Enjoy History and More in Gettysburg

By: Traci Kerns

(Traci Kerns is a full time History Teacher, part time world traveler, aficionado of delicious food and good living.)

A view from the summit of Little Round Top

          Since hosting the largest battle in the Western Hemisphere from July 1-3, 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania has become a magnet for amateur historians and Civil War enthusiasts.  An easy drive from Washington DC, Baltimore, or Philadelphia, Gettysburg makes for an educational and enjoyable destination for singles, couples or families.  Obviously, the draw for most driving through the rolling hills and farmland that abut the town is the battlefield itself.  Unless you are a Civil War historian, to attempt to take in thevast battlefield on your own is overwhelming and futile (and no, simply reading “The Killer Angels” does not prepare you).  Instead, visit the National Park Service website and arrange to take a tour of Gettysburg National Military Park with a licensed battlefield guide. For a very reasonable price, an expert will accompany you in your car to tour the battlefield, explaining the intricacies and hidden stories of the battle as you go (allow two hours minimum).  I recommend completing a battlefield tour with the guide early on your

Devil's Den

first day and then revisiting particular sites on day two or later the same day.  Make sure that you leave time for the superb museum and cyclorama, and to watch “A New Birth of Freedom” which will especially help younger visitors appreciate the significance of their visit.  For the more adventurous, you can also bike or horseback ride through the park!  For a different type of historical experience, visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site, located adjacent to the battlefield (there is a bus available from the visitor’s center).  At nearly 700 acres, this was the home Eisenhower retired to after his presidency – after seeing his view, you will understand why!

Door to Jenny Wade House

            In addition to your visit to the park, a ghost tour is a delightful distraction to add to your itinerary.  There are plenty to choose from along Steinwehr Avenue, which is also where you will find most of your tourist shopping.  A favorite stop for ghost tours is the Jennie Wade House, home of the only civilian killed during the battle, as she kneaded dough in her kitchen for her family and wounded soldiers.  Another interesting battle artifact can be found at Mr. G’s Ice Cream parlor.  Here, you can sit at a “witness tree” table made from a sycamore that stood along Baltimore Street, which President Lincoln passed on his way to deliver his famous address.  Outside of the shop are two additional living witness trees. 

           

Dobbin House Tavern

            The Gettysburg area also has a rich culinary heritage and its local provisions are well worth your time.  To enjoy some history with your victuals, the Dobbin House Tavern is my preferred choice.  Built in 1776, the romantic, cozy tavern area is a casual place to dine after an exhaustive outing to the battlefield – an Adam’s Delight and a glass of local wine will refuel you for the remainder of your day.  Make sure you take time to visit the springs that run under the house and peek into the six charming colonial era dining rooms.  Leave enough time to visit Reid’s Winery & Cider House Café and Hauser Winery on the main square as you stroll amongst the antique shops (be on the lookout for plaques on homes that tell the stories of inhabitants who witnessed the battle).

            With a variety of places to stay, from dreamy bed and breakfasts, large family hotels with pools and the elegant Gettysburg Hotel on the square, Gettysburg is a popular four- season destination and is definitely on my list to return to in the future.  It is a quaint location, perfect for spending time wandering the battlefield, imbibing local ciders or driving the surrounding countryside, dotted with covered bridges and breathtaking vistas across wooded hills.  Although the small town of Gettysburg is best known for the tragic battle that made it infamous, there is much more to this charming, bygone region that is worth seeking out.

Military History Destinations: Museums

By Nina Kendall

One can tell the story of America via the history of arms and the military. Military history is the history of nation’s values, goals, and relations with other nation. You can learn military history from books, by conducting oral history interviews, and through visits to museums and historic sites.  It is a chance to get a unique view of history. Here are a few museums to consider on your next trip.

West Point Museum

Not far from the gates of the United States Military Academy is the West Point Museum. This museum has a wide array of artifacts and art organized into galleries that offer appeal to those who enjoy history. For the arms enthusiast, you can explore the development of weaponry over time. If you are more interested in the role of the US Army in American history, they have a gallery just for you. Learn about the peace-time contributions the Army has made to the development of country. See how the roles and jobs in the Army have been evolved with war and technology. The wide variety of artifacts on display in West Point is sure to engage and intrigue.

National Infantry Museum



National Infantry Museum with Yorktown Encampment

The National Infantry Museum is on the edge of Fort Benning.  Fort Benning has been the home of the Infantry School since the opening of the military base in 1918. The museum honors the Infantry by providing education and training to Soldiers, their families, and the general public on all facets of the history of the United States Infantry.  The exhibits within the museum tell the story of the United States Army Infantryman, from the fields of the American Revolution to the sands of Afghanistan. You will also find displays of artifacts from all eras of American history and numerous interactive exhibits helping to bring the nation’s past to life through the latest in technological innovation.

