How many of you have been to Gettysburg? For this is my first time and I was wondering what are some good shops to go to(for possible reenactor gear) and what were some of your favorite experiences visiting Gettysburg? I know it's only been a few hours since I got here but I know it will be quite an experience(I am a little bit of a civil war buff so this is very exciting and awe inspiring to be able to walk the grounds of the largest battle in North America).

Please comment below.

I have been there. What I think is hard to comprehend, without actually seeing it, is the distance across open fields that the men of Picketts charge covered. How any of those Rebs got thru grapeshot and musket balls and made it to and then over the stonewall where the Yankees were is just more than amazing.
Can't help you with shops.
Eric

Wish I could help. I live about a half hour away but dont go there much. Are you staying at one of the haunted hotels in town? Everything is pretty much right in town. Not much outside of it but small towns.

No, I am just staying at one of the regular hotels(My dad planned all of the hotel stays and such because this is my belated senior trip).

And I do agree with you on not being able to imagine how Pickett got his men across that field(I was able to see where they came up).
So far the experience has no words to describe it.

We've been there a few times. The museum at the visitor's center is worth the visit. My secretary just went and said the open air bus tour was great - and she's not a history buff so it's probably good. Park in downtown Gettysburg near the circle and wander around. Interesting shops and restaurants. All of the battlefields and monuments are good. Some of the state monuments on the battlefields have steps to the top with great views.

We also like Harper's Ferry, VA - about an hour from Gettysburg. The little town of Harper's Ferry has residential houses and apartments on the main street (only street?) with restaurants and shops in the basements. A lot of cool shops and stuff to see just wandering through "main street" (or whatever the street is called) in addition to all the historical stuff. If I had 3 days to spend, I'd do one of the battlefields and state monuments at Gettysburg, one day split between the Gettysburg visitor's center museum and wandering around the actual town of Gettysburg, and one day wandering around Harper's Ferry.

Gettsburg battlefield is such a historic place.Don't miss cemetary ridge, the high water mark, the devil's den, little round top, and the peach orchard.Also, if you have time, go the antietam battlefield.

I enjoyed the bus tour. Antietam was also worth the trip if you get to Harper's Ferry.

The house that 20 year old Jennie Wade died in. She was the only civilian killed in the battle. She was baking bread for the union soldiers at 8AM when a bullet penetrated the front door killing her. You can still see the actual bullet hole in the door along with other bullet holes in the building. Also, the buildings that General Lee and General Meade occupied as their headquarters during the battle.

Check out Longstreet Tower if it's open, for a good view of the surrounding area. Devil's Den, Little Round Top, and Cemetery Ridge are humbling areas to see and read about.

Lee should have moved on and never engaged the yanks there.....they were to well entrenched. Cost him the war.

Was there in the early 2000s. We were at the museum and a couple other stops but we took the guided tour that went from the first battles on the northwest and around the whole battle field. To me that was the more meaningful part of the day there for me. Hard to fathom 100k plus of military men, horses, mules and all that weaponry coming together in one place. It was larger then imagined by myself and when you look across from Round Top north it was about 3 miles. We had men from our local area in the Iron brigade that were killed in the early fight on the first day holding off the southern larger force so Meade could gain the high ground and thus have a distinct advantage for the next two days.

Bryce

I lived just north of GB for almost 20 years. Great place to visit!

It is very tourist oriented and there is plenty of places to spend money. There are multiple sutlers to get gear from.

I highly recommend that you stop at the visitor center and have a licensed battlefield guide take you around the park. Well worth the money and you won't be disappointed.

Dobbins House is very popular and great food.

If time permits I would run upto Harrisburg and check out the Civil War museum there. It has amazing stuff.

Another awesome museum is Gettysburg museum of history. Did I say AWESOME? If not, it's Awesome! Absolutely incredible artifacts. A+++ Google it now and you won't sleep!

I live 15 minutes From Gettysburg. Check out the visitor center watch the movies and the panoramic also go to the Eisenhower Farm. take one of the guided tours of the battlefield its a huge battlefield

Devils den gave me chills. Cant imagine having to fight there

I have been there as well and this is good advice if you are really into the Civil War. They will take you to places the average person never goes. You can trace units across the whole battlefield.

Brian

Spend many a night there doing battlefield studies while in the marines. We used to camp at a buddy’s backyard. 200-300 of us. Beef, beans, bread, and beer. The only four food groups Marines need.

Lots of great advice so far. I'll second Harper's Ferry if you have extra time. The Blue & Grey is a good burger joint right on the square and the Garry Owen is a nicer (but not too nice) evening restaurant.

Not sure when you're coming but I saw a sign that 8-11 July is Gettysburg Bike Week so expect crowds.

I was a Civil War buff too and collected a fair amount of stuff related to the war. Swords and sabers, buttons, cannon balls, etc.. I never got to go to the battlefields in the south but got the next best thing. There is a guy here in southern Maine who got into collecting CW stuff long before it became all the rage. Over time I got to know him well enough for him to trust me to enter his house. Once in there I understood why he was reluctant to let people in. He had one of the more extensive CW collections in the country and Ken Burns filmed part of his Civil War series right there in that guys basement.

Spent a couple days at Gettysburg in 1965. I suspect things have changed a bit. Really enjoyed it and learned a lot. Haven't had the desire to go east of the Mississippi since.

Jack

Go to New Market battlefield in New Market,VA. It's an easy on / off of I -81. They even have big rig parking if you are a trucker. I have not been to Gettysburg yet. Antietam was a bloody battle as well.