Things to Keep in Mind When Visiting Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is the site of one of the most famous and Historic battles that ever took place on American soil. The battle of Gettysburg is considered the turning point of the Civil War. Even though the town is considered historic and great, it is also a very emotionally moving place to be. Before you decide to go there, remind yourself that thousands of Americans slaughtered their own people at Gettysburg. Many people can't handle that knowledge. Before you decide to go to Gettysburg, make sure you can handle that kind of emotional pressure.

If you do decide you can handle, and you visit Gettysburg, there are several places you will want to visit. The first is a building with a giant painting inside depicting the Battle of Gettysburg. The painting covers the entire room. It is a member of a specific type of painting. There are only three paintings like that one in the entire world. Make sure you view all of the impressive and breath taking monuments scattered throughout the place. They are put there to honor our soldiers and they are a good way to pay your respects. If you are interested in that sort of thing, Gettysburg has an impressive wax museum complete with a scene depicting, what else, the battle of Gettysburg. There is a mechanical Abraham Lincoln that recites the Gettysburg Address here. But be warned if you are planning to take kids with you, this scene is very graphic and bloody. After the wax museum, there is also a good regular museum. Here you will be able to see bullets, knives, guns, cannons, cannonballs, clothing, and more items that they excavated from the battlefield.

When you take the bus tour, pay extra special attention when you go by the site of the doomed Pickett's Charge. Try to imagine thousands of Confederate soldiers marching across that field and being cut down by Union troops. Try to imagine the terror the Confederates felt at being forced to make the suicide run. Eventually you will come to a field full of cannons. These cannons were actually used during the Battle of Gettysburg. A man will tell you about their history and why some cannons are green and others black. You can even touch the cannons. Imagine, the last person to touch that cannon before you was a soldier ready to fight and die for what he believed in.

When you are finished with the tour, make sure you eat at Pickett's Restaurant. It is the best restaurant in all of Gettysburg. Also make sure you stop at the gift shops. They have a wide selection of souvenirs you can keep to help you remember your experiences at Gettysburg.