Pennsylvania
The "Keystone" State
The Gettysburg National Military Park
What would it be like to live during, or even fight in, the U.S. Civil War? The National Gettysburg Memorial Park is a very fascinating place with a full background. There is a lot of important information about the park, and what it stands for. Such as when the Battle of Gettysburg devastated Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. But the Gettysburg address gave hope to a broken nation.
The life story of the park began when the Battle of Gettysburg erupted in war in July 1863. The park was created later the same year in November 1863. The state of Pennsylvania had purchased a portion of the battlefield to be turned into a cemetery for soldier that died during the Battle of Gettysburg, most of which, defending Union beliefs. President Lincoln closed the dedication ceremony of the eternal home for lost soldiers with his remarkable, Gettysburg Address.
There is a lot of important information about the Gettysburg National Military Park. It is located at 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 17325, United State of America. The park has many prizes to share. It includes the Gettysburg Museum of the Civil War, "Battle of Gettysburg" cyclorama painting, the Gettysburg Battlefield, the Soldiers' National Cemetery, and 1,325 monuments, memorials, and land markers spread over 6,000 acres. The cyclorama painting was being painted from 1863 to 1864 by French artist Paul Philippoteaux and cost about 15 million dollars. The Soldiers' National Cemetery is a resting place for soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg and in the overall Civil War. The designer of the cemetery was William Saunders. It spans 17 acres.
The Gettysburg Museum of the Civil War is amazing. The museum has 12 galleries, interactive stations, special exhibit cases and more. The gallery is one of the most extensive museums of the Battle of Gettysburg with 300,000 objects and 700,000 archival materials. The major themes of the establishment are the Gettysburg Campaign, the Civil War, its causes, and consequences. Inside the Building there is a computer resource room. The Ford Motor Company Fund Education Center and refreshment saloon. The museum has 139,000 square feet which is used for exhibits. It cost $103 Million Dollars to build. The museum is open from November through March, and from April through October . It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. The war was not a small historical event!
The Battle of Gettysburg is when it became clear that the Confederate Army would not triumph in the war.The U.S. Civil War started , 1861 at 4:30 in the morning. It ended almost 4 years later in 1865. The Battle of Gettysburg started and ended 3 days later , 1863.
During the battle, 23,049 Union Soldiers were killed, and 28,063 Confederates. That was 51,112 total in just one battle! The second day of the battle was the largest and most costly. When the battlefield got larger, the cost was propelled towards the sky with zeros trailing after it. There were 120 Generals in the battle, 9 of which were killed during the battle. 63 Veterans received Medals of Honor from this battle. Around the battlefield, every farm, field and garden was a graveyard. It got so grim that public buildings, churches and even private homes were turned into hospitals full of wounded soldiers.
Some people would say that the Gettysburg Address inspired a nation, and gave hope to a country broken in the turmoil of war. The address was given 7 score and 11 years ago by President Lincoln to dedicate the Soldiers National Cemetery. Ten to twenty thousand people gathered on the battlefield to listen to Lincoln's two minute long peroration to the Ceremony. When the President arrived to give his speech, a man named Dave Wills opened his home to let the President stay with him. Lincoln revised and finished his speech in Wills' back bedroom. After that, Daves house was the center of Gettysburg. The speech changed the community of Gettysburg. The speech changed the community of Gettysburg from a place of devastation to a symbol for America of the rebirth of Freedom.
As the Gettysburg Address stands for lost soldiers and freedom, the Gettysburg National Military Park stands for a lot, too. It stands for soldiers that gave their lives for the Union Cause. It represents all that were killed in a great conflict all derived from the simple question of States Rights.
The Gettysburg National Military Park stands for so much, but a more recent idea that it stands for is a "green" environment. The park has achieved the highest level of LEED certification, Gold. LEED is a certification given by the Green Building Council for organizations with high performance, environmentally sensitive and sustainable buildings to help cut back on Pollution.
The Park and area overall is a very interesting place to visit with lots of great stories to tell, prizes to share, and an amazing museum with a wonderful message to all who visit. The war's outcomes greatly affected present day America. A true question that still remains is "What if States Rights had never been questioned?" Well, the Civil War would not have happened, slaves may have still beenn used today, and the federal government would control and make all laws. How would this affect our Country as a whole in todays Global Society?
Hershey's Park
Liberty Bell
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Zoo
Please Touch Museum
Eastern State Penniteturary
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