#65 Take niece and nephrew to a museum/re-enactment

The first post of july and it was an exciting time and a busy day, but we made the most of it. I got to take my oldest niece and nephrew to Gettysburg to several museums and the big re-enactment that was held that afternoon. We started the day off by going to the visitor center and seeing a short documentary on the battle of Gettysburg. From there we traveled to a few other museums, including the Lincoln train museum. There was a big crowd on hand that day in town, since it was the 145th anniversary of the actual battle. We had lunch and stopped in a few shops along the way and then made our way out to a huge farm where the re-enactment was held. This was not on the actual battlefield, since its protected as a national park, but still got the feel of how things felt that hot july day. Boom, Boom. The cannon blasted as the opening of the engagement started with a good half hour to forty-five minute artillery dual between the north and the south, then the infantry moved in for small arms combat. There was a huge turnout of 12,000 re-enactors and at least that many spectators if not a few several thousand more on hand. The whole thing lasted about an hour and a half, but we sat in traffic about 45 minutes getting out the big field we were in. We went back into town and toured a few places in town, such as the one building that still has a visible cannon ball lodged under the second story window. Also, we looked at farnswroth house that has over 150 holes in the south wall from shots being fired by union troops at a confederate sniper in the window. Then lastly we stopped in to see the Jennie Wade house, where the only civilian casaulty of the war occurred. Mrs. Jennie Wade herself was struck by a stray bullet that pierced two doors and struck her in the back and killed her instantly. Only 20 years of age, so sad.
After touring that, we stopped and re-fueled and headed back to ole virginia. About a 2 1/2 hour trip. The niece and nephrew thoroughly enjoyed themselves and they both said that they like to go back, maybe even do the the ghost tours. There's definitely to much to do and see in one day, so we've already made plans to go back.