Re: Civil War Battlefield Visits in free fall

[bbmike]

Sounds like I need to schedule some park visits. 

[Bison]

I did several battlefields this last fall following Grant's Vicksburg Campaign. Shiloh and Vicksburg are well maintained.

Lots of reasons can be given but I just think most people don't give two thoughts to history or historical locations. They do not provide immediate gratification but require "work" to appreciate beyond the natural beauty. By work, I mean reading a book or two. The extent of most peoples "knowledge" is limited to current political rhetoric and vague memories of primary school history classes. It really a shame to be honest.

[trailrunner]

I read that article and was surprised.  I visit one or two battlefields a year, and most recently visited Antietam.  On the other hand, Bull Run is the closest to me (only 20 minutes away), but I haven't been there in perhaps 10 years, and my last visit was to run the trails.

[bbmike]

I've lived in DC for 20 years now and have yet to see Bull Run. 

[Bison]

I have Bull Run and Gettysburg on the bucket list. I did several ACW sites in Virginia a couple of years ago. The one I wanted to see most was Appomattox Court House which I did get to see and walk the grounds. It’s another well maintained site. The most surprising feature I didn’t appreciate until I was there was just how tiny the house really is where Lee and Grant met.

[BanzaiCat]

My early childhood years were spent in Dale City, just down the road from D.C. and Manassas. Later I always wondered why we didn't visit it, as much into military history as my grandfather was (it's his fault I'm into it myself now, lol).

You know, I thought if I had my choice of dream jobs, I'd go back and get a degree in forestry or something similar and get a job at a National Park - preferably one with a battlefield. This is a real shame.

[Sir Slash]

My older brother and I have seen Gettysburg, Antietam, and the Manassas battlefields from some years back. You can just drive down the Shenandoah and there's battlefields about every 20 miles or less. Winchester is fantastic and Stonewall Jackson's HQ was a treat to visit. However many places were already being taken over by strip malls and condos leaving nothing but a sign or two saying something happened here or there and it's very hard to get the feel of history or especially try to discern the lay of the ground for many of the battles. So, go see them while there's still something there to see.