Gettysburg Innsider

Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL?

2011-07-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Oh boy! With the threat of no NFL season this year looming over 2 die-hard football fans, imagine our complete surprise and delight to be contacted by HBO Sports to ask if they could film at the Inn for their special segment on head coaches John and Jim Harbaugh!

John Harbaugh has been the Baltimore Ravens' head coach since 2008, and his brother Jim will take over the head coaching position in San Francisco this year for the 49'ers. Together they are the first pair of brothers to serve as NFL Head Coaches. Their teams will face each other for the first time this Thanksgiving Day, which also happens to be their parents Jack & Jackie's 50th wedding anniversary!

The entire Harbaugh family visited Gettysburg for the day in late June to tour the Battlefield, and they were followed by the team from HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" while they were in town. We had the privilege of being the filming site for correspondent Andrea Kremer'sinterview with Jack & Jackie Harbaugh. They talked about raising their family and dealing with the ins and outs of Jack's extensive college football coaching career, including his head coaching jobs at Western Michigan and Western Kentucky Universities. To say football runs in the blood lines in this family is quite an understatement!

During the shoot the entire family was here, relaxing and having fun. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more genuinely friendly and down to earth group of folks. We did give full disclosure: Your innkeepers are well-known and permanent members of the Steeler Nation, and at the time of the shoot our house was FULL of black & gold fans (Good Timing!).

Coach John was an incredibly good sport about it, chatting with everyone and signing some autographs. What a class act.

We were fortunate to have beautiful weather, and the shot was completed in the back yard. Todd's Mom would have been over the moon to see her flowers getting filmed for national TV! We got a quiet chuckle out of that.

We were very excited to hear both Coaches express confidence that there WILL be an NFL season this year. And now there really must be, as the Ravens' home opener is against none other than their division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers!

The crew from HBO Sports was just incredible, when they were finished you would never even have known they were here (to the extent that one of the crew carried Molly's stuffed toy inside to be sure the whole area was cleaned up!). We finished with a great group photo.

The Gettysburg segment will be featured on the July 19th episode of HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel", airing at 10 pm. Be sure to check it out!

Summer is in Full Swing!

2011-06-06T04:52:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Gettysburg! We have finally gotten past a cold,wet spring and are reveling in some beautiful summer-like weather here on the Battlefield. It's been tough on local farmers, the ground has been too wet to harvest their wheat and rye, and as such summer corn has not yet been planted. So don't be looking for "Knee-high by July" cornstalks when you come to visit!

But with the recent dry spell things are finally getting back to a more normal schedule. The honeysuckle which grows everywhere on the field is in full bloom and smells heavenly to boot.

FIRST DAY BATTLEFIELD WORK!

As part of the continued Battlefield restoration, the Friends of Gettysburg has installed new snake rail fencing on the July 1^st Battlefield.

Fencing has been erected along the Railroad Cut, Reynolds Avenue, Buford Avenue, and Wadsworth Avenue. We are excited to see the First Day getting some attention.

Rufus Dawes would be happy to see these fences represented here! Below is a picture taken from the railroad cut looking south towards Chambersburg Pike. This is the field where the 6^th Wisconsin charged the Mississippians in the railroad cut. Many of these fences would have been here in 1863, and became significant obstacles for the troops:

To the right is view west from the bridge over Reynolds Avenue with the 14^th Brooklyn monument in the foreground. Hall’s Battery had a disabled gun stuck in a fence opening in this field as the Confederates bore down on them from the West.

With all the volunteers' hard work, you can now see (at left, looking north from the railroad cut), the three rows of fencing between the cut and Wadsworth Avenue, all three of which the troops would have had to contend with during the brutal fighting of July 1st.

SUMMER RANGER PROGRAMS HAVE STARTED!

The Park's excellent series of 7 days/week programming is also well underway. Click here for a complete listing of events and topics.

Hope to see you soon on the Battlefield!

~Todd

Gettysburg Battlefield's Newest Licensed Guide!

2011-04-05T05:10:00.001-07:00

We are THRILLED to announce that the newest member of the Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide force is our dear friend Maureen Quinn!

Many of you have met Maureen here at the Inn as she has been a frequent guest over the past few years while pursuing this goal. She is an absolute wealth of knowledge on all things historical! In addition to this latest certification, Maureen is an active docent for the National Cathedral and a Licensed Tour Guide for Washington, DC. Maureen has introduced us to so many fascinating subjects, from monument sculpture here in Gettysburg to Revolutionary War forts in the Hudson River Valley. Be careful, if you get her anywhere NEAR an historic cemetery you will have to drag her out of it!

Maureen's first visit to Gettysburg was a decade ago. She was fascinated by the beauty and symbolism on the different monuments here. Having just relocated to the DC area she realized how close to home Gettysburg is for her, and thus began MANY trips to the area to really dig into all the historical info. She began her pursuit of the LBG certification in earnest about six years ago.

The process to become a Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide is quite rigorous. The license is given through the National Park Service. A written exam is offered once every two years. To prepare for the written exam candidates are given a multi-page reading list and encouraged to learn as much as they can about the Battle of Gettysburg and the entire Civil War...yikes! It is daunting to say the least.

A typical group size for the written exam is 125-150 people. It is not enough to merely PASS the exam, candidates must rank in the top 20 scores to be considered to move on to the oral exam. For the exam that was offered in December, 2010 the score needed to rank in the top 20 was 96%. Talk about no room for error!!! These people certainly know their stuff, down to the nitty gritty details and trivia.

Once a candidate is ranked, they await their turn to take the oral exam. For the job of Battlefield Guide it's obviously important that someone not only know the material, but be able to share it with visitors in a way that is engaging and interesting. So now candidates must go from the level of trivia to the level of broad overview, to give a first time visitor a 2 hour tour that covers the entire Gettysburg Battlefield. Guides need to know not only about the fighting that took place here, but also about the monuments that mark where that fighting happened (including when they were placed here and by whom, details on the symbolism and data portrayed on the monuments, and even the materials the monuments are made from)! They also know information on the Soldiers National Cemetery and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, as well as info on the town and citizens who witnessed this fighting in 1863.

This rigorous process ensures that only the best of the best become Battlefield Guides here, and we all benefit from it! You can be sure that any LBG you are lucky enough to tour with will give you accurate and entertaining information. All this for only $50 for a two hour tour, you just can't find a better bargain.

Think you've got what it takes to become a Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide? Go here for details on how to get started. We know a nice place you can stay when you start preparing :-)

CONGRATULATIONS MAUREEN, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU AND SO HAPPY TO HAVE BEEN PART OF YOUR JOURNEY!

~Todd, Christine & Molly

4 Civil War Battlefields in One Day!

2011-03-20T10:54:00.001-07:00

Ok, even we have to admit that Gettysburg isn't the ONLY Civil War Battlefield in the country (just the best)! So during a free day in early March we decided to celebrate Christine's birthday and the approaching 150th Anniversary of the beginning of the US Civil War with a day trip to Virginia to see some of those other historic sites. Molly came along too, as you all know we need LOTS of supervising to be sure we're doing a good job!

We left the Doubleday Inn at 6:30 AM and headed down I-95 to our first stop at Fredericksburg. It was a cold but very clear and sunny day, and the lack of foliage made it easy to interpret all the Battlefields as we went and take some great pictures.

Fredericksburg has a very nice Visitor Center

with a 20 minute introductory movie. We also picked up a copy of the Park Service's Battlefield Map and an audio tour CD with which we were able to cover the entire field. We spent about 3 hours overall and felt we got to explore pretty well, although our schedule didn't leave us any time for meandering downtown, which looked very quaint with some interesting shops and restaurants.

