In terms of museums and stuff like that, a lot has changed in the last 10 years or so. Some of my favorites & fun ones over the years are gone. The Wax Museum with the large anamatronic Pickett's Charge and other scenes is gone, the National Soldiers Orphan Homestead (Soldier's National Museum) with it's various dioramas and orphan in the well, the Hall of Presidents and First Ladies and the Gettysburg Dime Museum, which I had never been to. There has been a large dearth in some parts of the 'museum' experiences outside of the official/big ones, like the visitors center, the Eisenhower National Historic Site, the Jennie Wade house etc. It is not all bad though, as there's some cool new places to see now.
The Wax Museum as replaced by the ​Gettysburg Heritage Center -
https://www.gettysburgmuseum.com (I have not done anything here yet, because I was rather put off by the Wax Museum's closing, but I'm sure I'll come around and go to it some time).
Lincoln Train Museum -
http://www.lincolntrain.com (It's still there!)
Gettysburg Museum of History -
https://www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com (I have not gone here yet)
Gettysburg Foundation -
http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org - They work in conjunction with the Park Service for the Cyclorama, the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War (Museum Experience) and a film 'A New Birth of Freedom' narrated by Morgan Freeman, the Eisenhower National Historic Site (you take the shuttle from Visitor Center now, you can just drive up anymore), the David Wills House, the Rupp House History Center and one of their newer additions, which I want to see soon, the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital -
https://www.gettysburgfoundation.org/ge ... ngler-farmThe Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War (Museum Experience) is really large, it has been a while since I toured it, but the physical space of the "new" visitors center has allowed a lot more to be displayed, which is nice. The Cyclorama is now eye level, so you don't have to strain your neck looking up, but your view may be blocked. If interested, ask them at the ticket counter if they allow you to come back and look at it/take photos when there isn't a presentation going on. They did this years ago for us, but I haven't went since.
Seminary Ridge Museum -
http://seminaryridgemuseum.org or
https://www.facebook.com/SeminaryRidgeMuseum/ - This one I want to do in the fall. It looks like a great opportunity. It's in the Lutheran Theological Seminary building. They have a museum, but you can also go up into the cupola. It looks a little bit pricey, but it's something different. I don't think the view can beat the Longstreet Tower's view, but it is an alternative and I assume covers some other views of the battlefield, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chambersburg Road.
The Gettysburg Diorama -
https://www.gettysburgdiorama.com - This one I have gone to multiple times, I believe it used to be on the Baltimore Pike across the street from where the Comfort Suites is. Now it is on Steinwehr Ave, but I can't recall off the top of my head what used to be in the building where the Diorama is now. If the two buddies you're going with are really into the Civil War/Gettysburg as well, this is always a good stop. I forget how long the presentation is, but it is a decent amount of time. Maybe you went to it during your visit in the 70's.
Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum -
https://civilwartails.com or
https://www.facebook.com/civilwartails/ - This is a new one and it occupies part of the old National Soldiers Orphan Homestead. It is two sisters who started/run it, both very knowledgeable on the war. They made this is unique museum as it combines their love of history/the Civil War and their enjoyment of animals, in this case cats. They use clay diorama design, but instead of humans, cats are the figures. Everything else is Civil War related and researched. Hands down one of the best recent (and much needed) additions to the museum aspect of Gettysburg. They apparently are still working on a large display of Little Round Top, that is a 1 for 1 showing of the action in it. When we went in 2017, they had kepis in a small cup that they were using very fine brushes to paint the Corps emblems on top of.
Horse Soldier -
http://www.horsesoldier.com - The well known Military Antiques dealer, right by the National Cemetery and the intersection of Steinwehr Ave and South Washington St, even though it is a store it is also one hell of a museum. Though it covers different eras, the main focus is the ACW. Also for historic gun lovers and Texans alike, they have a lot of firearms (revolver and rifles) on the walls. If you go in, be prepared to kill some time here. Got $65,000 to own a completely identified Birney Zouave uniform
http://www.horsesoldier.com/products/id ... cloth/9746In terms of other shops & gift shops the majority are still in the main hubs they have always been. On Steinwehr Ave from the Pickett's Charge area all the way up to where it ends at Baltimore Street and around the center of town, branching off from the circle area. A lot of this end of the Gettysburg tourism market has seen upheaval, especially in the last few years as Gettysburg has been trying to widen the market. Steinwehr Ave has taken a lot of hits (pun intended I think) with the various miniatures and ACW related gift type stores it had, which I think were the largest turnover in the gift shop/tourism trade in Gettysburg. It is a good thing in a way, as there are a lot of different types of stores now, but it can be a sad thing too if you liked these types of places. Overall though there are still options and there are a lot of neat new places, especially if folks are traveling with families etc. Gary - you and your friends could go to the hot sauce place that is up towards the top of Steinwehr Ave and Baltimore Street to have a good Texas chuckle at what they're offering!
I am not a hot sauce person, so I have no idea what they may offer.
More Steinwehr Ave:
A Lil Somethin' Gettysburg -
http://www.gettysburgstore.com - a neat place that sells a lot of local made salsas, dips etc. You can taste test a number of them in store!
