Sunday, February 26, 2012

Birding >>>Gettysburg

I am linking up to Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday

On Saturday,  hubby and I decided to brave the windy day and head up to Gettysburg, Pa. Besides being a National Military Park, I had heard it was a great place to do some birding. The auto tour covers a lot of fields perfect for bird sightings. Turned out not to be a great day for the birds we did watch a Kestrel for awhile and saw some Eastern Bluebirds and sparrows on the fields and fences. Also, Gettysburg has been known for owl sightings and red-headed woodies. Next time I decide to go I will avoid going on a windy day. I do have to say I was amazed at all the beautiful monuments and statues we saw while driving the auto tour.



 

One of my favorites (top left)  was a bronze Irish Wolfhound on the Irish Brigade monument. It symbolizes the loyalty shown for the Union cause by the brigade soldiers, most of whom were Irish immigrants or sons of immigrants to the United States. My great-great grandparents were Irish immigrants so I feel connected to the Irish Brigade Monument.


"An enduring light to guide us in unity and fellowship" "With firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right" Quote by Lincoln


Another favorite is the Eternal Light Peace Memorial. This memorial was dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt. The eternal flame at President Kennedy's grave at Arlington was the inspiration.


Eastern Bluebird



I thought this soldier was going come charging right out of the woods in front of my car. Luckily he stopped.

Lots of great old houses and barns added to the scenes of Gettysburg.



The monument above of an oak tree trunk with various items hanging on it like a knapsack, cartridge box, corp insignia, shield and rifle also the cannon ball on the top and a bird nest with a mother bird and babies. There is a story that during the battle of Gettysburg a soldier saw the nest fall out of the tree, the soldier climbed the tree and replaced the nest with the baby robins still alive inside. Nice story!



Have a seat and have your photo taken with President Lincoln.

A little bit of history the battle of Gettysburg was fought July 1-3 , 1863. This battle had the largest amount of casualties in the American Civil War and is described as the war's turning point. In November, 1863 President Lincoln held a dedication ceremony for the Gettysburg National Cemetery to honor the fallen soldiers and redefine the purpose of the war in his historic Gettysburg Address.

To see more wonderful mosaics and photos please visit with Mary @ Mosaic Monday  and Our World Tuesday

Thanks to Mary for hosting Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia and Sandy.  Also,  Thank you for stopping by to see my post. I wish everyone a great week ahead.

51 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

a site steeped in history, for sure. the monuments are beautiful, but that farm you featured (and in your header) is beautiful!

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Thank you for taking us on this wonderful tour! Well done! Cathy

Ebie said...

Those sculptures look so real. I love these barn structures!

Thanks for the history.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

A beautiful post on this amazing place! We visited a few years back and it is sobering! ♥

Vee said...

Wonderful photography, Eileen. It's hard to imagine the carnage that took place there seeing it today. I so enjoyed seeing it through your eyes.

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

I remember taking the tour in Gettysburg as a kid and looking through the various battlefields and museums. I was very moved. So many lives lost. V

Linda said...

Wonderful history lesson for us! And, great photos...now it will be on my list to visit!

Kim, USA said...

I love to visit this place. Awesome shots thanks for sharing.

Kim,USA

Mary said...

What a terrific place to visit -- filled with history and beautiful scenery! I love that picture of the barn and house. Thanks for sharing your talents at MM, Eileen! xoxo

Snap said...

I haven't been to Gettysburg, but I have been to other Civil War battlefields. The drive throughs are so informative and the scenery so calm and serene ... so different from what it was back then. Thanks for the journey to Gettysburg. Wonder where you'll go next week?!!!!! Have fun!

Elaine said...

Lovely photos! We did the auto tour too when we were at Gettysburg and it is a beautiful drive. There are so many monuments and old farms and buildings to see. With all the beauty though there is a deep feeling of sadness all around that seems to seep through the air.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post! Such an amazing place to see. I am hoping that my hubby and I can visit Gettysburg in the near future, when he retires. Thank you for sharing your visit.

Rajesh said...

Beautiful sculptures and artifacts all around.

rainfield61 said...

The birds might have been frightened away by those sculptures.

DeniseinVA said...

It's been years since I was in Gettysburg. I don't remember the tree monument or President Lincoln's statue. I wonder if they were added later or if I just missed them. Loved the story of the nest. Thanks Eileen, all great shots as always.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I have never been to Gettysburg --and hope to go there (for the history) someday... I'd love it... BUT--now that I know that there may be birds there, I have TWO reasons to go..

Thanks for sharing such great pictures, Eileen.
Hugs,
Betsy

Lorrie said...

Although I'm not American, the history surrounding Gettysburg has always intrigued me. It would be a wonderful place to visit. Great photos.

