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We are back at the hotel after a beautiful day which started with a very early ride to Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia.  The trees are turning and are absolutely beautiful as they change into their fall colors, especially noticeable on this drive. Harper’s Ferry is not only one of our favorite locations because of its beauty, but it will become historically significant to the class when we study the Civil War.  There, we learned about the 1859 armory raid conducted by the infamous John Brown in his attempt to arm and free the slaves in the south – an attempt that failed even though it contributed to the start of the Civil War.

Lunch was in Gettysburg before our guided tour of the battlefields by Ted, a National Park guide.  He kept everyone alert with his enthusiasm and knowledge of this battleground and the War.   The drive around the battlefield helped us to see the conflict as it unfolded between the North and the South over July 1-3, 1863.  Gettysburg has been working hard to restore the fields to their original crops of wheat and corn fields with the support of local farmers.  This has meant cutting down hundreds of trees, but it looks more authentic.

Traveling from the fields outside town to a small house in town, we learned how this important battle affected the civilians in the nearby cities.  The Schriver House was owned by the Schriver family who lived through those three terrible days and the aftermath that followed.  The docents took us through the house, room by room, telling the story of the family, who had many tragedies before the war ended, unfolding what life was like during this pivotal time period in our nations history.   

Our dinner was at the Dobbin House, once a stop on the Underground Railroad.  (We seem to eat at lot of good food on this trip!)

Finally, a quick night visit to the Marine Corps War Memorial, commemorated by a bronze statue reproducing the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.  The students felt it was so much larger that they imagined.

Now, we are all showered and in our pajamas and ready for sleep (HA!)

Kathy and the gang