To see the extreme incline at Marye's Heights was truly awe-inspiring (pic above shows the mansion on top of the heights and the original stone wall bordering the sunken road). It is very difficult to imagine the courage that must have been necessary as a Union soldier charging against such a well-fortified position. Another fascinating display was the 30 pound Parrot Gun (pic below) that the Confederates had delivered by train from Richmond to the Battlefield at Fredericksburg (for comparison, the Parrot guns here at Gettysburg were all 10 or 20 pounds in size). Molly was just glad she wasn't on the team that had to pull it to the top of Telegraph Hill!

Our next stop was Chancellorsville, just a few miles west. Here we were most interested to see the spot of the fatal wounding of Stonewall Jackson. This field also marks the final meeting place of Generals Lee and Jackson as they planned the infamous countermarch which would lead to the routing flank attack on the Union Army. Another very nice Visitor's Center with a small museum and introductory movie helped us get oriented. This park also had a CD driving tour which we enjoyed thoroughly.

It would be General Lee's decisive victory at Chancellorsville in May of 1863 that would provide the final prompt to move his army and the war northward to Gettysburg that summer.

Next onward to the nearby Wildnerness Battlefield, where the amputated arm of General Jackson was buried in the family cemetary of the Lacy family who lived at Ellwood House. The house and grounds are open to the public and the farm is a rare spot of cultivation in the midst of what is to this day dense forest and underbrush. The house and a gorgeous, absolutely ENORMOUS black walnut tree (surely a witness to the brutal fighting that took place here) are pictured below.

The Wildnerness Battlefield did not have a visitor's center but did have its own CD driving tour and a Park Service map which helped us navigate the many back roads that wind throughout the field itself. There is also an outdoor exhibit shelter which gives a good overview of the fighting and the specific points of interest.

Finally, chasing daylight a bit, we headed south to Spotsylvania Court House just as both armies did after the fighting at the Wilderness ended in May, 1864.

At Spotsylvania there was again no visitor center, but a small exhibit shelter and a walking trail that takes you over the famous Mule Shoe salient and Bloody Angle.

Most of the wayside markers had been removed (likely being refurbished for the upcoming 150th Anniversary) so we didn't get to go as in-depth on this field as we did the rest, but it piqued our interest enough to ensure that we will plan a return visit. Todd was very interested in seeing the spot where Union General "Uncle" John Sedgwick was killed.

At 6:30 pm we were 12 hours into our marathon day and the light was definitely gone, so we began the 2.5 hour drive home. It was a fun, interesting and very educational

day. If anyone is planning a day trip from Gettysburg to any of these excellent Battlefields, it is very doable! If you plan to go please let us know; we saved all our info and the Audio CD's which you are welcome to borrow!

Wishing everyone a warm and wonderful Spring and some time to get out and explore!

~Your Doubleday Friends

Sound Familiar?

2010-11-06T05:10:00.000-07:00

150 years ago today, the country elected Abraham Lincoln as President. After a very hard-fought political campaign the country was sharply divided amid already rising tensions concerning states' rights and the expansion of slavery. Lincoln won the general election without taking a single southern state. Within a month southern states starting declaring secession.

We can see the similarities in our own time, with our recently completed and quite contentious mid-term elections. The best way we can assure that we do not repeat our past mistakes is to carefully study our history! Luckily there are many special events already planned that will help us gain a better

understanding of the events that threatened to tear our country apart a century and a half ago.

The National Park Service has created an entire series of events to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of our American Civil War, which runs from 2011-2015. You can click here to view the complete calendar of events and start making your plans now to attend these once-in-a-lifetime commemorations!

Currently our most frequently asked question is: "When can I make reservations for the 150th anniversary in 2013?". We take reservations up to one calendar year (365 days) in advance. We do have many "regulars" who stay with us each year for the Battle Reenactment, and when those folks check out of the Inn in July, 2012 they will have the first opportunity to reserve for 2013 (this is about 3-4 of our 9 total guest rooms). Once those folks have booked, we will then open up any remaining rooms to the public via our website. So mark your calendars now for Monday, 7/9/2012 if you are hoping to make reservations!

Here in Gettysburg we are preparing for this month's 147th Annual Dedication Day Celebration on November 19/20/21. This celebration marks the anniversary of President Lincoln's historic Gettysburg Address, and many activities are planned throughout the town and the Park. One of the highlights will be the keynote speech by former ABC White House Chief Correspondent Sam Donaldson at the National Cemetary on Friday, Nov. 19th at 10:30 AM. Click here for the weekend's full schedule of events.

Finally, we have just posted our Winter Savings specials and packages on our website. Here's your chance to enjoy the Battlefield without crowds and humidity! Enjoy a relaxing quiet stay with us this winter.

We hope you all enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families, and we hope to see you soon on the Gettysburg Battlefield!

Christine, Todd & Molly

Dog Days of Summer

2010-07-23T08:28:00.001-07:00

Whew! The summer of 2010 is definitely going into the record books as a SCORCHER! We have topped 90 degrees just about every day in July, with no let up in sight. Molly thought that was a bit much, so we took a drive into the mountains and found a stream for her to take a dip in (it does get really hot wearing that fur coat all the time, we understand). We couldn't resist the urge to cool off a bit ourselves, the water was clear and beautiful and SO refreshing! It definitely rejuvenated us and got us ready to jump back into the busy season here in Gettysburg.

There are literally dozens of activities going on in the National Military Park right now. The daily Ranger Programs are in full effect, with some really interesting Battle Walks scheduled every day at 3:30. These in-depth programs are 2-3 hours long and let you actually follow the Ranger as you walk in the footsteps of particular regiments during the Battle action. If the heat is too much for you, we suggest one of the evening Campfire programs also offered by the Park Rangers. These are hosted nightly at 8:30 pm at the Park Ampitheater, no sun and plenty of seating! Click here for the full schedule of topics being offered in the coming weeks.

This Saturday (July 24th) features an exciting new educational program by local historian Deb McCauslin. Deb has done extensive research on the Underground Railroad in Adams County and is very knowledgeable about the history of African Americans in this area. Kitty Payne and her children were enslaved in Virginia, given freedom, lived in Adams County for 2 years freely but were kidnapped July 24, 1845 by 5 men in the middle of the night. This Saturday (the 165th anniversary of the kidnapping), you can see a mini-reenactment of the kidnapping, meet some descendents of those involved including Kitty's great, great-granddaughter and witness local history as a wayside marker is dedicated in remembrance at today's Elkhorn Inn in Bendersville, PA. Begins at 4 pm.

Both the Adams County Winery and Hauser Estates Winery are treating guests to free outdoor summer concerts in the coming weeks. Bring your lawn chair and your wine pallette as you sip and sit under the stars. Visit each winery's website for a full listing of dates and scheduled performers. Also new this year, family owned Reid's Orchard & Winery located in Orrtanna now has a tasting room in downtown Gettysburg inside the historic Jennie Wade birthplace on Baltimore Street. Our little town now boasts THREE distinctive tasting rooms from our local wineries, mention your interest in this to your innkeepers and we will give you a map with walking directions so you can check out all three!

As always, please visit our local Convention & Visitor's Bureau website where you can always find an updated Calendar of Events with all the latest happenings as you plan your time in Gettysburg. We hope to see you soon and remind you that the Air Conditioning is always crankin' here at the Inn, so come sit a spell and wait out the steamy summer with us! In the meantime we're going to follow Molly's lead and stay cool.

WE LOVE YOU MOM

2010-06-17T04:26:00.000-07:00

Our collective hearts are broken at the Doubleday Inn as we mourn the sudden passing of Todd's mother, Margaret E. Thomas.

Only 61 years old, Margaret was diagnosed in mid-May with late stage stomach cancer. The disease was already too far progressed for treatment to be attempted, and she was sent home at Memorial Day with hospice care.

After an all too brief time, we lost our Mom and Molly her "Grandma" on June 11th.

