I’ve only visited Gettysburg once but that memory made a lasting impression on me — and I think most who visit it. Civil War sites, like Gettysburg National Military Park, are important reminders of the struggles and huge price great countries pay when resolving important issues.
The Battle of Gettysburg, July 1863, was a turning point in the Civil War. The Union victory ended General Robert E. Lee’s second invasion of the North (into Maryland and Pennsylvania), and caused a Confederate retreat into Virginia. The South would not advance into the Northern states again. It has been called by many historians the “High Water Mark of the Rebellion”.
Gettysburg was the Civil War’s bloodiest battle, wherein 50,000 troops died over three days and tens of thousands were maimed and injured. The battle inspired President Abraham Lincoln’s famous “Gettysburg Address”, given in a small cemetery in the town.
The battle was complex and victory for either side was far from certain for some time. Large parts of the battlefield are preserved and there are hundreds of monuments on the grounds, like the ones highlighted in today’s featured photos. If you love history, it’s a fascinating destination.
Taking the pictures at dusk really adds to the somberness of Gettysburg. Beautiful!
Thanks for the note, Marilyn! I agree. The low light really added to the drama of that setting.
If you are going to Gettysberg, I highly recommend also seeing the Anteitam battlefield. It is about an hour’s drive away, and well worth the trip. I would probably do Anteitam first as it the battle there was about a year earlier in the war.
Thanks for the tip, Jonathan. Another interesting stop is to President Eisenhower’s home, which adjoins Gettysburg. Like stepping back into the era of MadMen.