A few stores run by a family are listed here -
https://www.civilwarstuff.com/locations ... ysburg-pa/The Regimental Quartermaster -
https://regtqm.com/home/ - Famous reenactor Sutler and other neat items as well.
Irish Brigade Gift Shop -
http://www.irishbrigadegiftshop.com/index.html (Yup it's still here!)
Gettysburg Miniature Soldiers -
https://www.gettysburgminiaturesoldiers.com - One of the few good Miniatures stores left.
Near the circle/center of town area:
S & W Coins LLC - one of the few coin places left. One of the others on Steinwehr Ave just went out and is now a Vape shop.
Union Cigar Club
The House of Time, Inc. -
https://www.gettysburgantiquewatches.com or
https://www.facebook.com/houseoftime.gettysburg/ - Neat store. Has a variety of items, some very, very old.
(The well known) Union Drummer Boy -
https://uniondb.comCarver's Toy Trains - is off towards the McPherson Farm area.
On Route 30 (Lincoln Highway) Heading East of town towards York:
Rebels Roost Antique Emporium -
https://www.rebelroostantiques.com - This is a neat place. Not all ACW related and is a lot of antiques at large, they do have a number of neat items. They also have a fair amount of spaces in their store, so there's a lot of random corners of things. I'd say if you're out that way and want to stop, do so, but if you're pressed for time and only want to do a few shops, it is a bit out of the way. I did see in a section some familiar HPS & Talonsoft games for sale though!
Art:
King James Galleries -
https://kingjamesgalleries.com or
https://www.facebook.com/KingJamesGalleriesofGettysburg - A lot of the big names.
Gallon Historical Art (Dale Gallon) -
https://www.gallon.comGettysburg Frame Shop & Gallery -
https://gettysburgframeandgallery.com or
https://www.facebook.com/gettysburgframeshop - A place to 'Bag the Whole Crowd' so to speak of the ACW artists.
Lord Nelson's Gallery -
https://www.lordnelsons.com - For mostly Colonial and Early American (Including FIW, American Rev etc) art, this is the place in town that has it. A bit pricey, but unframed isn't a huge expense.
One of the stores I tend to go to more is the The Antique Center of Gettysburg -
http://www.antiquecenter-getty.com or
https://www.facebook.com/AntiqueCenterOfGettysburg/ They have a variety of items. A lot of militaria, like Horse Soldier, but from a variety of eras. It is a true antiques operation in that individual dealers/sellers rent the spaces in the store. They do have a lot of miniatures, though one of the big dealers is downsizing, I consider it one of the best places in town for this. They also have a lot of books. They have old ones, but they also have several sections of books that are reasonably priced for a lot of Civil War authors/historians. Take cash if you can, because a lot of the dealers offer discounts for cash paying customers. The display cases indicate all the discounts a dealer has going and the owners of the Center have the information as well. They do a good job at this place and I've been meaning to go get more books here.
The Antique Center also has a section in it for Rock Top Book Shop and Bindery. This store is in Cashtown and I have yet to successfully get to it. They have limited hours and it might be good to call ahead to see if they're open. They're pretty new to the location, but moved from other operations they ran:
https://rocktopbookshop.com and
https://www.facebook.com/historyandartandcrafts/In general:
Destination Gettysburg -
https://www.destinationgettysburg.com/index.asp or
https://www.facebook.com/destinationgettysburg - Has done a good job at being a centralized PR arm for the variety of things/activities to do in and around Gettysburg. I mention it for anyone who happens to be interested.
Also Mr G's Ice Cream is very good and of course the Garryowen Irish Pub is always a classic! Also Food 101 might not be for everyone, but they do offer some healthier alternatives, while still have some good standards as well. Food is subjective though, so to each their own.
Be sure to check out the work the American Battlefield Trust (Formerly CWT) did to restore Lee's Headquarters at the Widow Thompson house. We've gone there multiple times and it looks awesome! Also the NPS did some rework of Bushman Hill and did a reinstallation of the artillery on it with a video on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvvpq8MGocw Also some years back they acquired Power Hill's and reworked the terrain there with monuments and cannons. I have yet to get here either, despite driving past it.
Lastly, one also can't go wrong with Stone Sentinels -
http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com a neat site for a brushup on what/where many of the monuments etc are. Winter time did allow me & a friend to find this one:
http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/mo ... ry-fuller/ Gary - Y'all from Texas probably have snake boots, so you could find it too I'm sure, just have plenty of bug spray for ticks etc. Tick season has been rough here this year. Not sure if they are a thing in Texas or not. These two sites are interesting too:
http://battleofgettysburgbuff.com/index.htm and
https://www.gettysburgdaily.com/battlefield-guides/ I've been into looking for the more esoteric battlefield aspects these days.
I hope some of this is useful for your trip Gary and if you're interested I'd be happy to stop on up briefly to meet you and your friends.
I also hope that this might be useful to others as well.
Oh and as for the heat, not quite sure where you're from in Texas there Gary, but it ain't no dry heat up here!
When it's 115 with the humidity, you can taste the air!
As my wife said, just breath it in and out!
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