Anyone who has spent time in the yard here at the Doubleday Inn has appreciated the fruits of Margaret's labors. She loved her flowers and had such a green thumb she could get anything to flourish. She especially loved working in our yard when she had Molly to supervise her work! The coneflowers pictured in the wagon above she planted in 2007 and they are in full bloom right now, making us think of her every time we glance out into the back yard.

Margaret adored Gettysburg and was a large part of our decision to purchase the Inn. Many of you got to speak with her during your visits here and know what a sweetheart she was, and what a genuine interest she took in others. She never met a stranger.

We wish to extend our sincere gratitude to those of you who visited the Inn during the turbulent last few weeks, for your patience as we had to divide our time between our duties here at the Inn and supporting Todd's family.

A big thank you to our wonderful innkeepers Erin and Phyllis, who were both willing and able to jump in at any given moment. Thanks to your efforts we were able to spend as much time as possible with Margaret during her final days. Your kindness never ceases to amaze us.

We will miss you so much, Mom! Every bird at the feeder, every bloom in the garden, and every time we serve your favorite breakfast (Blueberry French Toast!) will be an occasion to stop and remember how much you touched our lives and how blessed we all were to have you, even if our time together was cut far too short. We know you will be looking out for us always.

Spring has definitely sprung!

2010-04-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to show you some of the bloom that is happening already here in Gettysburg, thanks to the gorgeous 80 degree weather we've been enjoying for the past week.

An article in the local paper quoted one of the commercial orchard owners as saying he's never in his life seen a spring in which the peach, apricot and apple trees were all blooming simultaneously. They are all running 3-4 weeks ahead of their normal bloom time.

Daffodils, tulips, hyacinth and forsythia are all blooming together, and the lilacs are racing to catch up! You can see the changes happening overnight.

Team Doubleday took a drive this morning to check out the redbud trees that are blooming all over the Battlefield. We got lucky and happened to catch the demolition crew attacking the bathroom facility and overhead power lines over at Devil's Den.

Enjoy the pics!

Super Battlefield Viewing Right Now!

2010-03-31T07:13:00.000-07:00

This past weekend the Doubleday Inn was proud to host the "Guns of Gettysburg" package with Licensed Battlefield Guides Ralph Siegel & Rich Kohr. We were treated to 10 excellent hours on the Battlefield observing the types and uses of Civil War artillery that were present here in July 1863.

Conditions are absolutely perfect for viewing the artillery fields of fire across the Battlefield right now as the leaves are not yet out on the trees and the underbrush has not grown up. Your window is narrow here, though, as the first green sprouts are already pushing through and we will be back to full foliage by the end of April.

Ralph gave an excellent Power Point presentation on the uses and types of Civil War artillery on Friday

evening, followed by his leading us on a fantastic viewing of Benner's Hill on Saturday afternoon. He pointed out the visibility and proximity of both Culp's and Cemetary Hills and the strategies needed by both sides to hold these landmarks as well as the intense artillery clash that occurred there on July 2nd.

Rich's field tours concentrated on Day 1 and 3 artillery and gave us some really fascinating insights into what actually occurred during the immense cannonade which preceded Pickett's Charge. He also covered the opening artillery clash on McPherson's Ridge, which gave him a chance to spend some time with his beloved Day One guns (and of course throw in just a few references to the gallant men of Roy Stone's Brigade).

It was a really fun weekend filled with lots of great new information. Everyone left tired & happy so we felt our mission was accomplished!

A very special thanks to frequent Doubleday Inn visitor Cheryl, who was here in November and caught these incredible photos of a double rainbow on Oak Ridge. We got to see it but were walking Molly at the time and didn't have the camera with us so we were so happy that Cheryl managed to capture these shots and was willing to share them with us:

With the warm Spring weather we will be getting to enjoy many of our favorite outdoor activities soon. The Gettysburg Farmer's Market in Lincoln Square begins this Saturday and continues through the end of October each Saturday from 7 am to noon. If you're here we might ask you to pick some things up for us as we struggle to finish up with breakfast and get down there before all the "good stuff" is gone...if you're an expert melon or berry chooser please let us use your talents!

Beginning April 1st the National Military Park Museum & Visitor's Center will offer extended hours, from 8 AM to 6 PM daily, and the Battlefield itself features extended hours from 6 AM to 10 PM daily...lots of opportunities to get your perfect sunrise and sunset as well as full moon shots!

Please keep in your thoughts this week our historian and friend Charlie Kingston. Many of you are familiar with Charlie from his discussion sessions here at the Inn. He's got a nasty case of pneumonia and is at the moment resting up, drinking fluids, and looking forward to another busy season getting underway. We hope he is back on his feet soon.

Happy Spring!

Team Doubleday

Battlefield Snow Pics

2010-02-10T09:48:00.001-08:00

As promised, here are some beautiful snow scenes from Monday, February 8th. At the time there were 25 inches of snow on the ground. As of today (Wednesday, February 10th) Gettysburg has received an additional 14 inches of snow, AND IT IS STILL SNOWING!!! We will get some updated pics when it's all over.

"Snowmageddon"

2010-02-07T13:35:00.000-08:00

Gettysburg witnessed another battle...against Mother Nature!

It was truly remarkable. The snow began to fly on Friday afternoon at 2 pm and did not stop until the following afternoon. The wind was howling all night long on Friday and because of all the snow on the ground reflecting the flakes coming down it never really got dark...just produced a very eerie glow.

By sunset on Saturday evening the storm has completely cleared out, leaving us with a gorgeous sunset (as seen through the Inn's parlor window below).

Sunday morning we began our clean-up and while it was tough to tell the exact amount due to all the drifting, our local news is saying we got a total of 25 inches. We believe it!

Thanks to the snowblower and Todd's forward thinking in getting all the supplies ready before the storm hit, we had a fairly easy cleanup.

The clear skies and bright sunshine helped, though the temperature never reached higher than 23 degrees.

The great news is that our temperatures are not scheduled to be over 32 degrees for the next 10 days so this beautiful scenery is not going anywhere for a good long while.

So get yourself to Gettysburg and the Doubleday Inn for a visit if you want to see the results of this "biblical" snow event!

We've got someone on staff who will be happy to give you a guided tour of the snow spots with the most fun:

P.S., We are heading out for a drive tomorrow to capture some snowy Battlefield scenes, stay tuned for more pictures coming soon!

Christine

Welcome 2010!

2010-01-01T16:45:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS!

We hope this new

beginning finds you enjoying

festive holiday fun with your loved ones.

Here in Gettysburg we are enjoying the remnants of several snow storms which enabled us to enjoy not only a white Christmas but a white New Year's Eve & Day as well.

During our second Scrooged! holiday weekend on December 19th, we were snowed in with 19 wonderful guests as we watched 16 inches of fluffy white powder fall onto the Battlefield.

It is truly special to get to see this area bathed in the freshness of new snow, something not many people get the chance to see.

Luckily for all of us the Christmas carols were cheery, the refreshments were plentiful, and the warmth of the fire and the company made for a really special day. Thank you so much to all who survived the "Blizzard of 2009" with us in such jolly spirits! Special thanks to those with 4-Wheel drive vehicles who drove their new friends into town so everyone could grab a bite at the Pub!

We were lucky in that it was just snow and no ice so everyone was able to get out see the Battlefield and all the monuments covered in snow as well as walk/run/play in it a little bit. Can you guess who enjoyed that part the most?

I'll give you a hint:

Your innkeepers enjoyed some wonderful time with family over the holidays. The Inn was festive with a 7 foot live Douglas Fir in the dining room, as well as Todd's Lionel O-gauge train display in the living room. We're getting better, it only took he and his Dad 3 days to put it up this year instead of last year's 4! This year we featured an "Eisenhower Christmas" theme with the 1950's diesel engine with passenger cars and Lionel accessories laid out on our little town of Gettysburg display (my favorite are the teeny tiny phone booths and the functional traffic lights, very cool!).