Illinois State Military Museum


Illinois State Military Museum

The Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield, Illinois is committed to where sharing the legacy of the Illinois militia and the Illinois National Guard with the public. You can visit in person or on-line and learn more about how the service of the citizens of Illinois. The exhibits begin in the Revolutionary War to the War of Terror.  With unique artifacts like the artificial leg of Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna captured during the Mexican-American War, you can find the history of the nation with regional connections at Illinois State Military Museum.

No matter your destination you can add in a stop to enjoy military history. Learn how fellow Americans have contributed to the path of a nation. Are you making plans for your next trip yet? Do you have another destination to share? We would love to hear about it. Happy trails!

Enjoy history!

Over Here and Over There: Travel across Georgia to enjoy World War II History

By Nina Kendall

Traveling exhibits and special events at local and state institutions are great opportunities to enjoy a little history. This fall you can immerse yourselves in World War II history. The University of West Georgia, and the 6th Cavalry Museum are hosting events this fall that commemorate the contribution of Georgia and Georgians to the fight to win World War II.  

The events at the University of West Georgia are built around the display of the traveling panel exhibit, “Over Here and Over There: Georgia and Georgians in World War II” that opens October 13, 2014. This exhibit focuses on how Georgians on the home front and the battle field made contributions to fighting World War II. Over Here and Over There is free and open to the public and will be on display through December 7 in the University of West Georgia’s Ingram Library. This exhibit is presented by the Ingram Library’s Penelope Melson Society with the support of the Georgia Humanities Council will also include displays of artifacts from local collectors of World War II memorabilia. While the exhibit is open, the University of West Georgia will host events and lectures to complement the display and engage the public.

The 6^th Calvary Museum will host the 5th Annual Remembering Our Heroes - School Day Program on October 24, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Bring your students the Museum to experience World War II program presented by living historians. Thanks to a grant from the Georgia Humanities Council, Georgia students are admitted for free. Students from Tennessee are just $2 each. All teachers, chaperones and bus drivers are free. School groups must register in advance. Call the museum at 706-861-2860 to schedule your school group.

The 5th Annual Remembering Our Heroes will take place on October 25, 2014, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and be open to the public.  The 6th Cavalry Museum and community volunteers present a day of living history and remembrance of our Armed Forces.  The event will be held on the former parade ground of the Army Post at Fort Oglethorpe. Come to the museum and experience World War II history in a brand new way.
 

Events

 
Over Here and There: Georgia and Georgians in World War II
University of West Georgia/Ingram Library
1601 Maple St., Carrollton 30118
October 13, 2014 9:00 AM to December 07, 2014 5:00 PM
The exhibit, on display at the University of West Georgia/Ingram Library, will focus on WWII and the home front.

Swing Time: An Extravaganza of Big Band Music from the World War II Era
University of West Georgia Campus Center Ballroom
1601 Maple St., Carrollton 30118
October 17, 2014 7:00 PM to October 17, 2014 9:00 PM
The event features live music and dance of the WWII era, led by Dr. Dan Bakos, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of W. Georgia.

Remembering Our Heroes School Day
6th Cavalry Museum
6 Barnhardt Circle, Ft. Oglethorpe 30742
October 24, 2014 9:00 AM to October 24, 2014 1:00 PM
This will be a day of living World War II history at the 6th Cavalry Museum at Ft. Oglethorpe.

Remembering Our Heroes  
6th Cavalry Museum
6 Barnhardt Circle, Ft. Oglethorpe 30742
October 25, 2014 10:00 AM to October 25, 2014 4:00 PM
This will be a day of living World War II history at the 6th Cavalry Museum at Ft. Oglethorpe.

Mobilizing the Arsenal of Democracy: How Georgia was Transformed During WWII
University of West Georgia/Ingram Library
1601 Maple St., Carrollton 30118
October 28, 2014 11:00 AM to October 28, 2014 12:00 PM
Dr. Charles Chamberlain will speak on the economic impact of WWII in Georgia and the South.

Rationing for Victory: Food as a Weapon on the Home Front in World War II
University of West Georgia/Ingram Library
1601 Maple St., Carrollton 30118
November 11, 2014 11:00 AM to November 11, 2014 12:00 PM
Dr. Jennifer Jensen Wallach of the University of N. Texas and author of, "How America Eats: A Social History of U.S. Food and Culture" discusses food rationing during WWII.  

