Gettysburg-Washington DC Part 2

So in keeping with the Washington DC trip, we headed over to the Archival Building and entered into the Rotunda to view the important documents of our country. The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and The Bill of  Rights. It was a bit crowded and the documents were really faded but it was still worth the peek for sure! Amazing how long they have lasted. The police man that gave the intro before entering stated  "to not stand and try to read the whole thing!" LOL it must have been something that was done in the past and they of course would like to move people along! We also went to the Smithsonian-American History Museum, which of course we only did the highlights!! Would love to do them all but would have to be there for months!! Maybe I should be the tour guide! I mostly wanted to see a few things that I knew my mother would enjoy!! That of course was the Golden books exhibit (they had books I had not heard of too!! Nurse one I wanted!!) but the most important one was the Julia Child exhibit, which had her entire kitchen!! Who knew that one would be a hit!! Being behind glass and people in all the windows, it was hard to get a full shot. Her stove seem to be the highlight-it has six burners. Julia is from Cambridge MA-maybe I should go see her house she lived in while Im here!!

            Love all her cookbooks! Even all her magnets on her fridge are there!!

                                            Side view of the stove and all her gadgets

               Me and Julia---who by the way, I do not take after in the kitchen sad to say!!

 

 

          Of course we had to stop at Dorothys red slippers!!! No glass slipper though-lol

                                  Well this photo speaks for itself!! Who doesn't love Kermit

And last but not least, we had to find something that Abby would have loved-Who doesn't love some Harry Potter!!! I know a certain teen in our house who does love him!!! So had to take a pic of his cape!! So magical!!

 

So back to Gettysburg we go and visited the Presidents Farm. I remembered it from my trip with my parents when I was 15 but didn't remember much nor did I appreciate it then either. So again I took it all in and enjoyed the details of this stop! Down to the details of the air pump on the old barn and the scattered gas pumps as well. Interesting that up until JFKs death, when a President was out of office he had no more security. Which for the Eisenhowers meant many visitors just stopping by to pay a visit. Can you imagine! Than after JFKs death, secret service were put back into place for all past presidents. Which meant that all those pest were kept at a minimum. Garys favorite part of this tour was the secret service room/area that was untouched and how it was when they were there.

 

            The views out into the battlefields are breathtaking from this home as well

 

Next stop was the Lincoln train museum, which was just a huge collection of trains! Also had a simulated train car-which was lincolns funeral train and it was an exact replica down to the casket in the front. When you sat in the car, it then began to ride you thru the story and towns the train went thru. You actually felt like you were in a train. Neat way to tell about a portion of history

 

 

After all the museums, it was time to stroll the battlefields. We decided to do this in the evening because it was not only cooler and less crowded but provided a beautiful sunset

 

I have to say that after really taking in the story of the battle of Gettysburg and all that happened there and all the lives lost, did I really appreciate those that help preserve our history. From standing at a spot and looking out to see how far the Confederates had to go, almost over a mile, to then be stopped by the Union soldiers and be done...it was quite the battle for sure and I was very reflective in each spot to take the time and remember those who fought for my freedom. There were a lot of what ifs..what kind of America would we be, if the Union had not won??? I really didn't understand about the Battle of gettysburgs and why it was so important to us until this trip!!

 

Tomb of the Unknown soldier

 

So on our second to last day, we were tired and the rain was coming so we hit the surrounding area. First stop, Harley factory! Gary was a bit pleased!

 

 

 

 

Then on to the Chocolate Factory! I felt like Willy Wonka!! This ended up being one of our fun times on the trip! We were there for 5 hours doring all the tours. Went on the trolley around the town and learned the history of Mr Hershey and it was also a very entertaining way they had you hear about the history, complete with acting and singing. The whole time we were here, it poured the rain outside but we were inside, in chocolate comas!!! We even made our own candybar and watched it go thru the whole process until the end!!!

 

 

And as if it couldn't get any better....it does, for Gary at least!! His favorite candy in extra large

                                         and a mini Disney....characters included!!!

 

Now back to life and reality!!! What should our next trip be....hmmmm...??? I got plans, I got plans!!! Bucket list begin!!!

Gettysburg/Washington DC Trip Part I

Hubby and I finally planned a trip to Gettysburg. Thanks to a family wedding in the area, we were more motivated to make a long vacation out of it. I am a history buff, thanks to the genetics of my father and usually I am drawn to every museum and wanting to not only read everything around me, but also to really take in the moment and at times take myself back in time and imagine myself there. Sounds weird, I know but thankfully my hubby shares my history love and is very patient with me as we go to all the museums. we made the trip extra long so we can take our time and see a lot and also have time when we arrive home to settle in and rest up before starting back to reality!! We took our travel trailer and friends from Ohio met us for part of the trip. It truly was a great time with so many memories! It was during the heat wave too, but we survived intact!

My most favorite part of the trip was visiting the Jennie Wade museum. The tour guide was not only dressed in period clothes, but she explained to a small group of us, the entire story. It was over an hour but filled with so much detail, that I fell in love with the story, and even bought the book about Jennie Wade. Please read the link that follows, to not only get the full story but more pics! You wont regret it!   http://july1863.homestead.com/jenniewade.html 

Now onto downtown Gettysburg. We went to the Wills house. This is where Abe Lincoln stayed and edited the Gettysburg Address. I find it interesting that Lincoln, in his speech, said that "all would long forget the words said here"...his speech was 3 mins compared to the 2 hour speech given by the previous speaker, and his speech went down in history. The actual furniture from the room he stayed in was of course my favorite part of this museum

Then over to the train depot where he first arrived in Gettysburg. Lots of interesting stuff to read and see in this little depot too!! And of course, while we were in Washington DC for one day, we saw the house across from Fords theater where he died and his clothing and hat!! I have to say that the tour in Washington was also a favorite of mine, since I have not been there before and it is filled with so much history. It was a very hot day, which made it hard to walk around much, so we hit a few things, the monuments all over including the white house

                       Hat Lincoln wore to the Fords theater the night he was assassinated

                                                             Lincolns suite and tie

 

                              The Lincoln memorial-bigger than life, which I never knew!

 

and so many others we were also able to stop and enjoy

 

I teased my hubby that we were visiting his final resting place. After 20 yrs in the military, you already are eligible to be placed in the Arlington cemetery, which changed after JFK was buried there. So I of course looked over the area for the perfect spot under a tree!!! Hopefully I go before him though!!!

below is the gravesite of Lincoln's son, Robert-buried here not because he was Lincolns son but because he served. JFK also was to be buried in the Kennedy family grave yard until one day when he was visiting this cemetery, he looked out over the view from the building above and stated "I could enjoy this view forever" and so the man that was with him and heard him say this told Mrs Kennedy after he was killed, who against family wishes, buried JFK here so he can enjoy the view-I thought that was interesting too!

 

to be continued!!!