Below is a great photo that our friend Michael Buck took during his last stay at the Inn. Some of you might remember that Mike also took the breakfast photos that are now featured on our "Dining" page at www.doubledayinn.com. He is one talented gentleman, and we're grateful for all the wonderful shots he's captured for us this year.

Speaking of our website, please stay tuned for some exciting new changes in the month of January. With the help of our awesome web designers at Wowi Zowi we will soon have a new site with updated & larger photos, expanded room descriptions and info on the Inn and even more information designed to help you plan and get the most out of your time during your visits to Gettysburg.

Next week we switch over to maintenance mode for a bit with plans to repaint the dining room and several guest baths, updating some flooring where needed, updating the guest information binders and even getting some work done in the (until recently very messy) owners' quarters!

It is sorely needed and after 3.5 years in this space we are happy to have some time to devote to that.

The Inn will continue to be open so please check on the availability of your favorite room by clicking on our RESERVATION calendar. A reminder that our Discounted Winter Rates continue through March 18, 2010. Take advantage of this beautiful quiet season and plan a get-a-way with your loved one today.

We love hearing from you!

If you ever have questions or just want to say "Hello" please do not hesitate to send an email to Info@doubledayinn.com.

Thank you so much to all of you for making 2009 a fun & prosperous year for us and the Doubleday Inn.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Christine, Todd & Snow Bunny Molly

2009-11-05T03:34:00.000-08:00

Is there anything more eerily beautiful than seeing the full moon rise over the Battlefield in Gettysburg? This shot was captured on November 2nd, standing on the road in front of the Inn. We've recently had inquiries from lots of folks wanting to time their visit to be near the Full Moon so they can get some images like this one. To help them plan we've found this calendar that shows all of the moon's phases. Next full moon will be Tuesday, December 1st.

Beginning November 1st the National Park Service has made the switch to Winter Hours. The Museum & Visitor Center is now open from 8 am to 5 pm daily, and the Battlefield itself from 6 am to 7 pm. Guests to the Doubleday Inn are reminded that the park road on which the house sits, Doubleday Avenue, is open to traffic 24 hours per day so there is never a curfew or specific time you need to be

back to the Inn.

This is a wonderful season to visit Gettysburg for those wanting to really study the battle terrain and get a feel for how the troop movements played out. With the leaves mostly off of the trees, the climb to the top of any of the observation towers is well-rewarded by vistas of up to 10 miles. With few lines at any of the shops or museums and plenty of space on the Battlefield to have it all to yourself, you will love the peace and relaxtion of a winter Gettysburg visit.

Plan your stay now and take advantage of our off-season discounts: Any room at the Inn is yours for just $135/night with no mimimum stays required. Plus book directly through our website and enjoy an additional $10/night off your stay. Treat yourself to a relaxing get-a-way and take time to reconnect with a loved one. You deserve it!

Now is also the time to plan your Holiday visit. We are happy to once again be co-hosting the popular "Scrooged!" weekend with the good folks at the Cashtown Inn. We have one room available for the program on December 4th/5th, click here if you would like to make a reservation.

We have also just finalized plans to offer another weekend holiday special: "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" is a live interactive dinner theatre which tells the story of Marley's efforts to save his friend Scrooge's soul. Weekend package includes a Friday night four-course private dinner at the Cashtown Inn along with live dinner theatre performance. Saturday receive tickets to the 13th Annual Gettysburg Holiday House Tour where you can view multiple historic properties decked out in their holiday finest. This very special weeekend is being offered December 11th & 12th ONLY. Click HERE for details and to make your reservation.

Your innkeepers are busy making plans for holiday decorating. By popular demand, the Lionel train dislpay will be BACK for Christmas this year! Decorating will begin just after Thanksgiving. We've been having lots of fun the last few days with Roby & Carolyn Laporte, our website designers. Together they are Wowi Zowi and are responsible for our website being as pretty and user-friendly as possible. They have been here with us for several days, taking updated pictures and making plans for website changes, stay tuned for those in the next few months!

I have to take a moment and thank everyone who has visited in the last few months and spoiled our dog rotten!

Molly has gotten more treats, stuffed toys, balls, and ear rubs than we can count! Thank you for being so good to her, and to us.

While I was snapping pics of the moon this week, Molly took the opportunity to visit Sallie the War Dog and do a little bartering for the biscuit that had been left on the monument. Who do you think came out on the better end of that deal?

We hope to see you soon on the Battlefield!

~Christine, Todd & Molly

Summer Fun!

2009-08-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

We're sure you can tell by our lack of posts these past few months that we are deep into the BUSY season here in Gettysburg! This has been our best summer yet, filled with so much history, fun and great folks.

June gave us the opportunity to host the "Lost Gettysburg" weekend in conjunction with the Cashtown Inn.

Licensed Battlefield Guides Rich Kohr and Tim Smith took us on a 10+ hour tramp of the Battlefield as we discovered out of the way places, examined historic photos to see the things that aren't there anymore, and learned some really cool info on quarry sites here on the Battlefield.

Did you know that many of the monument bases were quarried right here from "Gettysburg granite"? Once you know the markings to look for you will find this stone EVERYWHERE on the field!

The absolute highlight of the weekend was the Saturday morning walk onto the property of Mr. Dean Schultz. His historic home sits just off the Baltimore Pike and backs to "Lost Lane" or Neill Avenue, which is a land-locked portion of the National Military Park that few people get the opportunity to see.

Mr. Schultz generously spent more than three hours with our group. He not only showed us Lost Lane with its beautiful monuments and detailed Battle history, but also walked us along the south side of Rock Creek, up to the traces of McAllister's Mill, which has been documented as an Adams County stop on the Underground Railroad.

Mr. Schultz is simply an amazing historian. With his relaxed conversational style and seemingly limitless knowledge, we learned not only Battle history but information on the town of Gettysburg and her citizens of 1863, the geological and geographical features of the town that helped to frame its history, and the role of the area in the Underground Railroad complete with personalized accounts of the McAllister family. Everyone agreed it was simply a once-in-a-lifetime event and we all felt so privileged to be part of it. It will not soon be forgotten, and we are so grateful to Mr. Schultz for his time and for his continued dedication to land conservancy here in Adams County. He is truly a treasure!

In July, we had the distinct pleasure of collaborating with National Park Ranger Eric Campbell as he led the July 1st Battle of Gettysburg 146th Anniversary Walk on "The Attack & Defense of Oak Ridge".

Frequent readers/guests will recognize Eric's name because we talk about him often! He is our very favorite Park Ranger, and one of the first with whom we got to take a tour when we began visiting Gettysburg 15 years ago. Eric has such a passion for the history of this area, and does a tremendous amount of research to be able to share with visitors some very personal remembrances from the soldiers who fought here and their loved ones who remained at home.

Eric's tour began at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and about two-thirds of the way through, the group (330 people strong, Gettysburg regimental strength!) stopped in the front yard of the Inn for some iced tea, lemonade and watermelon...it was nice to cool off in the shade. The tour continued down the side yard of the Inn, along the railroad tracks and finished in the railroad cut, where Eric read the dramatic account of the 16th Maine Regiment, charged with guarding the Union retreat at the end of July 1st and suffering great casualties in this unenviable position.

We got to see many familiar faces on this tour and met some new friends as well. We were very touched to receive a thank-you card from some folks in Maine who had attended, they were grateful for the chance to get cool and rehydrate and were nice enough to say so! That tickled us. We just really enjoyed getting to work with Eric and hopefully introducing some new folks to the excellent summer ranger programs that the Park offers each year.