Traveling with History: Montana

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

Do you like to travel?  Do you like History?  Do you like combining both?  One of the places to visit with an eye towards history is Montana—a state where you can walk in the steps of Lewis & Clark or dinosaurs, visit Ghost Towns or battlefields, or just soak in the beauty of nature.  Montana is home to all these things, as well as Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks. It is also the home of several Indian Nations like the Crow, Blackfeet, and Sioux.  It is a great destination for anyone who loves to travel with a mind to history and nature. 

Some great sites to see:
Billings, Montana-- Montana’s largest city was founded in 1882 and named for Frederick Billings, the president of the Northern Pacific Railroad.  As such, Billings was a transportation hub.  I found Billings to be a nice quaint city.  It was smaller than cities I am used to but certainly was an introduction to how cities in the west are. 

 

Crow Agency—To the East of Billings is Crow country, and while visiting there I was very excited to witness a PowWow and listen to Vietnam Veteran, Carson Walks Over Ice discuss traditional dances, and another elder educate us as to how a Teepee is set up.  We were also treated to dinner--traditional Indian Taco followed by the powwow program.  The only downside was that it was held indoors because of bad weather.  We were also educated about the Sun Dance which was abolished by government and missionaries because of fear in 1875.  Sun Dance is a way of prayer--Height of Apex of Sun.  Participants go without food and water for 3 days and pray for the 3 days.  Pray for sickness, suffering, soldiers, etc…  In 1941, the Sun Dance was revived.  A Sun Dance is held every August and the older generations teach to the younger the dances and songs.  During the Powwow we saw a number of examples of traditional dress:  such as use of birds, fur bearing animals, shiny things, moccasins, bones, moose teeth, bells, beaded bands for wrists, head and arms, paint on face, colorful – Blended with modern things such as Sponge Bob, flip flops, tennis shoes, basketball shorts, cell phones, etc.

Little Big Horn Battlefield—This is an immense battlefield and I was shocked to see how big this area really is.  This area was changed once gold was discovered in the Black Hills.  Yellow Hair--George Armstrong Custer was sent to take the Black Hills from the Indians.  His opponent was Sitting Bull.  This was the last armed effort of the Northern Plains Indians to preserve their ancestral way of life.  The Army sent 3 columns of soldiers to create a trap for Indians in the middle which included Custer.  The Calvary was supposed to find the enemy and infantry was supposed to fight, the scouts came across an Indian village camped along Little Big Horn River--Crow’s nest--the largest teepee camp in North America had been formed and was larger than city of Los Angeles.  The scouts described the horses as a brown carpet on the open prairie.  The fight only lasted about 20 minutes and very few Indians were actually killed, Custer was one of the first to die.

Lewis & Clark—Dinosaurs are not the only ones to have left a trail to follow.  On April 25, 1805, Lewis & Clarks’ Corps of Discovery camped by what would become Fort Union.  They hoped they were only weeks away from the Pacific, via the never to be found Northwest Passage. The group rested and celebrated their arrival at the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers. The expedition journals noted the spot's potential as a trade location.  Entering what would become Montana but at the time was the land of the Blackfeet.

Dinosaur Trail--The Montana Dinosaur Trail features some of the greatest paleontological finds of the last century. T-rex, Miaisaur, Hadrasaur--these are just a few of the interesting dinosaurs you'll find along Montana's Dinosaur Trail. All of them are dug out from the earth by some of the most prominent paleontologists around.

These are just some of the highlights to see if you head to Montana to experience history and nature.  What would you include in your historical tour of Montana?

Traveling with History: Columbus

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

Do you like to travel?  Do you like History?  Do you like combining both?  One of the places to visit with an eye towards history is Columbus—founded in 1828 on a bluff overlooking the Chattahoochee River, it is Georgia's second largest city.  The city’s past is connected to the Creek Indians, textiles, Civil War Naval battles and today’s military at Fort Benning.

 

Some historic points of interest to see:

 

National Infantry Museum—Located at the entrance of Fort Benning, the museum honors Soldiers by providing education and training to Soldiers, families, and the general public on all facets of the history of the United States Infantry.  The museum also educates on the origin and development of Fort Benning.  The exhibits within the museum tell the story of the United States Army Infantryman, from the fields of the American Revolution to the sands of Afghanistan. You will also find displays of artifacts from all eras of American history and numerous interactive exhibits helping to bring the nation’s past to life through the latest in technological innovation.

  

National Civil War Naval Museum—located on the Chattahoochee River the museum tells the story of the Sailors, Soldiers, and Civilians, both Free and Enslaved as affected by the Navies of the American Civil War.  The museum overlooks the Chattahoochee River and houses the largest surviving Confederate warship, the CSS Jackson.  When seeing the CSS Jackson, the sheer size is overwhelming.  Also, the smell of the ship is formidable.  Visitors also have the chance to walk around a full scale ship replica of the USS Water Witch.  For those who love flags, the museum includes the largest collection of Civil War Naval-related flags on display in the country.

