World War II Weekend at Eisenhower National Historic Site - Sept 17 to 19

The 2021 World War II Weekend at Eisenhower National Historic Site will be a hybrid event 

  The 2021 World War II Weekend at Eisenhower National Historic Site will be a hybrid event that will include in-person and virtual programming. These programs will take place from Friday, September 17 through Sunday, September 19. 

Due to safety measures during the ongoing Covid-19 global pandemic, we will not host our traditional living history encampment on the grounds of Eisenhower National Historic Site. The Eisenhower home will not be open for tours, but park grounds will be open for on-site vehicle access. Visitors are welcome to drive to the site (250 Eisenhower Farm Lane) and follow signs to the temporary parking lot.  

The virtual component of the event will feature 12 pre-recorded virtual programs that will be posted on the Eisenhower National Historic Site Facebook page throughout the three-day event. These programs will explore stories of the Homefront during World War II, accounts of some of the over 500 World War II burials in the Gettysburg National Cemetery, as well as recorded interviews with NPS staff at other World War II NPS sites.  

Park staff will also conduct in-person, outdoor programming at the Eisenhower National Historic Site and Gettysburg National Military Park, covering connections between Gettysburg and the Second World War.  

 September 17 

Walking Tours of the Eisenhower Farm—11 am and 2 pm (1 hour)  

Explore the grounds of the only home that Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower ever owned. The Eisenhowers used their Gettysburg farm for relaxation and diplomacy during their time in the White House, and it served as their primary residence during their retirement in the 1960s.   

Meet in front of the Eisenhower home. Park in the temporary on-site parking area. 

 WWII in the National Cemetery: Adams County in WWII—5 pm (1 hour)        

Over 100 servicemen from Adams County, Pennsylvania were killed in action or died of their wounds during World War II. Some were ultimately brought back for final burial in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Join a park ranger for this walking tour focusing exclusively on the stories of young men from Gettysburg and Adams County who made the ultimate sacrifice during WWII.  

Meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Park in the National Cemetery parking lot.  

 September 18 

WWII Leaders at the Eisenhower Farm—11 am and 3 pm (1 hour)  

During President Eisenhower’s administration, he used his Gettysburg Farm to host numerous world leaders for diplomatic visits. Many of these world leaders played major roles during the Second World War, including Winston Churchill, Charles DeGaulle, Bernard Montgomery, and Nikita Khrushchev. Join a park ranger to learn the stories of these WWII leaders who later visited the Eisenhower farm in Gettysburg.   

Meet in front of the Eisenhower home. Park in the temporary on-site parking area. On-site parking is limited.  

 Gettysburg During World War II—1 pm (1 hour)   

Gettysburg National Military Park was far from the front lines of WWII, but was still impacted, nonetheless. From a German POW camp to a U.S. Army training center, Gettysburg was an active part of the Homefront during the Second World War. This ranger guided walking tour will discuss this important chapter in Gettysburg’s history.  

Meet at Auto Tour Stop 4, the North Carolina Memorial, on West Confederate Avenue. Please keep all four tires on the paved roadway when parking.   

 WWII in the National Cemetery: The War in the European Theater—5 pm (1 hour)  

Follow the Allied advance through the European Theater during World War II as seen through the stories of men who were killed in action and later buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. From North Africa and Sicily through the Battle of the Bulge, this walking tour will explore the lives of the soldiers, sailors, and airmen who took part in the Great Crusade with General Eisenhower. Their sacrifices helped make Victory in Europe possible.   

Meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Park in the National Cemetery parking lot.  

 September 19 

WWII Leaders at the Eisenhower Farm—11 am and 3 pm (1 hour)  

During President Eisenhower’s administration, he used his Gettysburg Farm to host numerous world leaders for diplomatic visits. Many of these world leaders played major roles during the Second World War, including Winston Churchill, Charles DeGaulle, Bernard Montgomery, and Nikita Khrushchev. Join a park ranger to learn the stories of these WWII leaders who later visited the Eisenhower farm in Gettysburg.   

Meet in front of the Eisenhower home. Park in the temporary on-site parking area. On-site parking is limited.  

Gettysburg During World War II—1 pm (1 hour)   

Gettysburg National Military Park was far from the front lines of WWII, but was still impacted, nonetheless. From a German POW camp to a U.S. Army training center, Gettysburg was an active part of the Homefront during the Second World War. This ranger guided walking tour will discuss this important chapter in Gettysburg’s history.  

Meet at Auto Tour Stop 4, the North Carolina Memorial, on West Confederate Avenue. Please keep all four tires on the paved roadway when parking.   

 WWII in the National Cemetery: The War in the Pacific—5 pm (1 hour)     

Explore the War in the Pacific—from Pearl Harbor through Okinawa—as seen through the stories of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who were killed in action during World War II and later buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. From 15-year-old Marines to Gettysburg natives who fought in the Philippines, these stories will trace the arduous road to Allied victory in the Pacific by following the stories of those who sacrificed everything to make it possible.   

Meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Park in the National Cemetery parking lot.  