We are looking forward to the season finale of the 2009 Battlefield Weekends here at the Inn, with "Pickett's Charge"on August 21/22 hosted by the incomparable Wayne Motts. We will be sure to post photos for those who are unable to attend.

We hope that you are all enjoying some summer fun of your own with your loved ones. Please keep in touch, and we hope to see you soon on the Battlefield.

Christine

Gettysburg Summer Ranger Programs

2009-06-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again! The National Park Service has planned a full two months of daily entertaining and informative ranger programs, which will begin on Saturday, June 13th and run through mid-August.

The Park offers a variety of ranger guided programs with subjects ranging from battle history to medical practices of the Civil War, living history and battlefield hikes. These programs are offered at the Visitor Center, on the battlefield, and in the Soldiers' National Cemetary. Programs range in length from 20 minutes to 3 hours, so there is something for everyone. The best part is that these programs are all FREE of charge! Simply meet at the designated spot and enjoy your tour.

Click here for a detailed description of programs which are offered on a daily basis. This schedule is also available in a printed format at the information desk of the Visitor Center.

Each day at 3:30 pm is a two-hour intensive "Battle Walk" with a ranger, in which you cover a particular area of the battlefield in-depth. The Park has its schedule of specific Battle Walks posted on the website, updated weekly. Click here for the Battle Walk schedule.

Each evening there is a Campfire program hosted at the Park Ampitheater at Pitzer Woods, located at Auto Tour Stop #6. Enjoy the fire as you listen to rangers cover a wide range of topics, listed here by date (scroll to bottom of page).

During the Battle of Gettysburg Anniversary dates of July 1, 2 and 3 the Park will offer additional "Real Time" and "Anniversary Walks" which will allow you the most in-depth look at the battle actions that took place on this historic ground 146 years ago.

New Program Announced! "Dinner and a Painting":

Join Licensed Battlefield Guide and Cyclorama expert Sue Boardman for an "after-hours" viewing of the Cyclorama painting at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center.

The evening begins with a hearty Civil-War inspired meal in the Refreshment Saloon, followed by Sue's insightful program on the Cyclorama painting. Learn the history of the genre of cycloramas and the history of the Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama at the Museum and Visitor Center, including the conservation effort. Then, journey to the Cyclorama platform where Sue will describe interesting features of the painting and answer your questions.

This special program is limited to 50 attendees. For more details on this event or to be added to the special programs e-mail distribution list, please e-mail the Gettysburg Foundation's Programming Department.

WHEN:

Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 6 – 9 p.m.

Friday, July 24, 2009 from 6 – 9 p.m.

Saturday, August 8, 2009 from 6 – 9 p.m.

Saturday, August 29, 2009 from 6 – 9 p.m.

WHERE:

Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center

TICKET PRICES:

Single Ticket: $55; Friends of Gettysburg Members: $50

Purchase tickets for the June 20 program online. Click on the calendar date for June 20 and scroll to the bottom of the program listings for the special Cyclorama program.

Tickets can also be purchased by calling 877-874-2478.

Finally, we couldn't resist this opportunity to send congratulations to our good friend and employee, Erin, on her May 30th wedding to Nick. Erin is truly our "go to gal" here at the Doubleday, and many of you will recognize her from your stays here. She does everything from housekeeping to innsitting for us, and we were so happy to take part in her special day. Their dog Annie is bunking with us during the honeymoon, so if your visit to us is between May 30th and June 7th, you will get TWICE the Golden Retriever fix during your stay!

Happy Memorial Day!

2009-05-25T05:16:00.000-07:00

Today we take a moment to reflect and send a solemn "Thank You" to all of our nation's combat veterans past, present and future on this Memorial Day. Did you know that this holiday has its origins in America's Civil War? First officially celebrated and observed on May 30, 1868 the day was originally known as "Decoration Day", because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves.

The town of Gettysburg boasts one of our country's oldest Memorial Day parades. Today we will celebrate the 142nd annual event at 2 pm. The parade will form at Lefever Street in downtown, and will process west on East Middle Street, then turning south on Baltimore Street,

where it will enter the Gettysburg National Cemetery thru the Baltimore Street Gate.

The annual Service at the Soldiers National Monument in the Gettysburg National Cemetery

will follow at 3 pm.

New Event!

"Art in the Park Tours", to be led by Licensed Battlefield Guides Ralph Siegel & Sue Boardman, two well-known faces to guests of the Doubleday Inn!

The Gettysburg Battlfield is home to more than 1,300 monuments and memorials, making it one of the world's largest collections of outdoor sculpture. On this "Art in the Park" tour, visitors can learn more about these works of art as well as the artists who created them.

Times for tours are: Saturday, June 20/27 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.; Saturday, June 20/27 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 2027 3 – 5 p.m.; Saturday, June 20/27 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, June 21/28 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Sunday, June 21/28 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, June 21/28 3 - 5 p.m. Tours will begin at the Rupp House on Baltimore Street, and tickets may be purchased on site or by contacting the Gettysburg Foundation at 1-866-889-1243.

We wish you and your family a very happy Memorial Day, and hope that your summer plans will bring you for a visit to your "home away from home" in Gettysburg very soon!

Todd, Christine & Molly (the upside down one in this pic!)

Happy Spring!

2009-05-05T05:48:00.000-07:00

Our season is in full swing as we head into May, and our garden is as well! Thanks to our friend Mike for sending the beautiful pics of the backyard. We were so happy to have the weeping cherry tree that we planted last Fall bloom this year...though it is a bit dwarfed by the pear tree in this photo, you still get the idea!

It has been an exceptionally cool and wet spring thus far, which keeps the grass plush & green, and growing as fast as Todd can keep cutting it. Good thing Molly is always right there to make sure he hasn't missed any spots (or run over any tennis balls)!

The Apple Blossoms were gorgeous this year, covering the hillsides of Adams County. We were so excited that the new orchard that was planted adjacent to the Inn bloomed as well. We will be keeping an eye out for apples this fall. With the warmer weather also comes an abundance of fresh, local produce. Beginning in late April, the Gettysburg Farm Market is held every Saturday morning from 7 am to 12 noon in the historic Lincoln Square. You can get everything from fruits & vegetables, to herbs and fresh flowers here each week.

The Round Barn in nearby Biglerville is also open from 9-5 daily beginning in May, and is another great spot for fresh produce and homemade baked treats. A beautiful

ride on Route 30 West of about 8 miles takes you to the yellow blinker light; make a right onto Cashtown Road and the Round Barn is on your right.

After visiting the Round Barn you can also visit nearby Hauser Estates Winery and Adams County Winery. Both are open daily from 11 am to 6 pm. Be sure to check their websites for seasonal events, concerts and tastings. The wineries are an easy 10 minute drive from one to the other, so be sure to give both a try!

The National Park has begun to implement their seasonal Ranger Programs as staff is available, and the full daily schedule will be posted this month at their website. These programs are all run by the Park's excellent knowledgeable interpretive rangers and best of all they are FREE! You can also inquire at the main Visitor's Center and Museum information desk for a daily schedule of programs being offered.

The beautiful weather will also play host to many living history encampments in Gettysburg and the surrounding areas in the months to come. For a complete listing of events, be sure to visit the Gettysburg Convention & Visitor's Burea's website for a complete calendar listing of events.

We hope you are enjoying your Spring and that a trip to Gettysburg will bring you "home" to the Doubleday Inn for a visit soon!

Christine

It's on the way!

2009-03-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

A little burst of Spring-like temperatures in early March had us racing to find gardening gloves and get our hands in the dirt a little bit! We had a great time raking up the remnants of the Fall leaves and aerating all the flower beds. Clearing away all the winter coverings let us see how many bulbs we have ready to spring any day.

