Gettysburg in a Day?

[DJ]

I plan to be in Baltimore next weekend and it looks like I will end up with a free day on Monday.  I'm toying with the idea of running up to Gettysburg for the day--Mapquest says they're only 60 miles apart, which is not much more than my daily commute.  But never having been there, I'm wondering if it's feasible to "do" Gettysburg in a day.  I don't know, for instance, how much hiking is involved to really see the battlefield.  Should I try to get on a tour of some kind, or would I be better off freestyling?  I know I would not cover it thoroughly, but could I even get a flavor for of the battle in a day, or is that just not something that can be done? 

[Rafe Covington]

If you get an early start is very easy to see Gettysburg in a day, don't think you can see everything but can see most of it. My wife and I used to spend a day there several times a year.

Rafe

[panhead pete]

Howdy DJ,

I would start at the Robert E Lee monument.  It faces Meades' Statue which is a mile across the field where Picketts charge took place.  From there it is a short drive to Little and Big Round Top and the Devil's den.  Then depending on how much time you have, you can drive to the railroad cut where the battle started and proceed to the Eternal Peace light and/or see Culp's hill which is on the other side of town.  They have cut down a lot of trees now, so the area looks just as it did during the battle.  There is a tower to climb which will give you an excellent view of the town. You can find CD's there for a self guided auto tour which is a good way to see the Battlefield.  Another good option is to take the Antique Bus tour.  They do a very good job and it would give you a break from driving.  Then if time permits you can beeline to any spots where you would like to spend more time.

Enjoy!

PS The Springhouse Tavern has great food, but stay away from the rum punch before facing that drive back!  The Farnsworth House also has great food, a nice outdoor patio with hundreds of bullet holes in the brick outside.

[Bow View Haymaker]

About 20 years ago (gosh it's been a long time)  I went with my brother who was researching for a book at the time.  We spent the better part of 3 days there and I know we didn't see everything but we gave it a good go.  I came back with 14 rolls of 35mm film and he had even more.  There was a driving tour you could do guided by a tape and you could see the sites at our pace.  It covered the main battlefield pretty well.  You can stand about anywhre and just feel the history. 

[Cowtown Scout]

When I visited there many years ago I did a bus tour which included times we stopped and walked to places.  Then I also went through the museum and drove around on my own afterwards.
Scout

[cpt dan blodgett]

You can do Gettysburg in a day and catch the high lights.  I could spend a month there going over the battle details as it happened.  Just depends on how much of the terrain you want to walk.

Your Gettysburg in a day trip may well be the starting point of a planning session to get back and do a much more detailed examination.

[Hill Beachy]

Gettysburg in a day is pretty ambitious, but here's some thoughts:

1.   Start at the Visitors' Center.  Pay the fee and see the Electric Map.  It's a but old-fashioned and cheesy, but it gives you a very good overview of the battle.

2.  Drive up to McPherson Ridge where Col Buford's cavalry met the Confederate vanguard and the two armies began to deploy into thier battle lines.

3.  Someone already mentioned the Railroad Cut; this is just down the road and a good place to stop off.

4.  Little Round Top

5.  The woodline on Seminary Ridge from whence Pickett's troops advanced on "Pickett's Charge."  This will give a good perspective on how far they had to advance under fire.  I would suggest perhaps the Virginia Memorial as a good vantage point for this.

6.  Then drive around to the other side (near the "Copse of Trees") and The Angle to get the Blue-Belly's eye view of #5.

If you still have time remaining, you might try adding The Wheatfield, The Peach Orchard, and perhaps the observation tower at Culp's Hill.  Have fun.

[Major 2]

Hill Beachy

Has some good thoughts , add Devils Den and plan a few hours for the Museum Collection and Cemetary.
There are Licensed Battlefield Guides that will go in you car allows your own pace.


I can tell you this, I've been many times and even lived there from June to Sept in 1991 while we filmed "GETTYSBURG" and I still find new places I had not seen....

Farnworth House is a good place to have Dinner & there is a Ghost tour....Jenny Wade's house is open....
The Cavalry Shop is worth seeing if you like artifacts you can buy  but if you do but bring the bank !

[Pay Dirt Norvelle]

This is  great thread as guess where I am going in October.  I do intend to stay at least one or two nights in the Battlefield Bed & Breakfast as I happen to know the owner from when he lived in California.

[Digger]

I went a couple years ago.  I only had one day too.  When you're short on time, always take the tour bus.*  Our guide was retired army and pretty knowledgable about the details.  I still had some time to get to some spots on my own not covered by the tour.