Jason Martz
Communications Specialist
Gettysburg National Military Park & Eisenhower National Historic Site
Office - 717.338.4423

Gettysburg Civil War Institute Returns Live ~ October 8-10

North Carolinians at Gettysburg

 October 8-10, 2021

  After a two year hiatus from in-person Civil War Institute programming due to COVID-19, we are excited to welcome you back to Gettysburg for a special weekend-long program, October 8-10! This event, which will focus on North Carolina in the Civil War, will include lectures and battlefield tours exploring life in the Old North State throughout the war, as well as the experiences of North Carolinians during the battle of Gettysburg. 

Speakers and tour guides include Judkin Browning (Appalachian State University), Peter Carmichael (Gettysburg College), Scott Hartwig (Independent Historian & retired Supervisory Historian, Gettysburg National Military Park), Ashley Whitehead Luskey (Gettysburg College), Christopher Gwinn (Gettysburg National Military Park), and Daniel Vermilya (Eisenhower National Historic Site).

  Please check out our full schedule of events and speaker bios. Attendance is $250.00/person and includes all lectures, tours, bus transportation for Saturday’s programming, Friday night cocktail social, and boxed Panera lunch on Saturday. Space is limited; REGISTER now!

  Please note: This October in Gettysburg is already scheduled to be a very busy month. We have reserved room blocks for our registrants at several local hotels and would encourage you to book your room sooner rather than later!

  For questions, please contact Heather Miller at civilwar@gettysburg.edu or 717-337-6590.

  We look forward to finally reuniting with old friends and making new ones in Gettysburg this October!

Walking Tours At Gettysburg by Adams County Historical Society

Two walking tours sponsored by the Adams County Historical Society
ACHS Website

October 23rd: Across the Harmon and Herbst Farms: Biddle's Brigade at Gettysburg

Led by Larry Korczyk and Andrew Dalton

Explore the fighting on both sides of Willoughby's Run as we cover the battle action of Colonel Chapman Biddle's Union brigade on July 1, 1863. This unheralded and often overlooked fighting unit suffered horrific losses on July 1st attempting to defend an indefensible position on McPherson's Ridge.

We will discuss the courageous actions of the commanding officers and the men in the rank and file, as well as the civilians who crossed paths with Biddle’s men at the Emanuel Harmon and John Herbst farms during the thick of the fighting. Our trek will cover approximately 1/4 mile of walking and will include visits to both farms and each regimental monument.

Register Now

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November 21st: Hills, Ridges, Roads, and Farms: An All-New Gettysburg Hike

Led by Garry Adelman and Tim Smith

These now-famous features hosted some of the most ferocious and critical fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg, and saw movements or combat on all three days of the conflict. But long before the soldiers arrived, Gettysburg was a place where people had been living peacefully for decades. The battle forever changed this community as farmers' fields became burial grounds, and years-worth of treasure and work vanished in an instant. Gettysburg was destined to become a tourist town, with every inch of the battlefield explored, and much of it photographed.

Join Tim and Garry for a lively and fast-paced tour to some of Gettysburg’s most storied places with photos, fighting and folklore throughout.

Register Now

Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum Announced New Location

Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum's New Location

After 63 years in our current building, we are excited to announce that the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum, the only museum in the Philadelphia area solely dedicated to the remembrance of the history of the Civil War, has a new historic home at 8110 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA.

We are very pleased to have been able to relocate to another certified historic building in a far more accessible area of the city. 

To accomplish the immense task of moving the museum to our new location we will need your assistance and financial support

Packing and moving will be a monumental task over the next few months which will require the help of many.  If you can give some time as a volunteer to assist with the move, please contact the Museum by replying to this message:  garmuslib1866@gmail.com

The cost of archival packing and storage materials plus the additional cost of the actual move are quite extensive.  We require certified archival materials to assure that our historic collection is properly protected.  Please consider donating to the museum to support our efforts as we begin the move to our new location.

As a 503(C)3 non-profit organization, all donations payable to the “GAR Museum” are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.  Donations should continue to be sent to our current address, GAR Civil War Museum, 4278 Griscom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19124.

As of July 2, the Museum will be closed.  The Archive and Library will be open for research by appointment only.  We look forward to opening in the fall.

We invite you to become a part of the next chapter of the Museum's history. 

ABT Presents Live Video from Gettysburg July 1-3

July 1  is the start of the Trust’s Gettysburg 158th anniversary video extravaganza!

We'll be live Thursday, July 1 through Saturday, July 3, sharing numerous facets of American history at the 158th Battle of Gettysburg anniversary commemoration through the eyes of the soldiers and in their footsteps.

Join us on Facebook and Youtube from the battlefield through a proliferation of videos, short and long with special guests from the Gettysburg Foundation, the Adams County Historical Society, Ancestry, and the Gettysburg National Military Park.

 Whether you are a Gettysburg novice or a full-on Civil War nerd, expect to learn some new things, and see places both familiar and off the beaten path.

 We hope you can tune in!