We already have crocus and some jonquils blooming, and the weeping cherry tree we planted last Fall looks like it will give us a good show in a few weeks. The robins are back in the yard and the gold finches are just beginning to turn their namesake color. All things that make us realize that the "season" here in Gettysburg is almost upon us, and we'd better get our running shoes ready!

Your Innkeepers had a really restful and productive Winter. We managed to play "hookie" several times and visited New York City, Fall River & Boston, MA and Washington, DC not once but twice! In each place we had a good time seeing historical sites while visiting with friends and family. Christine is now OBSESSSED with the Lizzie Borden mystery after visiting the house in MA and has read two books and seen about three shows on the topic...be sure to "axe" her about the mystery if you're not familiar!

Most satisfying for us was getting to see not one but two versions of the Gettysburg Address, each written in Lincoln's own hand. At the Smithsonian Museum of American History we visited the Bliss Copy (which normally lives in the Lincoln Bedroom at the White House) and at the Library of Congress we saw the Hay Copy, which is the copy that Lincoln finished writing while staying here in Gettysburg at the David Wills House. It was a really moving experience to see the documents first-hand. The excellent LOC exhibit also featured the letter which Lincoln wrote to General Meade after the Battle of Gettsyburg, expressing his frustration at Meade's failure to follow Lee and press for surrender. Lincoln decided to "sleep on it" for a night, and must have thought better of his words in the morning for the letter was never sent. This exhibit runs thru May so if your travels will take you to the DC area in that time frame be sure to check it out. You can get more info at http://www.loc.gov/.

With the coming Spring season we will welcome extended National Park Service hours. For those who will be visiting in the near future here is the schedule: as of April 1, the Battlefield is open from 6 Am to 10 Pm, and the new Museum and Visitor's Center will be open from 8 Am to 5 Pm daily. The Wills House will be open Tuesday-Sunday form 10 Am to 5 Pm.

On a final note, our Gettysburg family suffered a big loss this Winter with

the passing of Interpretive Park Service Ranger Gregory Coco on February 11th. Greg worked as a park guide and as a seasonal interpretive ranger at Gettysburg, where he was known for his development of the extensive two- to three-hour walks across the battlefield. He also was an NPS licensed battlefield guide for several years. Greg authored 16 books and 12 scholarly articles on topics related to the American Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg. He received national recognition for two of the above books. A Strange and Blighted Land: The Aftermath of a Battle, was voted number 12 in the top 50 Civil War books ever written, while another received an award from the Eastern National Parks and Monument Association.

During one of our first trips to Gettysburg as tourists we had the good fortune to attend a one hour program on Culp's Hill. When we arrived we found the tour leader Greg there, and we were the only attendants as it was a cold and rainy day. Greg took us to the top of the Culp's Hill tower to stay dry, and spent more than an hour with just the two of us, giving a detailed and passionate narrative of the action on that part of the Battlefield. Needless to say a love of and passion for Gettysburg history was nurtured in both of us that day. Greg was a very special member of the Park Service team and he will be dearly missed.

Happy Birthday President Lincoln!

2009-02-08T05:10:00.000-08:00

February 12, 2009 will mark the 200th Anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's birth. Here in Gettysburg there is a great deal of excitement as on the same day we will celebrate the grand opening of the David Wills House, after a large scale renovation.

The Wills House is the large brick building located on the southeast corner of the Lincoln Square in downtown Gettysburg. It was in this house that President Lincoln spent the night of November 18, 1863 and where he put the finishing touches on his immortal "Gettysburg Address" which would be delivered the following day during the dedication of the first Soldiers' National Cemetary.

The National Park Service in cooperation with Main Street Gettysburg has undertaken the renovation of the Wills House. The new museum features seven galleries, including the restored office where David Wills coordinated post-battle recovery efforts and invited a President to deliver “a few appropriate remarks,” and the famous Lincoln bedroom where the President finished revising the Gettysburg Address.

In celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial, the Wills House Museum will be open and free to the public, beginning Thursday 2/12/09 from 2:00 - 8:00 pm, and then Friday - Sunday, 2/13 thru 2/16/2009 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Click here for a full, detailed schedule of events for the weekend.

There are also many exciting Lincoln exhibits happening in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the Bicentennial. Located only 90 minutes south of Gettysburg, Washington is an easy day trip from the Doubleday Inn. If you need help planning your itinerary please don't hesitate to ask!

Here are some details:

Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress, Feb 12 - May 12, 2009

includine the Springfield "Farewell" address, Lincoln's 1st & 2nd inaugural addresses, along with his bible, the Gettysburg Address (Nicolay or Hay copy) , and the letter Lincoln wrote to Meade after Gettysburg (the one he never sent).

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION at National Archives, Feb 12 - 16 ONLY Archives Winter hours: 10 AM - 5:30 PM (last admission at 5:00 pm)

Designing the Lincoln Memorial National Gallery of Art, Feb 12, 2009 - Feb 12, 2010 View the original models for this memorial (French's 6-foot model & Bacon's wood model)

For a complete itinerary for all of 2009, visit www.lincolnindc.com

TEST RESULTS!

2008-12-31T11:20:00.000-08:00

I know many of you have been wondering how I did on the Licensed Battlefield Guide Exam. I've been wondering too. The wait is over! My score was 213 out of 241 questions (88%). They are taking the top 19 scores. I needed a score of 225 to make the cut. So, alas, I didn't quite make it this year, but not bad for a first try. I'm very pleased with my effort and will take the exam again.

Thanks to all who supported me and wished me luck. Hopefully 2 years from now after the next exam, I'll have slightly different news.

Happy New Year everybody!

Todd

Holiday Greetings from the Doubleday Inn!

2008-12-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

In addition to all of us gearing up for the holidays, there is a lot going on in Gettysburg this time of year. We are excited to pass along the schedule for Winter Ranger Programs being held by the Park Service. This is brand new for 2009 and the lectures will be hosted in the beautiful new Museum & Visitor Center. Just like the summer ranger programs, all sessions are FREE and will be hosted by the Park Service's knowledgeable interpretive Rangers. This is an excellent addition to what usually becomes an idle winter encampment here in Gettysburg! Click here to see a complete listing of dates and topics.

And now to some personal happenings…On December 6, Todd sat for the Licensed Battlefield Guide exam. A grueling 3 hours it was! Of the 142 who took the exam, the Park will only accept about 20 people. We will post how Todd did when we get the results. Many, many thanks to Maureen, Ralph, David, Charlie and everyone who helped him to prep for the exam!

This week we had the opportunity to view the Bliss Copy of the Gettysburg Address! Of the five remaining copies written in Lincoln’s hand, this is the only one that is signed by him. It is usually held in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House (not much chance of getting in there), but it is currently on loan to the Smithsonian Institute of American History in Washington D.C. which recently reopened after extensive renovations.

We went on a weekday (finally those innkeeper hours paid off!) and the museum was fairly empty of tourists. At one point it was only us, the Gettysburg Address, and the security guard. We really had the chance to study the document. You can see that Lincoln really took his time, as his penhand is very neat. It was quite a moving experience for us.

We also visited the Grant and Lee exhibit at the New York City Historical Society. The exhibit is very well done. It provides just enough information to explain the actions of the Civil War and follows the two men through their lives. They had some very interesting artifacts including Lee’s sword surrendered at Appomattox and George Washington’s revolver inherited by Lee. Interesting to us, they also had Abner Doubleday’s sketch book from the Mexican War (he was a good artist), and his log book/diary from the Seminole War.

Don’t forget to check out our Specials Page. We have rolled out reduced winter rates through March 19, 2009. We also have detailed information about our package weekends for 2009. Our next one is “Gettysburg 101”. This is an awesome package for first timers to Gettysburg! You will get some really handy information from experienced Licensed Battlefield Guides, which will help you better understand the Battle and the Battlefield as well.