BlueShell said...

Indeed: great monuments...But excellent photos, dear!
Kisses!
BS

Gattina said...

Thanks for the sideseeing tour, very interesting ! I had never been there, although we have been travelling many times through the States from the Niagara Fall til Los Angeles, lol !

Bob Bushell said...

The Eastern Bluebird is a beauty. I don't know about your history, sorry.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Have a seat and have your photo taken with President Lincoln.

Is there a sign which says, do not touch the President?

Cuby said...

This is such an informative post. The sculptures are magnificent I p
particularly like the robin and President Lincoln. Such a lot of history to bathe in. Thank you so much.

Joe Todd said...

Gettysburg is one of my favorite places. I saw your header and knew exactly where your were. Hope you have a great week

Carol said...

Loved your mosaic, Eileen. Sorry it wasn't a great day birding but the monuments are a wonderful distraction, I love the history.

Al said...

Nice shots of an area I've never seen. I'd like to visit it one day.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Thanks for the tour I have not been there, but have many other civil war sites So much interesting history.

- Yvonaut -
Das sind Raphael und Yvonne
said...

Interesting place..
I would like to sit next to Lincoln :)
Many greetings
Yvonne & Raphael

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Great post and lovely series of images, Eileen. I enjoy visiting historical sites such as this.

Nancy said...

What an interesting and beautiful place to browse around with a camera. Love the Irish monument -- very moving.

Anonymous said...

I have wanted to visit Gettysburg for some time. Your photographs made that desire even stronger.

Unknown said...

Great post Eileen. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Sylvia K said...

Such a wonderful, historical place and one I've always wanted to visit! Your photos are the next best thing, Eileen! Thanks for sharing your trip! Your captures are superb as always! Hope you have a beautiful week!

Sylvia

Dianne said...

A wonderful series of captures Eileen ... I love that little blue-bird.

Unknown said...

Hi Eileen

Thanks for visiting my little blog project and commenting on Niagara Butterfly Conservatory.

I have such fond memories of visiting Gettysburg as a child - think I bought a little iron cannon there.

LifeRamblings said...

such beautiful monuments. the sculptures look so life-like and the blue bird is gorgeous.

NatureFootstep said...

seems like a great day Eileen. :)

Carver said...

Great place to combine history and nature shots. I enjoyed the tour very much.

grammie g said...

Hi Eileen...thanks for the tour..so much histroy right there in one spot with some wonderful monument and statues in rememberances!!
Love you Bluebird ...I had some eating ..seeds...at my bird feeders today with Goldfinches!!
They have been here all winter and have suvived ..every time I add them to ebird list ..I have to put them in as a raraity in Maine for winter.. !!
Grace

Maude Lynn said...

I would love to visit Gettysburg. Your pictures are gorgeous!

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

i've never been to Gettysburg so i really appreciate the tour. i love to visit places & parks...depicting all things historical! all the statues...amazing! and that bluebird is an added Xtra!! NICE!!

Unknown said...

Been to Gettysburg Battlefield on numerous occasions. Civil War history is one of my passions.

The soldier on the horse you were concerned about is General Longstreet CSA.

Excellent pictures, especially the mosiac.

ellen b. said...

Thank you so much for taking us on this lovely tour, Eileen! Your photos are great!

Indrani said...

Amazing sights! Statues of great people are my favs. I try never to miss an opportunity to capture them.

Stewart M said...

Looks like that would be a great place to explore.

Cheers - Stewart M

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Looks like you had a wonderful outing. We visited Gettysburg some 20 years ago in the autumn and it was a lovely place. have a sweet week~

Caroline Gill said...

What a fascinating post, Eileen. I particularly liked the robin story! We so enjoyed our recent time in Philadelphia and NY, and although my husband would have loved to have visited Gaettysburg, we didn't have time on this trip. So now I can see and appreciate a little of what we missed! Those old houses/barns are incredible!

wildcatwoods said...

Great place for pics. Have driven by many times but never stopped. Thanks for sharing.

Carolina mts

A Colorful World said...

Wonderful Our World post! I went to Gettysburg as a child, but I recognized the galloping soldier statue from your thumbnail because my cousin sent me an almost identical photo of it a couple of years ago from her visit! Have an awesome week, and thanks for sharing these lovely shots!

Rohrerbot said...

The solitary statues in the landscape are reminders that there were people who struggled to get to where we are today...which is? Better? Worse? The same? But wonderful reminders of where we came from....great shots!

Gillian Olson said...

Great shots, thanks for sharing, I liked the way you put the bluebird in there too.

Kim, USA said...

Lovely shots. It feels I am there but want really to visit this place. ^_^

MYM

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