In June 2009 we took our two 16-year old boys to Washington DC. During that vacation we went to Gettysburg, stayed overnight there and returned to Washington DC the next morning. My wife and I loved Gettysburg so much that as soon as we got home, we started planning a return trip for just the two of us in July. This second trip was for five days, and included Antietam, Harpers Ferry and Gettysburg. As a change of pace, we stayed in a log cabin while in Antietam and at the famous Cashtown Inn B&B near Gettysburg.
The first trip to Gettysburg obviously went well, based on our immediate desire to go back. The weather was terrific and we got to see all the best-known places on the battlefield. Even though the weather SUCKED for our second trip, it was still a great success as well. We did almost everything we wanted to do, catching a lot of things we missed on our first trip. All told, we ended up shooting over 3,500 pictures for the two trips.
Our focus on the first trip was simply to see Gettysburg. We wanted to visit all the famous battlefield spots, enjoy the town and learn about what happened there. Having done that, our second trip was more focused. Of course, we spent a lot of time going around the battlefield at Antietam to see the famous spots there. That said, this was more of a photo vacation, where we spent a lot of time and effort on the memorials at both battlefields.
Added March, 2010: In March 2010 we made a surprise trip to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Well, it was a surprise to me - my wife planned the trip to celebrate my birthday. This was a quick trip, an overnighter, but we had the better part of two days to tour the park. The weather was uncooperative for the most part, but we still managed to get some nice shots. This was really a photo trip for us more than anything, although we did take the time to hire a guide to show us around the park.
Civil War Travel Photographs
Antietam Battlefield travel photographs - The weather was somewhat uncooperative while in Antietam, but we still were able to get good shots of the Cornfield, Dunker Church, Bloody Lane (also called Sunken Lane) and the observation tower, Burnside's Bridge and around the Antietam Battlefield. You'll also find photographs of the log cabin where we stayed for this part of the trip.
Gettysburg Battlefield travel photographs - For our first vacation to Gettysburg we enjoyed terrific weather and captured location photos of all the famous places on the battlefield, including Devil's Den, the Triangular Field, Little Round Top, Peach Orchard, Wheatfield, The Angle, High Water Mark, Pickett's Charge, Seminary Ridge, McPherson's Ridge, etc. For our second vacation to Gettysburg I put a lot of effort into photographing the remarkable memorials. There are more than 1300 markers and memorials at Gettysburg and some of them are works of art - they made great photo subjects. We also took pictures of Quality Inn at General Lee's Headquarters (from the first trip) and the Cashtown Inn, (where we stayed for two nights on our second visit).
Harpers Ferry National Park travel photographs - We didn't spend a lot of time at Harpers Ferry, but we did get to see (and photograph) The Point, John Brown's fort, the view from Thomas Jefferson's Rock, the High Street historical district, etc.
Vicksburg National Military Park travel photographs - We spent a fast two days in Vicksburg to travel the battlefield there. While there we photographed the Coca Cola Museum, Vicksburg Murals, 3rd Louisiana Redan, African American Monument, Alabama Monument, Battery De Golyer, USS Cairo Ironclad Museum, Fort Garrott, Fort Hill, Graveyard Road, Illinois Monument, Iowa Monument, Kentucky Monument, Louisiana Monument, Marine - Navy Monument, Mississippi Monument, Missouri Monument, National Cemetery, Railroad Redoubt, Ransom's Gun Path, Rhode Island Monument, Shirley House, Surrender Site, Texas Monument, Thayer's Advance, General Tilghman Monument, Welcome Center, and the Wisconsin Monument.
Civil War Reenactment - Battle for Myers Landing in McKinney Texas - On November 9, 2009 we went to the Civil War Reenactment of the Battle for Myers Landing in McKinney, Texas. The Battle for Myers Landing is a fictional battle; how exactly do you reenact a battle that never took place? I can't figure that one out, but that's what they call it so I'll play along. We had a great time and the reenactors were terrific.
Civil War Reenactment - Liendo Plantation Civil War Weekend in Hempstead Texas near Houston Texas - One of the reenactors at Myers Landng told us about an even bigger event at the Liendo Plantation in Hempstead, Texas, so on November 20-21, 2009 we headed off with our two teenagers to the plantation just north of Houston for this two-day event. Like Myers Landing, the Liendo battle never happened, so the reenactors can make the battle include whatever they'd like, and no one in the audience knows how it will end until it happens. The weather was overcast and drizzly on Saturday but bright and sunny on Sunday . . . which actually caused some unpleasant shadows in many photos, even with fill flash. In spite of all that, it was a terrific time and we shot a TON of great in-action photographs of the greatest Civil War battle in Texas that never happened.