We are looking forward to spending time with our families for the holidays, and then getting down to some painting and carpeting that will be finished over the winter. We wish you all the best as we finish out 2008, and thank you once again for your friendship and support.

Happy Holidays!
Christine, Todd & Molly

Remembrance Day

2008-12-04T03:18:00.000-08:00

November 19, 2008 marked the 145th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery and President Lincoln's enduring Gettysburg Address. Coming as it did on the heels of 2008's historic Presidential Election, this year's celebration seemed to have a deeper meaning for many.

Celebrated film maker Ken Burns gave the keynote address focusing on our nation's inimitable ability to recreate ourselves in times of great challenge. He focused on Lincoln's immortal words, and gave a nod to the new "Tall, skinny lawyer from Illinois" who will take up residence in the White House on January 20, 2009.

The U.S. Mint also unveiled the design for a new Lincoln Silver Dollar coin, which will be available in limited quantity early next year. It has a wonderful image of Abraham Lincoln on the front and the last 43 words of the Gettysburg Address on the back. Click here to see a preview of the new coin.

A cold and windy weekend it was, but the weather didn't stop any of the festivities. As always, the 11th PVI reenactors (with Sallie!) performed their wreath laying ceremony at the 11th PA monument across from the Inn. They also read the names of the soldiers killed during the Battle and placed flags in their honor. As you probably well know, this is repeated by other reenactors all over the Battlefield during this weekend of reverence. This year's ceremonial parade saw approximately 3500 reenactors participae in a beautiful display of remembrance for those who fought and died here.

Here is a pic of frequent Inn guest and one of our very favorite reenactors Michael, from New Jersey. Michael is an impressive young man who probably knows more about Civil War and World War II history than the two of us ever will! His enthusiasm is catching. And that's "Iron Mike" to his fellow artillerymen!

Stay tuned for news on the grand opening of the David Wills House, scheduled to occur on February 12, 2009 to honor the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth. The Wills house is the home on Gettysburg's Lincoln Square where the President spent the night and put the finishing touches on the now famous Address. The restored home will feature interactive displays as well as the furniture that Lincoln used during his overnight visit.

~Todd

Autumn Happenings

2008-10-18T05:19:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that we are more than halfway through October already! Autumn is such a busy time here in Gettysburg. Many visitors wait for fall's cooler temperatures and beautiful colors to visit our historic area. We are also having a bumper apple crop this year and visitorship to the National Apple Harvest Festival over the first two weekends of the month exceeded 100,000 people.

September 26th witnessed the Grand Opening of the new Museum and Visitor Center, with the much anticipated unveiling of the Cyclorama Painting. Having undergone the largest conservation effort ever undertaken on the continent, the painting now allows visitors to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of Pickett's Charge in the way its artist originally intended in 1884. There are reports that veterans of the Battle, upon seeing the Cyclorama for the first time, could not help but weep because of its stunning accuracy and the emotions it evokes.

With the official opening of the painting, the Museum and Visitor Center has changed its admission schedules and now has a flat $7.50/person fee, which enables you to see the introductory film New Birth of Freedom, the Cyclorama Painting, and the 11-gallery Museum for one price. For you die-hards (like us!) there are also discounted multiple day admission passes as well as family passes and yearly passes which allow you multiple entry into all venues. Check out the Gettysburg Foundation's website at http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/ for full details.

October also saw the grand opening of Adams county's newest vineyard, the Hauser Estate Winery. Located just yards down Cashtown Road from the Round Barn, the winery sits on 170 acres of beautiful rolling hills, and with its glass-enclosed 360 degree tasting room, you can sip your wine while enjoying the gorgeos fall scenery. Hauser Estate is just a 5 minute ride from the farm at the Adams County Winery, so folks can now enjoy a full afternoon of wine appreciation, agricultural education, and beautiful scenery within easy driving distance of the town of Gettysburg! Click on the links for more info on each winery.

Please be sure to check out the "Specials" page of our website as we have posted all of our exclusive Battlefield weekends for 2009. There is literally something for everyone from first time visitors to veteran troopers! These packages make wonderful holiday gifts for the history buff on your list. Please be sure to let us know if you are booking one of our packages as a gift, we will be happy to put together one of our gift cards for you to present to your loved one. Slots are filling quickly so book today to ensure your favorite room and theme weekend.

October, 2008 will go down in our own history books as the Doubleday Inn's busiest month ever since its inception in 1987! We will finish out the month with over 90% occupancy, most of those rooms having been booked over 3 months in advance. We cannot thank you, all of our loyal friends and customers, enough for the success you have helped us to create. We realize how fortunate we are to be living our dream come true in Gettysburg, and we are so fortunate to be able to share that dream with all of you!

Finally, on a personal note, Todd & I were blessed to celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary on October 10th. We were able to host a lovely party here at the Inn for family and close friends, and had a gorgeous day in which to enjoy having all of our favorite people (and favorite food!) gathered together in one spot. We drank a toast to many more happy years together, here in our favorite place, Gettysburg.

Hoping you all enjoy the rest of a beautiful Autumn Season!

Christine

Harvest Time!

2008-07-31T05:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we get these really cool reminders that we happen to live right in the middle of a working farm! Check out these pics from this week showing the hay being mowed and bailed on the Battlefield in front of the Inn. The Park Service leases the fields to local farmers who then get to sell or keep what they harvest. A really neat system, in our opinion, and one that lets you see what the ground could have looked like in 1863 when Farmer Forney tended these fields.

The hay was mowed a bit later than usual this year, owing to the cool and wet month of May that we had. The farmer should still get two cuts out of it though so we will get to watch it grow again through the next several months. I spoke to a native Gettysburgian who told me when she was growing up the kids referred to the finished hay bales as "loaves of bread", which I do think they look like sitting in the warm sun!

We are keeping busy as we head into the "dog days" of summer here in Gettysburg. Over July 25/26th we hosted our "Barksdale & the Peach Orchard" weekend in conjunction with our good friends at the Cashtown Inn. With two delicious meals, four knowledgeable Battlefield guides, two vans of enthusiastic guests and LOTS of cold drinks for the 9 hour+ tour on the field, we managed to have a heck of a good time! With the help of LBG Bob Baker we were able to get an exclusive private tour inside the historic Trostle Barn, which still features scars from the fighting of July 1863. Here is a pic of the famous cannon damage to the side of the barn, from both the outside and the inside. Interesting how the inner damage is more extensive, and also interesting that the Trostle's never felt the need to repair the hole as it simply allows for extra ventilation!

We want to send a very special "Thank You" to my parents Ken & Teresa, and also our friends Linda and Maureen for their help with logistics for the weekend. It is a lot of work to coordinate these events, but it is such a joy to share our love of the Battlefield with all of our dedicated guests who are willing to spend their free time and money learning about and preserving this incredible site.

Plans are well underway for our Day 3 weekend on November 7/8, "The Struggle for Culp's Hill" featuring LBG Sue Boardman. We can't wait! There are still a few spaces available so please call the Inn for further details, or sign up for our mailing list to get first priority notification for all new special events.

Hope you all are having a great summer and staying cool! Hope to see you all soon,

Christine

Summer Ranger Programs

2008-06-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

Just a brief note to update everyone on activities here at the National Military Park. The summer ranger programs are in full swing, with hourly demonstrations occurring throughout the park and Visitor Center. Please visit the NPS website for a detailed schedule listing .

Our very favorite programs are the 3:30 pm daily Battle Walks with a Ranger, where you spend a minimum of two hours with a ranger, walking the grounds and studying a particular phase of the fighting during the Battle of Gettysburg. There simply is no substitute for walking the ground here to really gain an understanding of how the events played out.

Click here for a listing of the subjects and rangers scheduled for the daily Battle Walks.

