Gettysburg, PA

Unlike yesterday’s 90 degree temperature, we started out in 60 degree weather.  It was wonderful.  Google’s best route out of Frederick indicated that we should cycle through Fort Detrick.  While very skeptical that this could be done, we cycled to the front gate only to face the inevitable and rode several additional miles through neighborhoods and commercial areas to get to the other side of the fort.  

Once out of the city, our route was mostly country roads through farm lands.  At Catoctin Furnace we had our first picture stop.  Catoctin Furnace is a sleepy village at the base of Catoctin Mountain.  The village got its name for the iron furnaces that were built there in 1774 and made tools and household items.  During the American Revolution, it made military shells and after the battle at Gettysburg during the Civil War, it hired Yankee and Southern troops escaping the war.

From there we went thru Thurmont (founded in 1751) and Emmetsburg (founded in 1785).  We saw Mount St. Mary’s University, the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, and the Basilica and National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who was the first native born United States citizen to be canonized as a saint. In addition, we passed the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) campus, which includes the Emergency Management Institute, the National Fire Academy and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.  Like Fort Detrick, the Training center would not let us look around.

Before getting to Gettysburg, we crossed the Utica and Sacks covered bridges.  The Sacks Bridge is reportedly haunted by Confederate shoulders that were hung from its rafters.  Our passing though the bridge was peaceful.  The Sachs Covered Bridge was built around 1854 and in 1938 was designated Pennsylvania's most historic bridge.

Getting into Gettysburg we passed the Eisenhower farm and toured the battlefields before getting to our hotel.

Todays Map

Pictures