Happy Memorial Day!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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