Columbus Museum—is a wonderful free museum founded in 1953.  It is one of the largest museums in the Southeast and contains exhibits concentrating on American art in all mediums, artifacts from the Lower Chattahoochee River Valley including Indian archaeological artifacts, and overall regional history. A real surprise is the interactive children’s gallery.  As a parent, I can say the children’s interactive area is one of the best I have seen in a museum.   

Heritage Park—take a walking of the park to see the industrial history of Columbus from 1850 to 1910, through interpretive sculptures and descriptive venues.  The outdoor sculptures and historic elements of the park represent the textile, gristmill, brick and foundry industries involved in the growth and development of the area, as well as agriculture and forest products, dams and bridges, river trade and travel, and Coca-Cola. You can either walk around on your own or schedule a guided tour through the Historic Columbus Foundation’s Heritage Tours.

 

Heritage Corner—Walk around the historic district at the corner of 7th Street & Broadway.  The area contains the five preserved homes you can tour representing different eras of Georgia history. Among them is the Pemberton House, once the home of local pharmacist Dr. John Pemberton, inventor of Coca-Cola.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Riverwalk—stroll the banks of the Chattahoochee River stretching 22 miles from Lake Oliver on the north to Fort Benning on the South.  The Riverwalk links many key historic sites and points of interest in the city.  

Kadie the Cow—is a supersized 20 feet tall cow and more of a roadside attraction than a real history lesson.  For many years Kadie stood on a hill outside the Kinnett Dairies overlooking a shopping mall. Sadly, the dairies were torn down in the early 2000s and have since been replaced by Best Buy, but  Kadie remains.  

These are just some of my Columbus historical highlights.  What would you include in your historical tour of Columbus?

Great Georgia Getaways: Some Savannah Museums for Military Buffs

By Jeff Burns

Savannah Georgia has long been recognized as one of the most romantic and charming cities in America, and it’s full of history.  The first city in Georgia, and the first planned city in the United States, Savannah has figured prominently in all the big events in American history.  It offers plenty to do for everyone of every interest, especially for military history buffs.

There are three forts with rich Civil war history:  Fort McAllister, Fort Jackson, and Fort Pulaski .  Fort McAllister, now a state park, is the best preserved example of a Confederate earthworks fortification.  It withstood fierce bombardment by Union ironclads, only to fall to Sherman’s March to the Sea.  Fort Jackson is located near downtown on the Savannah River, and Fort Pulaski is located at the river’s mouth, 15 minutes away.   Each site is administered by a different agency: the state of Georgia, the Coastal Heritage Society, and the National Park service, respectively.  However, each one features a gift shop, a small exhibit or museum space, and helpful staff, and there are regular historical demonstrations and re-enactments.

The Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum is located in the William Scarbrough house, built in 1819.  The house itself is worth the admission, but the collection is very interesting too.  There are nine galleries of ship models, maritime paintings and artifacts designed to interpret the rich story of Savannah's maritime history.  The collection of models includes, colonial vessels, ironclads, ocean-going steamers, and modern navy ships, many with a direct connection to Savannah.

The Mighty 8^th Air Force Museum is located in Pooler, a Savannah suburb.  Weeks after Pearl Harbor was attacked, the Mighty 8^th Air Force was officially activated in Savannah.  Soon, the Mighty 8^th numbered 350,000 men and was stationed in England, charged with the mission of conducting the relentless bombing of Germany that crippled that country and its resolve to fight the war.  In 1983, veterans of the 8^thstarted planning a museum to commemorate the organization and the 26,000 men who died and 28,000 who were taken prisoner.  They settled on Savannah, and the museum opened in 1996.  It’s a wonderful museum that does a great job of telling the World War II experience.  Many of the docents are either veterans of the air force or the children of members of the original Mighty 8^th.          

The visitor first enters a small gallery that gives an overview of the war, and then a smaller room devoted to the 8^th.  From there, visitors go through a mission simulation experience which does a great job of humanizing the men who served, in the air and on the ground.  After the mission, there are other exhibits including numerous models, planes, and a POW exhibit.  The latest addition is a B-17 bomber that dominates the main exhibit space and is being restored.  Outside, there are more planes and a beautiful memorial garden and chapel.  The whole museum is very well-done, and it is a great tribute to the Mighty 8^th in particular and the greatest generation in general.

Whether you enjoy Naval history, Civil War history, or World War II history, Savannah has something for you.