* I met a couple once that traveled a lot who said they always start with the tour where ever they go.  It's laid out by the pros, hits all the major points, gets preference, has liability insurance, you don't have to drive, and knows where the bathrooms are.  It's turned out to be good advice for me.

[US Scout]

Like the others have said, you can do it in a day but it'll be a forced march.  I've done it several times when I've taken friends and visitors to see it (I'm about 90 min from Gettysburg).

I recommend stopping at the new Visitor's Center and getting one of their cassette guides.  I think you can still rent a player if your vehicle doesn't play cassettes.  It guides you around the battlefield, stopping at the major points (and there are a lot of them), explains the significance of the stop and what took place, often with a first-hand report.  Unfortunately, this only covers the basics of each day - you won't get a detailed description of each day, otherwise you'd be zig-zagging all over the place. 

The tape is geared to about 3 hours if you just drive, stop and listen.  Of course, you'll want to get out and walk the ground so that will add some time.  I always like to walk the charge (Pickett's, Longstreet's, etc) of the 3rd day but that requires someone to drive you car around to the high-point (or you get to walk back).  However, its also interesting to watch others doing the charge as you stand at the high-point. 

Alas, the Electic Map, dated as it was, is no longer available for viewing.  It gave a nice overview of the battle and was good for those visiting the field for the first time. 

Allow time to visit the Musuem as well.

[DJ]

I appreciate all of your excellent suggestions.  I'm inspired to give it a try.  And if the weather cooperates, I think my wife and I will both be inspired.  Many thanks to all of you who responded.

--DJ

[Major 2]

Normally I would not say .... Boo  

Dirty Billy Hat Shop , Gettysburg ( Dirty Billy prop.)  just BONED me royally... promised me my hat in time for the Convention..
I ordered it 4 weeks ago....ordered with & taken by him and he took my CC #.
Said "it be out the following Friday",  two weeks no hat called he said be patient it be there ...OK
yesterday still no hat...I called asked when it was shipped answer  "He don't KNOW "  I asked can you confirm it was shipped
"probably, I hate carrying this crap around" ..   HUH I'm thinking what crap ?

he lied Say's "he'd sent it out Next Friday" , and he lied saying "it was sent the follow MONDAY" turns out he never sent it.

Avoid DIRTY Billy's Hat Shop in Gettysburg ( Oh go look ! he has some awesome originals and makes great hats, just beware)  

Sorry just my 2 cents .....back to the tour

[DJ]

To Major 2 and anyone else with undelivered merchandise--

Rest assured, I will scrupulously avoid purchasing anything from Dirty Billy.  If I happen into his store somehow, and he offers to sell me something, I will explain that while I would like to buy a pricey hat, I cannot in good conscience cut in line ahead of his mail order customers who have been waiting weeks for their purchases.

Thanks again for your suggestions--I believe the reassurances about a one-day trip being worthwhile have given me the confidence to take a shot at it.

--DJ

[panhead pete]

I would simply avoid Dirty Billy's.  I have friends in Hardcore Authentic Civil War reenacting and they use Tim Bender or Clearwater hats.  Same quality without the attitude.   

[Dusty Tagalon]

My surprise, was the 20th Maine position on Little Round Top, not as much uphill as I imagined.

Dusty

[Major 2]

Dirty Billy called ...left a message with my Receptionist ( did not even ask for me )

The Message was "he cancelled my order (proof he certainly never shipped nor perhaps even made my hat )
and would never take an order from me again."

Honest ,  all I asked "if he could confirm it was shipped" and he said  "probably, I hate carrying this crap around" 
and just hung up.....

I called Suttler friend of mine, asked he had ever dealt with Dirty Billy .....his replies "Yeah once  and he's JERK !"

I mention all of this as " Beware ...be "very" aware

[Pitspitr]

I've done it several times when I've taken friends and visitors to see it (I'm about 90 min from Gettysburg).

Do You have a free day this summer? The Fam and I are attempting to plan a trip to the East coast this summer and Gettysburg was one of the places I want to see.

[US Scout]

Do You have a free day this summer? The Fam and I are attempting to plan a trip to the East coast this summer and Gettysburg was one of the places I want to see.

Name the day!  As far as I know I'm not going anywhere after May when we go on our own family vacation to the Sandwich Islands.

[cpt dan blodgett]

My surprise, was the 20th Maine position on Little Round Top, not as much uphill as I imagined.

Dusty

Spect if you had spent the early part of the day fighting your way thru the Devils Den, by afternoon that hill would have been steep enough.

Not a slam, but I bet those southern boys were very tired when they started up the hill.