We got up, had breakfast and went over the day's plan. With only 160 miles to New Stanton, PA we decided on a side trip to Gettysburg that was less than 40 miles away.
We were certainly glad we did because there were new things that weren't around in 2007 and also something we missed last time.
We arrived just in time to catch the shuttle bus to Eisenhower's home in Gettysburg. The home is located on 189 acres that were adjacent to the Gettysburg Battlefield. Eventually the land along with 306 more acres of his partners became the Eisenhower National Historic Site. At times he used the farm for personal diplomacy, inviting world leaders to visit the house and cattle barns. The home is now isolated by the park and adjacent farmlands from the daily traffic of the public.
This is a view of where the helicopter pad was located. It was used to shuttle him and or visitors from Camp David located over the mountains in the distant background.
The back patio, a favorite place to spend time for Ike and Mamie, is where he completed many of the 300 plus paintings. He gave many away but several hang in the home.
This table on the back patio is where Mamie liked to play Solitaire.
As the story went, this Marble fireplace was in the White House during the Lincoln years. After replacement, it was kept in storage and finally ended up in his home.
After his term as president, he asked President Kennedy if he could be reinstated as a 5 star General for an official portrait. So granted and done. After his Presidency, he preferred to be known as General Eisenhower.
One of his paintings hanging upstairs.
The outside of the home from the front. When purchased, part of the home was log cabin and part was brick structure. It went through about 1 1/2 years of renovations and additions to make it look like this.
In the back yard is the flag that flies daily as well as a 5 star flag.
They said that after the house tour, we were welcome to roam around the property and look at whatever we wanted. Here is Tom tending the flag on General Eisenhower's green in the back yard.
The Museum, new since our last visit features the new museum as well as a Cyclorama that circles around the top floor and is used as an audiovisual display of the 3rd of July, 1863 in Gettysburg.
There are many artifacts that have been found in the days and even years after.
Grammie resting at the Museum after a stroll around the cattle barns at the Eisenhower home.
A couple of additional still pics.
Good thing the Union won!
Have a great day everyone. Did anyone ever wonder why we no longer have billboards in Maine??
As we travel and see some of them, we are glad to not have any.
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