Last month we had friends from Iowa visit us in Pennsylvania. One place they wanted to go was the Soldiers National Cemetery in Gettysburg. Specifically, they wanted to see where President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. We live 45 minutes from Gettysburg and headed down there for the day.
Soldiers National Cemetery is a historic site and free to visit. Thousands of people from all around the world come to visit the Gettysburg Battlefields and area attractions. Tourism is BIG in Gettysburg especially during the spring, summer and fall seasons of the year.
On the day that we visited it was 91 degrees. Extremely hot and humid. We brought along plenty of bottled water to help stay cool plus we dressed appropriately for the hot weather. You want to wear comfortable walking shoes because you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
All of the paths through the cemetery are paved making it wheelchair accessible. There are park benches that you can sit on if needed. You’ll be out in the sun although there are a few old trees nearby that offer a little bit of shade. Visitors are welcome to take photographs of the historic memorials but they do request that you stay on the paved walking paths and don’t be wondering through the grass.
We spent an hour at the cemetery before we moved onto touring the Gettysburg Battlefields. Visiting Gettysburg is a must-do for every American. It’s a humbling experience. Everyone should know the real history of the Civil War and everyone needs to honor those who fought in it. Just remember…freedom isn’t free!