The Dyer Flyer: 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!!!