Pictured above is one of our very favorite rangers, Eric Campbell. If you are lucky enough to have your visit to Gettysburg coincide with one of Eric's talks be sure not to miss it!

Also, every evening at 8:30 pm there is a Campfire Discussion held at the McMillan Woods Ampitheather. You can click here for a listing of the discussion topics. Brand new this summer are podcast tours which you can download to your MP3 device and bring with you as you tour the Battlefield...very cool when the 19th and 21st centuries meet! Click here for information on downloading the podcasts and accompanying maps.

The Reynolds Avenue bridge is finally re-opened! They are still completing cosmetic work to the pilings but at least the road is open and the detour signs finally down...good news for all you folks coming in from Pittsburg and points west, you don't have to go the long way around anymore.

We are very busy these last few weeks, gearing up for the 145th Battle Anniversary and Reenactment. Hope you are all having a great summer and that we get to see you soon!

Christine

A very busy and happy May!

2008-05-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

How can it be almost June so soon?!?! May has absolutely FLOWN by, with record attendance here at the Inn. Everyone has been enjoying the beautiful Spring weather and all the Gettysburg activities, from Graduation weekend at the college to the huge Memorial Day Weekend soccer tournament. As we get into full swing for the summer season, we are pleased to announce the addition of a walk-up computer for guests' use during your stay at the Inn. We still feature WiFi throughout the house and grounds for your personal laptop, and we now have a computer for everyone to use, located on the second floor hallway near the deck. Guests can check email, view Gettysburg information, and print directions and boarding passes at their leisure.

We have a wonderful new friend to welcome! Our assistant innkeeper Erin, who lucky for us lives very close by, has just brought home a beautiful 8 week old Golden Retriever named Annie...Molly is officially an aunt! Annie is adorable and so very sweet. We are hoping to get lots of good pictures of her in the coming months as she is sure to grow up so fast. Molly is promising to teach her all the ropes when she comes to visit us here at the Inn so she can help to welcome you all when you arrive...knowing Ms. Molly I'm sure she'll also teach her how to scam cookies from the unsuspecting guests!

We've been busy planting annuals in the gardens and the diverse colors are really looking great. The lilacs are done blooming but the many irises and rhododendron are just starting. The peonies have their buds and the ants are doing their work to get them to open up (just an old wives tale supposedly, but it sounds good to me!).

Todd's parents have been an absolute God-send in helping to plant, trim and mulch over the past three weekends. We've also been blessed with good weather to speed us along. As per usual, Molly did an excellent job of supervising, and keeping the squirrels out of the impatiens which they seem to love to dig under.

We had the first hummingbird of the season in late April and to date have seen three different birds at our feeder. The butterflies have found the zinnias and verbena in the garden and are very fun to sit and watch. Before you know it the June bugs will be here, making the Battlefield light up at night.

One final happy note on May...I am very proud to report that I have completed the necessary steps to become a Gettysburg Licensed Town Guide! My written exam was in February, and just this past week I passed the oral exam (thank goodness it's over, I was SO nervous!). The guides are a wonderful group of very knowledgeable people and I am just so proud to be among the ranks with them in sharing the civilian stories of Gettysburg. Guides are available to give tours originating at the Gettysburg Hotel on Lincoln Square from 10 AM to 4 PM daily throughout the summer months, or you may make reservations for a private or specialty tour by phoning (717) 339-6161. You can also visit the Main Street Gettysburg web page for more information at http://www.mainstreetgettysburg.com/.

I sincerely hope that you all are having a wonderful Spring and finding time to do the things that make you most happy. Have a great weekend,

Christine

Lots going on at the Park

2008-04-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

Spring is always a dynamic time of year, and 2008 is no exception. Here in Adams County the apple orchards are ablaze in white blossoms. The red bud on the Battlefield is amazing, especially on Little Round Top and the Wheatfield. The dogwoods are in full bloom on the field and throughout town as well.

New signage is being installed throughout the Park to mark road names and the Auto Tour Route, so hopefully it will be a little easier to find your way. Right now we still have some construction happening close to home on Reynolds and Buford Avenues. It will be all over soon and the Day 1 area will be better than ever. The new bridge across the Railroad Cut is coming along well. We're told it will be completed by May 18.

On Buford Avenue, the 6th New York Cavalry monument (Col. Devin) is finally being rebuilt! As you may know, it was struck by lightning last October (which Molly was the first to discover when we went for our evening walk). It had to be partially disassembled as the strike blew out all the mortar on the top half of the monument. They are making quick work of putting the pieces back together, and we hope to see it complete again very soon! Here's a picture taken today showing their progress.

Its been nothing but rave reviews for the new Visitor's Center and Museum which opened on April 14. Visitorship is soaring to record numbers for April. The Park Service reported last week that the average visitor stay in the new facility is 4 hours, up from 90 minutes in the old VC.

In other news, we learned this week that the Park Service has had to push back the estimated opening date of the Will's House from November 2008 to February 2009. As the renovation has progressed more deterioration was discovered than had originally been anticipated, and it will take a bit more time to get everything back into shape before the building can be open to the public. The Grand Opening of the new VC and the re-opening of the Cyclorama is still set for September 2008.

With all the Spring rains I have had my hands full keeping the grass cut the past few weeks. We are gearing up to start planting annuals in the garden this weekend as well, with my Mom coming to lend her green thumb. We hope you'll get a chance to come experience Spring in Gettysburg with us! Have a great week,

Todd

Welcome to our Blog!

2008-04-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

As we get into our busy season here in Gettysburg we thought this would be a great way to keep in touch with the people who make our jobs so much fun, all of our wonderful guests. Also, with so much happening in town this season we wanted to create a forum where you can check for all the important information. Many thanks to Christine's sister Michelle for the idea and our web master extraordinaire, Roby for making it work AND look nice!

This week featured much excitement with the long anticipated opening of the new Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor's Center! We were able to tour the center on Monday and were very impressed by the size, layout, and quality of the displays. Even without the Cyclorama painting (which will re-open in September) we spent over two hours in the museum. The new bookstore is wonderful, with a large selection organized by subject which makes it easy to find your favorites. We also had the opportunity to eat at the "Refreshment Saloon" and found the selections to be very tasty and the portions generous. Prices are a bit higher than you will find in town, but it is very convenient if you want to grab a bite while at the Center.

The orientation film "A New Birth of Freedom" is fantastic. It is wonderfully narrated by Morgan Freeman and is visually beautiful as well with panoramic shots of the Battlefield and the monuments. We are proud to report that several still shots from the film as well as three framed pictures in the Visitor Center's entryway were shot by our own longtime and frequent guest, photographer Sean Maloy. You can view his works here on display throughout the Inn and also via his website, American Heritage Photography.

This past weekend we were also happy to host Annette & Emil Grahovac from Austintown, OH. Annette & Emil were the Grand Prize Winners of our 20th Anniversary customer appreciation raffle! For their prize they won a weekend here at the Inn, dinner for two at the historic Cashtown Inn, and two tickets to tour the Cupola at the Lutheran Seminary. They enjoyed fantastic weather the entire weekend and had a great time. They really loved the Cupola tour, which was hosted by Licensed Battlefield Guide and Adams County Historical Society employee Tim Smith. Tim was full of great information during their tour, and the weather enabled them to see for miles from the Cupola. With the nice weather, the couple was also able to get in a few hours of bicycling through the Battlefield. They are already planning their next visit back to Gettysburg, and we can't wait to see them again.
Congratulations to the Grahovac's!

We will close for now but please check often for new posts as we hope to update at least once a week. We would love to hear from all of you, so if you have time please take a minute to add a comment or just say hello! Also please post any questions you might have or any special events you'd like to see us put together for our guests. In the meantime enjoy the beautiful Spring weather and know your friends in Gettysburg are thinking of you. Have a great day!

Christine, Todd & Molly