
I was surprised to hear that southern states were at first discouraged from participating. Wasn't that the point of this war, to preserve the Union?
The North could have been more gracious winners.
Complete with sound and light, it was war as entertainment.
Painted on canvas in 1884, it was shown all over the world before movies became popular. Then it was stored away to be renovated and installed here in 2008. Definitely worth a visit if you haven't been here since then.
Out on the battlefields I learned more about the Civil War than I wanted to know but found it very interesting. These canons each weigh 900# and took 6 horses to pull, so of course the enemy aimed for the horses, killing 5000 horses and mules which weren't buried until weeks after the 11000 men who died here in battle.
Unlike most other Civil War battles, Gettysburg was a sort of surprise. Each side was going to this little town of 1200 people because of the 5 roads that converged there and the surrounding hills which would make it easy to defend. The didn't know the other side was coming until they got there. And of course the townspeople didn't know what hit them.
And it was all over in 3 days.
The fields are dotted with over 1300 monuments erected by different states that sent men to fight. It is the world's largest sculpture garden.
I was surprised to hear that southern states were at first discouraged from participating. Wasn't that the point of this war, to preserve the Union?
The North could have been more gracious winners.
After a lunch break, back on the bus to visit the Eisenhower farm on the edge of one of the battlefields.
Purchased in 1950, it was the only home they ever owned.
It was like walking back into my grandmother's home, crammed with porcelain, Ming vases and a Persian rug, a gift from the shah of Iran.
The Eisenhowers were the last White House occupants allowed to keep such gifts without paying for them.
They preferred spending most of their time on the glassed-in sun porch where they often ate on TV trays watching I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Mamie preferred soaps and would ask a security guard to fill her in on what happened if she had to be away.
It was the 1950s, TV was new and we all watched too much.
Who knew Mamie loved kitsch?!
Though the daughter of a millionaire, she loved cheap knickknacks. The white figurines in this photo she saved boxtops and sent away for.
They purchased this plate at a Stuckeys.
I like to think of them in front of the counter debating whether they should purchase it or not.
Ike had his mancave where he met with de Gaulle and Khruschev
while being guarded by Secret Service agents who had their headquarters is a milk barn.
Their bedroom. After Ike died in 1969 Mamie stayed another 10 years, keeping memorabilia piled on his side of the bed.
She passed away in 1979 and the home and property became part of the National Park Service which was the agreement upon its purchase.
End of an era.
Purchased in 1950, it was the only home they ever owned.
It was like walking back into my grandmother's home, crammed with porcelain, Ming vases and a Persian rug, a gift from the shah of Iran.
The Eisenhowers were the last White House occupants allowed to keep such gifts without paying for them.
It was the 1950s, TV was new and we all watched too much.
Who knew Mamie loved kitsch?!
Though the daughter of a millionaire, she loved cheap knickknacks. The white figurines in this photo she saved boxtops and sent away for.
They purchased this plate at a Stuckeys.
I like to think of them in front of the counter debating whether they should purchase it or not.
Ike had his mancave where he met with de Gaulle and Khruschev
while being guarded by Secret Service agents who had their headquarters is a milk barn.
She passed away in 1979 and the home and property became part of the National Park Service which was the agreement upon its purchase.
End of an era.
Maybe the Giants will hit the Home Runs next time.
ReplyDeleteKen