 Sincerely,
Garry Adelman
Chief Historian
American Battlefield Trust

Preserving an Arm and a Leg (Prosthetic)

An Arm and a Leg Campaign - Artifact Restoration Project

Unlike you and I, artifacts don’t improve with age. One of the most important stories we tell is that of the veterans’ experience after the guns fell silent. Tens of thousands returned home after losing limbs in the Civil War. This terrible need forced innovation and new technologies in prosthetics. Artificial limbs were in great demand and many of the advancements from this great conflict remain with us to this day.

The collection of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine includes several prosthetics from the period – including arms and legs. The 2021 mid-year appeal is targeted to restore and preserve three of these artifacts; two Palmer style artificial legs and one artificial arm known as the “Lincoln Arm.” The Lincoln Arm was developed by a former agent of the Underground Railroad and was the army’s choice for veterans well into World War I.

 We aren’t asking for an arm and a leg – we are asking for contributions toward our goal of $12,500 to save an arm and two legs. We’ve consulted with the National Museum of Health and Medicine for an environmental and condition report and the costs associated with each artifact is approximately $3,000. The remaining monies raised will be directed toward mounts and materials to exhibit and store them. Lastly, our plan is to have them photographed to be seen online as well. In this way we can preserve them for future generations and guarantee in-person and online visitors will have access to these important items.

Even a small donation will help us to restore these important pieces of medical history.

 As a registered 501(c)3 non-profit your gift is tax deductible, and you will receive a letter of gratitude acknowledging your generous donation.

 We couldn’t do this without you. 

Click Here To Give Today

 National Museum of Civil War Medicine | 301-695-1864 | 48 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701  www.civilwarmed.org

Join the Civil War Trust LIVE at Gettysburg

You're invited to the Trust’s Gettysburg 158th anniversary video extravaganza this July 1-3! This year with a twist: a focus on the soldiers who fought in the battle.

  Experience numerous facets of American history at the 158th Battle of Gettysburg anniversary commemoration through the eyes of the soldiers and in their footsteps with the American Battlefield Trust and Ancestry/Fold3.

  We will be online through all three days of the anniversary to help you share—virtually—in this meaningful event! Please, let me explain with this quick video...

  Join us on Facebook and Youtube from the battlefield through a proliferation of videos, short and long with special guests from the Gettysburg Foundation, the Adams County Historical Society, and, of course, the Gettysburg National Military Park.

  Ancestry is working hard to unearth little-known Gettysburg stories and a good friend is planning to show identified artifacts from the battle that are in some cases returning to the battlefield place for the first time since the battle! 

Whether you are a Gettysburg novice or a full-on Civil War nerd, expect to learn some new things, and see places both familiar and off the beaten path. We promise you plenty of cool experiences, great energy, and lots of solid history!

Sincerely
Garry Adelman
Chief Historian
American Battlefield Trust

The Black Influence – Series 3 – Gettysburg’s Underground Railroad

The Gettysburg Connection (LINK)
June 12, 2021 by Jenine Weaver

Black History in Adams County cannot be complete without paying respect to the escaped slaves that followed the Underground Railroad (UGRR) through Adams County.

The National Park Service describes the UGRR by saying:

“Beginning in the 17th century and continuing through the mid-19th century in the United States, enslaved African Americans resisted bondage to gain their freedom through acts of self-emancipation. The individuals who sought this freedom from enslavement, known as freedom seekers, and those who assisted along the way, united together to become what is known as the Underground Railroad.” Underground Railroad (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

FOR THE COMPLETE STORY CLICK HERE

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMMING ON PCN

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMMING ON PCN Civil war historians and enthusiasts meet on America’s most famous battlefield every year to walk in the footsteps of the soldiers who fought there in July of 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest fight to ever take place on American soil, is explained to visitors and PCN viewers by Gettysburg National Military Park Rangers (GNMP) and licensed battlefield guides from the National Park Service like Rangers Troy Harman and Matt Atkinson. This year's coverage also includes a LIVE Call-In Program with guests from the Confederation of Union Generals (COUG) portraying historical figures of the time, discussions and roundtables from the Civil War Institute, and interviews with various Gettysburg experts. Watch our Gettysburg anniversary programming from July 1-4. For program times, please visit PCNTV.com/gettysburg.

A Summer of Restoration for the Kirkland Monument at Fredericksburg Battlefield

From The Emerging Civil War…

Saving History Saturday

The Sergeant Kirkland Monument within the boundaries of Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania National Military Park and near the Sunken Road and Marye’s Heights is an iconic symbol. Depicting the Confederate sergeant giving water to a wounded Union soldier, it’s a powerful reminder of both the incident in Fredericksburg’s battle history and of the compassion that was shown by some in the aftermath of combat.

This summer the Kirkland Monument is undergoing planned restoration by the National Park Service. So, if you happen to visit and see the dismantled statue, it’s actually good news. The base and pedestal is getting reinforced and the sculpture is getting cleaned and preserved. Yes, it’s all going to be put back together!

Here is a close up of the new interpretive panel explaining the process and preservation goals: