Gettysburg- Monday, August 24, 2026

 After we did the Revolutionary War stuff in New York City, it might seem like we jumped ahead four score and seven years by coming to Gettysburg, but we're here because the Dobbin House is celebrating their 250th year this year too.  Here's a quick outline of our day:

• Breakfast at McDonald's on Steinwehr Avenue
•  First stop was the National Park visitor center.  Scott bought three books for himself.  We talked to a ranger about information on "South Cavalry Field."
• South Cavalry Field was our "new" spot to visit this time.  We didn't know, but it was where General Elon Farnsworth was ordered to make his ill-fated charge on July 3rd.  He ended up dying in that charge.  It ends up being on ground that we drive through a lot but haven't stopped to try to understand.
• While exploring "South Cavalry Field" we ended up climbing to the summit of Big Round Top, maybe only the third time that Scott has been there and the second time for Brian.  We also were at Little Round Top in got a little lost in the field across from Devil's Den.  We stopped briefly in Excelsior Field too, before it was well past time for lunch.
• Lunch was at the Dobbin House, as mentioned  above.  Scott had "Adam's Delight" which included the famous sweet bread, and Brian had a Rum Bellies Vengeance.  (Don't tell Julie, but we bought her a loaf of sweet bread, of course.)
•  After the Dobbin House, we made a quick stop at the hotel, then headed out to some of the shops east of the town square.  We went to the 154th's monument and mural and continued out to the 14th Brooklyn's monument by the railroad cut, just because we were just in Brooklyn.
• We stopped at a few stores and returned to the hotel for a brief time, then stopped at the hotel for a few minutes.  Scott's Diet Cokes had frozen in the refrigerator and one "exploded" as he was waiting for it to thaw.  It burst through the ice, spraying Diet Coke all over but miraculously none of it got on the computer. 
• We walked to the Garyowen pub for dinner.  
• After dinner we walked to the Farnsworth House to drink a toast to him, since we'd spent time exploring that part of the battlefield.  They were just closing but we had enough time for one drink and a quick look at the stuff from the Gettysburg movie that they have on display.
• We walked back to the hotel and spent the rest of the evening there.  

 

Green-wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, and Fraunces Tavern, Manhattan- Sunday, August 23, 2026

 Here's another "dot-jot" outline:

• Started the morning walking to the large and beautiful Green-wood Cemetery in Brooklyn
• Climbed the hill in Green-wood to the highest spot in Brooklyn.  This is where a memorial to the battle is.  It is the "Altar to Liberty" and the statue of Minerva (aka Athena).  She looks directly out into the harbor at the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
• The cemetery was holding an event to recognize the anniversary of the battle, and there were many tables, exhibits and re-enactors set up, both at the entrance to the cemetery and in the "Green-house" that serves as its visitor center across the street. 
• We returned to the hotel, got our bags and walked several blocks to where the car was parked.
• We drove into Manhattan, where Scott had arranged for another parking spot in advance.  (The roads were a little tricky, but thankfully it was Sunday and the traffic was light.)
• We made our way to Fraunces Tavern which has many Revolutionary War connections.   We ate lunch there (macaroni and cheese, which Scott knew was popularized by Thomas Jefferson and a favorite of Lafayette).
• After lunch we went to the museum in the several floors above.  There are many interesting things about Fraunces Tavern, which Scott will go into more detail about (hopefully) when he fills out these sketchy notes.  His favorite part may have been "The Long Room" where George Washington said a tearful good-bye to his generals at the end of the war.
• After Fraunces Tavern, we went around the corner to an bar called the Dead Rabbit.  The gruesome sounding name actually comes from the history of the Gangs of New York.  The name was made famous by the 2002 movie.
• We left Manhattan about 4:00 and drove through to Gettysburg.  We arrived about 9:00, checked into our hotel and walked across the street to Tommy's Pizza, Scott's favorite.