Since the sun was out this morning we went out early for some picture-taking before the clouds returned. We returned to the Gettysburg Battlefield to get a shot of the Eternal Light Peace Memorial. It is built of Alabama limestone and Maine granite topped by a natural gas torch to be lit eternally to symbolize the unity of the United States.

Eternal Light Peace Memorial at Gettysburg Battle Field

PEACE ETERNAL IN A NATION UNITED

On November 18, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln arrived by train at this depot for the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery where he delivered the Gettysburg Address.

Gettysburg Train Station

Gettysburg is a small town, population over 7,500 people and it draws in thousands of tourists every year. We drove around Historic Downtown Gettysburg to have a look at some of the old buildings.

Gettysburg, PA

Some of the Historic Downtown Gettysburg now holds restaurants, gift and souvenir shops, as well as museums and tour companies.

Gettysburg, PA

A few miles southwest of town is the most historic covered bridge in Pennsylvania..the Sachs Bridge. Both the Confederate Army and the Union Army soldiers crossed this bridge during the battle of Gettysburg in 1863.  A 1996 flood washed it down stream but workers were able to salvage most of it and put it back where it was.

Sachs Bridge

When we first arrived at the bridge a man was fishing down by some rocks by the water, he came back up and told us there was a Copperhead snake down there and that we should stay away.

Copperhead Snake Sunning Itself on a Rock

Stopping for lunch at a roadside cafe we see Hog Maw on the Specials board. This is something I have never heard of, so I’m game, bring it on. I do like to eat the local flavors when we are traveling… I had Maryland crabcakes and can’t wait to get some Maine lobster! But Hog Maw?

Hog Maw?

Hog Maw is the lining of the stomach of a pig. This is a Pennsylvania Dutch dish. It’s just stuffed with potatoes and pork sausage and is rather tasty. I enjoyed it. I did not eat the stomach lining part…. eew.

Hog Maw

Back at Gettysburg we went to see the largest diorama in the United States, the Gettysburg Diorama. This included a 30 minute light and sound show and explained just how the battle progressed…all in thousands of tiny little soldiers.

Gettysburg Diorama

Gettysburg Diorama

A stop at Gettysburg would not be complete without a visit to the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. This is where thousands of United States servicemen are buried, and nearly half of the 3,580 Union soldiers killed in the Civil War that are buried here are unidentified.

Unidentified Civil War Servicemen

The site where President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863, is now marked by the Soldiers’ National Monument. Four marble statues around the base represent History, War, Peace, and Plenty. The figure at the top is the Genius of Liberty holding a sword in one hand and the wreath of peace in the other hand and representing the constant struggle for freedom.

Soldiers’ National Monument, Gettysburg

The Civil War servicemen are grouped by state. We found the Minnesota section, many of the soldiers have been identified.

Minnesota Civil War Servicemen

Gettysburg Address

• Gasoline:  $36 @ $2.55
• Admission to Diorama:  Our RV park gave us free tickets to this.
• Everything else we saw today was free.