Gettysburg

The chapter in our high school history book could never convey the Battle of Gettysburg like our guide did on a cold windy morning in October. His grasp of the history and ability to place the audience in the Battle of Little Roundtop was like being part of a staged production.

Our second tour in the afternoon focused on battle artillery. Our guide had a good grasp of facts  and passion for his subject but he could not compete on the delivery with our morning guide.

To warm up, we stopped at an Irish pub in downtown Gettysburg for an Irish coffee. Sitting next to us was an Irishman who now lives in Boston; his brogue was so thick it required totally concentration to converse with him. I better go to Ireland so I can practice:)

The Gettysburg Museum and Visitor's Center is a day's visit in itself and would be a good place to begin a visit to Gettysburg rather than an end to it but worthwhile whenever it is visited. The short film narrated by Morgan Freeman provided an overview of the Civil War and the importance of the Gettysburg battle.

Following the film is the opportunity to view the Gettysburg Cyclorama Painting, one of three created in the 1880s by French artist Paul Philippoteaux. It is over 40 feet high and its circumference of 377 feet depicts Pickett's Charge, a battle the third day in the Battle of Gettysburg. The canvas is part of a diorama  and the building was designed specifically to display them.

After spending two days at Gettysburg, rereading the Gettysburg address penned by President Lincoln is a humbling experience.