Among the many tourist attractions that you can find in the United States is the Gettysburg National Military Park, in Pennsylvania, considered as the ninth place of tourist interest in the world according to the specialized travel portal TripAdvisor that, as you know, elaborates its rankings based on the opinion of its users.
In this symbolic place took place the famous Battle of Gettysburg of the American Civil War in 1863, which is considered one of the bloodiest that has been fought in the territory that today occupies the United States. Today it is a 2,428 hectare National Park with numerous statues, monuments and canyons. Do you want to know more details about this very important American corner? Well, do not miss anything we tell you below!
The Battle of Gettysburg
To understand the importance of this American national park, it is first necessary to know what it was and what the Battle of Gettysburg supposed, which took place in July 1863. There, the armies of the Confederation and the Union faced each other in a three-day battle considered as the bloodiest in the history of the United States. And we are talking about more than 51,000 men who died, were injured, disappeared or were captured. In total, this is nearly a third of the soldiers who fought in battle. To protect and keep this place, in 1895 Congress declared it a National Military Park.
Museum and Visitor Center
Gettysburg National Military Park is full of attractions. Of course, the first thing you should do if you visit this place is to go to the Museum and the Visitor Center, a restored old barn where free information is provided about Gettysburg, the American Civil War and the different ways of touring the park, in addition to the movie "The rebirth of freedom" narrated by the famous actor Morgan Freeman. You'll also find a snack room and a large bookstore. Another major visitor center attraction is the Cyclorama, a 360-degree painting with special effects.
What to see
Beyond the Museum and the visitor center, where multiple objects of war are exhibited, the park has more than 1,400 statues, cannons and monuments. Notable among them is the Robert E. Lee headquarters and the battlefield where General George Pickett and his more than 12,000 soldiers charged against the Union Army. In just 50 minutes, 5,000 deaths occurred. Of course, the Gettysburg National Cementery also stands out, which was the place where President Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg speech. It houses more than 3,500 soldiers fallen of the Union in a territory that occupies 7 hectares. The tombs in the shape of concentric semicircles that surround the National Soldier Monument are surprising. In addition, in the park you will find other small museums such as the Jenny Wade House or the Shriver House, which remember how people lived during the battle.
How to visit the park
There are different options to visit the park. One of the most recommended is to take a guided tour in car or by tourist bus. Of course, you can also take a map at the counter of the Visitor Center and do the tour yourself. In addition, the park offers different ranger-led programs that include topics such as the National Soldiers Cemetery, the Gettysburg Address or medicine during the Civil War. And if you like to walk, walks on the battlefield are offered.
Then we leave you with our Gallery, where you will discover more images of the Gettysburg National Military Park. Do not miss it!
Monuments, Memory, and Reconstruction at the High Water Mark (Lecture) (April 2024)
- National Parks
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