Wednesday, July 20

We started today visiting Dwight D. Eisenhower's farm in Gettysburg which Ike willed to the Park Service when he died in 1969.  Ike purchased the property in 1950, when he was the military chief of NATO.  He and his wife, Mamie, had lived in over 30 different locations since they married, and this was actually the first home they purchased.  Although he was born in Texas and grew up in Kansas, Ike developed his love of this area when he visited Gettysburg for training exercises while he was at West Point.  One of the Eisenhowers' best friends also had recently purchased a farm there, so that's where they decided to settle once he retired from the Army.  

Ike's practice green.  The tour guide said he played 800 rounds of golf while President.

Their farm is kept in the same condition it was when they last occupied it, so it was filled with dated items; especially noticeable in the kitchen & bathrooms. Mamie remained there another ten years after Ike's death until her death in the late 70's.  It was fascinating to see all the momentous they had collected from so many heads of state from the 40's & 50's, but all in all it was really just farmhouse with lots of family photos and some special modifications for the secret service.

One of the presentations we viewed at the farm was WWII related, and it focused on all the equipment that was issued to a soldier who landed in Normandy.  It was fascinating and it included everything:  underwear, k-rations, gas mask, rifle, inflatable life vest, ammunition, etc.  All in all it amounted to over 100 lbs. of gear!  

Leaving Ike's farm at 2 pm we took the shuttle bus back to the visitors center, had a quick lunch in the cafeteria, and then started our audio tour of the batlefields.  Thanks to Betsy Bray, we had audio tour that explained in detail every spot in the National Military Park.  It was fascinating, and although it went over a lot of what we heard yesterday on the bus tour, there is so much information to grasp that it was well worth it. For me it has always been difficult to understand battle strategies, so actually see the land where the fighting took place made it come alive.

Equestrian statue of Robert E. Lee, taken from Seminary Hill looking toward Cemetery Hill, the scene of Picket's Charge.

We continued the tour until about 5 pm, and then headed to a grocery store for dinner supplies.  We'll finish our tour of the battlefields and cemetery where Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address tomorrow.

Dinner was burgers and fresh local corn, washed down with our last two "Two Hearted Ales" from the UP.  For dessert; coffee or tea with a few Pepridge Farm Chessmen.  A great camping meal.