In late June 145 years ago, the quiet countryside around the Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg was alive only with birdsong.
But storm clouds soon gathered, and for three days, from July 1 to July 3 in 1863, 165,000 opposing forces from the Union and Confederate armies met to fight on foot, on horses and behind great, powerful cannons. Personal freedoms, beliefs and economic fortunes were at stake. Later, a great president would stand on the hushed land, trying to mend a torn nation with his now-famous Gettysburg Address.
This weekend, the annual Gettysburg Civil War Battle Re-enactment will take place at Redding Farm near those hallowed battlefields. Ten thousand to 15 thousand re-enactors ? with more than 100 cannons and 400 mounted cavalry ? will “stage” Pickett?s Charge, complete with the 145th Commemorative Artillery Barrage. Live mortar demonstrations will darken the air, and a trip to the Living History Village will thrust visitors back in time.
All are invited to witness this re-enactment of the monumental reversal in America?s War Between the States. Up-close and personal reflection seems appropriate on the weekend of the celebration of America’s birth.
“Gettysburg has become our country’s common ground ? a reminder that we can come together as a nation, even after the most divisive of conflicts,” said Robert C. Wilburn, President and CEO of the Gettysburg Foundation.
In April, the Foundation, together with the National Park Service, opened a new Museum and Visitor Center, which is dedicated to the history of the Battle of Gettysburg and located in the town?s National Military Park.
Wilburn maintains it will inspire visitors and encourage families to learn more about the battlefield and the town?s significance in American history.
In 139,000 square-feet of exhibition space, 12 galleries tell the story of the Battle of Gettysburg through a massive collection of artifacts and archival materials. A 22-minute feature film, titled “A New Birth of Freedom” and narrated by actor Morgan Freeman, immerses viewers in the sights, sounds and emotions of the battle and its aftermath.
Beyond the museum doors, the park offers an eerie immersion into the war’s pivotal battle with almost 1,400 monuments and memorials on the 6,000-acre site. It is not uncommon, amid the statuary and cannons, to see soldiers of the Blue and the Gray, along with ladies in antebellum dress, strolling along shaded walkways. The mind does not play tricks. Individual Civil War enthusiasts often dress for the part, speaking to incredulous visitors.
“This is one of the nicest trips a family can take together,” said Dru Anne Neil, the Foundation?s director of communications and marketing. “You can learn about the past, but in an exciting way. You can touch history.”
IF YOU GO
What: The Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park
Where: Baltimore Street, Route 97 in Gettysburg, Pa.
Distance: 52 miles from Baltimore; 87 miles from D.C.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (daily during the summer)
Film tickets: Adults $8, Children (6-12) $6.50
Info: 1-866-889-1243; www.gettysburgfoundation.org; www.friendsofgettysburg.org
Re-enactment info: www.gettysburgreenactment.com
Accommodations: www.gettysburgtravel.com
