Gettysburg

[Biber]

Heading out to Gettysburg for Thanksgiving next week. We'll be there Wed-Sunday. Any suggestions for places to see/things to do that must not be missed?

Wife has already planned out some things to do - some sort of Ghost tour and a CD narration tour of the battlefields.

I was probably 10 when I last went there, and I remember going to a pretty incredible private(?) roadside museum that was in a nondescript building (barn maybe). Maybe on a road going out of town perhaps? Anybody have any ideas about this?

[TWS]

I was probably 10 when I last went there, and I remember going to a pretty incredible private(?) roadside museum that was in a nondescript building (barn maybe). Maybe on a road going out of town perhaps? Anybody have any ideas about this?

You may be referring to the Battlefield Military Museum. It was owned by George Marinos who was a collector and he had a militaria shop on the side. Sadly, he passed away - I believe just last year - and I do not know what the status of both museum and shop are now. You could look them up and call.

[Biber]

Well, I was ten 45 years ago. Thanks for the info,I'll look into it. I do remember the museum being chock full of stuff and pretty amazing.

[Barry G]

Museum at park visitors center is good and The Horse Soldier on Steinwehr Ave is great and many items for sale. Some WW@ items also.

[Frank Nick]

We were there for an overnight stay last week. The above mentioned places are great. We had seen George’s Battlefield military Museum years ago but we didn’t stop this time. It’s a fantastic collection to see. We passed by it this visit but I believe there was a sign saying they were open. So much history to experience on this battlefield! We did the licensed Battlefield guide tour where they drive your car and take you on a personal tour. We enjoyed that. Next visit we’ll go to specific spots on our own. Also, check out -

https://www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com/
A small private museum with many amazing pieces from the CW, WWI, WWII and other things to see!

http://www.antiquecenter-getty.com/
Lots of Militaria of all eras for viewing and buying

https://uniondb.com/
Lots of amazing Civil War items

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...nsylvania.html
George’s place

http://www.horsesoldier.com/
Great items to see and or buy.

Some prices for Militaria are high, being in a well know historic tourist area, but many items are fairly priced and you can work out deals.

Have a great trip,
Frank

[Biber]

That's wonderful, thanks for the links.

[Willi Z.]

George's "Military Museum" is still open and worth a visit. His son now runs it. Worth a visit a and I always take collectors from Europe there, when visiting. There is also a great military bookstore called "For the Historian", run by a fellow Persian Gulf War vet. In addition to the links above, there is also "The Union Drummer Boy", run by a very knowledgeable Civil War dealer (just saw it too was mentioned above). "The Horse Soldier", mentioned above, is also really good. However, don't visit the shops with the expectation you will find great WWII stuff at great prices.

This coming weekend we are having a small militaria show in town.

30 miles north is the Army War College and they also have a nice WWI exhibit.

[Biber]

Thanks for all the recommendations. Maybe I should have clarified that I'm not a collector. I just like to look, learn and appreciate. Though undoubtedly I'll (or my 13 year old son) pick up a trinket or two.

[dragnet]

Well, I was ten 45 years ago. Thanks for the info,I'll look into it. I do remember the museum being chock full of stuff and pretty amazing.

That takes me back, i also visited the Battlefield at 10 around 45 years ago , at the time we lived near Washington and parents use to take me there on regular visits for picknics, seemed to be the thing at the time My major memory was this huge diorama of the battle in a building on site that just blew my 10 year old mind Any ideas were this was
p.s . Could this have been the episode that got me into militaria and military history!!

[TWS]

My major memory was this huge diorama of the battle in a building on site that just blew my 10 year old mind Any ideas were this was
p.s . Could this have been the episode that got me into militaria and military history!!

I believe you are remembering the "Cyclorama".

Funny, as I read the posts here... my first trip to Gettysburg was probably around age 10 as well. I was a Civil War nut as a young kid and badgered my parents until they relented and made our annual family summer vacation a trip out there.

I later went back while in college and that's when I knew about George Marinos through a mutual collector friend. The friend had even told George I would be coming. Because it was a school trip I wouldn't be free during the day and George kindly let me visit the shop that evening after hours. Still have the items I bought that Halloween night, 1988, as well as a few more that I examined but bought later as I couldn't afford them on the spot.

[Ostprussenmann]

Heading out to Gettysburg for Thanksgiving next week. We'll be there Wed-Sunday. Any suggestions for places to see/things to do that must not be missed?

Wife has already planned out some things to do - some sort of Ghost tour and a CD narration tour of the battlefields.

I was probably 10 when I last went there, and I remember going to a pretty incredible private(?) roadside museum that was in a nondescript building (barn maybe). Maybe on a road going out of town perhaps? Anybody have any ideas about this?

They have a brand new visitor center so hit that. Also get the book at the center that has an audio driving tour. I did this with my family and it was awesome because you could stop at a lot of places that you just can’t see staying in the Park.

Finally if you have the spare change, there are tons of antique shops. When we went two years ago I ended up getting a bunch of WWII stuff both US and Axis. Obviously, you can find some good deals on Civil War Collectibles.

Finally, I highly recommend looking up Wierman Mill Rd and drive down it and you can see the Wierman Mill (circa 1726). It was a major area for the Underground Railroad and right around there is a Quaker Cemetery attributes to the William Penn Era.

Hope you Enjoy.

[dragnet]

I believe you are remembering the "Cyclorama".

Todd, the Cyclorama was just fantastic as a kid, even today id love to be able to get back there But from memory i belive it was a detailed diorama with thousands of soldiers, i seem to remember having to be on tiptoe and peep over to view the scenes
p.s. I remember the rest of the building had some fantastic items from the battlefield and the men who fought there

[Frank Nick]

Is this the diorama? It has its own bldg. It looks impressive.

https://www.gettysburgdiorama.com/


Frank

[dragnet]

Cheers Frank for the link, well if that was there 45 years ago then that must be it, its amazing how the memory can bring back certain times in your life

[Crusader17]

This is a nice place: http://www.dobbinhouse.com/menu4.htm

Also, New Oxford is a short drive east on Route 30 and it is a great place to visit if you like antique shops.