One afternoon in Gettysburg, my men went fly fishing so I found myself with a rare day to myself. I was a little wary about taking a tour. The day before we had taken a private tour of the battle field and it was so boring that I kept dozing! However, when I studied my options and read about Gettysburg Licensed Town Historians, the walking tour became more appealing.
You see, I was tired of hearing about "the battle" itself. However, these Historians specialize in tours regarding civilian accounts and stories about the battle, occupation, and aftermath. The "Historian" tours are 90 minutes and cost $25 (students 9-17 $20 & children 8 and under are free). They offer a "General Walking Tour", as well as specific topics specializing in Architecture, Black History, Lincoln's Visit, "Mystery & Tragedy", and Eisenhower. The specific topic that sparked my interest was "The Unsung Heroes: The Civilian Ladies of Gettysburg".
Luckily, since I did not have a car that day, the "Historian" office was conveniently located steps from my B&B on Lincoln Square. I was assigned to Susan, whose family had been living in Gettysburg for generations (yes, prior to "the battle"). I happened to be the only participant in the tour so in effect I got a private tour for $25. Even though it was it was just me, Susan did not skimp on any time, information, or enthusiasm!
We walked the streets of Gettysburg and Susan told about what the town of Gettysburg was really like during the mid 1800s and what life was like for its inhabitants. She told stories about the individuals and characters who lived there, making them come to life as we passed the houses and places where they lived and worked. Susan concentrated on the women and stories of their bravery and sacrifice. Susan also put a personal spin on the tour by telling stories of her own ancestors who were living in Gettysburg at the time of the Civil War.
So I was able to have fun while learning and get a little exercise at the same time! If you are visiting Gettysburg I strongly suggest touring the town and not just the battlefield. To help you do this, I highly recommend the passionate story tellers at Licensed Town Historians to give you a picture of what life was like for civilians in 1863. read more