I spent most of the holiday weekend in Gettysburg, PA exploring the battlefield, the almost perfectly preserved 19th century town and spent a great deal of time shopping for antiques. It is a fascinating and sobering place.

A private guide drove our car around for 1/2 a day taking us to all the key spots and explaining in detail what happened where.

Another half day was spent exploring the town, buildings and museums and another day was spent shopping in the dozens of antique shops.

One of the gifts I received for my birthday was this trip, it came in tandem with a Civil War knife that was dug at Fredericksburg and a signed copy of the last book Martin Luther King wrote before he was killed.

Some pictures:



Bullets collected from the battlefields of Gettysburg



Soldiers Pocket Knife Dug at Fredericksburg, VA



Martin Luther King Jr's signature on "Where Do We Go From Here?"



The field where "Picket's Charge" took place on the 3rd and final day of the Battle of Gettysburg. 12,000 Confederate Troops marched across the field. Union cannon and rifle fire and hand to hand combat ensured that only 5,000 men marched back across the field. All in only 50 minutes.