Civil War Reenactment - Jefferson Texas - In May 2010 we drove to Jefferson, Texas to watch the Civil War reenactment battle. Comparable in size to the Myers Landing reenactment, we had a lot of fun in Jefferson. We were closer to the action here than at the other reenactments, which made for fun photographs.
Civil War Reenactment - Fort Richardson Texas - In September 2010 we drove to Fort Richardson, Texas to watch the Civil War reenactment battle. We were close to the action here - almost too close at some points! Got some fun photographs.
Civil War Reenactment - Longview, Texas - They held a Civil War reenactment in Longview, Texas in October, 2010 and - surprise, surprise - we went to it. Beautiful weather for being outside and we had fun taking pcitures of the battle.
Civil War Reenactment - Madisonville, Texas - They held a Civil War reenactment in Madisonville, Texas in March, 2011, called the Battle for El Camino Real. Primarily a cavalry battle, the two day event showcased some remarkable horse riding and combat.
Texas Civil War Museum - Fort Worth Texas - We have driven past this facility literally hundreds of times - it is within 10 miles of our house. Every time we see it, one of us will say to the other, "We need to check that place out - is it open?" Well, we finally broke down and went for a visit on February 27, 2010. Yes, it is open. We were pleasantly surprised at how nice it was inside too! Check out the photos from the Texas Civil War Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.
Shiloh, Chickamauga, Point Park / Lookout Mountain and Stones River Battlefields - Tennessee - We spent a week in Tennessee in 2011. There are tons of Civil War places to visit here, and we went to four of them - Shiloh, Chickamauaga, Point Park / Lookout Mountain, and Stones River. We managed to get pictures of all the famous spots at these historic sites, including the Hornet's Nest (Shiloh), Shiloh Church, Snodgrass Hill (Chickamauga), Umbrella Rock (Point Park), and the Slaughter Pen (Stone's River). We also visited some other places, including Rock City, Ruby Falls and Falls Creek Falls.
Civil War Trip Reports
Civil War trip report (general notes) - Many of our observations applied to more than one battlefield or to the trip in general. This was particularly true with regards to planning and booking the trip and the items we brought with us on our vacation. Rather than duplicate those comments in the Antietam, Harpers Ferry and Gettysburg trip reports, I've included a separate page for these general comments here.
Antietam National Military Park trip report - We spent one and a half days touring Antietam National Military Park. Read this trip report to learn about our cabin, a great restaurant . . . to avoid, suggestions for improving your visit, and much more.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park trip report - We visited Harpers Ferry National Historical Park for a half day. While we weren't there for too long, we still had a good time and identified several tips and observations that might help you as you plan for your vacation.
Gettysburg National Military Park trip report - We made two trips to Gettysburg. The first was an overnight stay as part of our June 2009 vacation to Washington DC with our two 16 year-old boys. We all loved it there and when we got home, my wife and I planned a second trip for the two of us in July 2009. We devoted a great deal of time to the Gettysburg battlefield and came up with several tips and suggestions that should help you save time, money and mix-ups on your vacation.
Vicksburg National Military Park trip report - We spent a fast two days in Vicksburg to travel the battlefield in March, 2010. We spent a great deal of time traveling around the battlefield, and stayed overnight in Vicksburg. Good tip for a hotel, not so good experiences with restaurants unfortunately. But you can learn from our mistakes.
Living Civil War History - Civil War Reenactment in Jefferson, Texas - In May, 2010 we traveled to Living Civil War History a civil war reenactment in Jefferson, Texas. This trip report describes the event and provides reviews of two restaurants you don't want to miss.
Texas Civil War Museum - Fort Worth Texas - We have driven past this facility literally hundreds of times - it is within 10 miles of our house. Every time we see it, one of us will say to the other, "We need to check that place out - is it open?" Well, we finally broke down and went for a visit on February 27, 2010. Yes, it is open. We were pleasantly surprised at how nice it was inside too! Check out the trip report from the Texas Civil War Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.