Past Lane Plus is an extension of Past Lane Travels, a history/travel blog.
More than a million people visit the historic town of Gettysburg every year, but there are some hidden gems in this small Pennsylvania town that even local residents have never seen—even though they may pass by them every day.
Read this post and you’ll probably know more about the secrets of Gettysburg than those who have lived there for years!
‘Witness Trees’
Since I love old trees, I’ll start with the Witness Trees that are easy to find right in the middle Gettysburg.
For those who aren’t familiar, witness trees are those that are more than 150 years old, so they “witnessed” the Battle of Gettysburg. The easiest one to spot is on Baltimore Street, in front of Mr. G’s Ice Cream and across from The Farnsworth House.
There is a plaque in front of this huge Sycamore tree, that not only witnessed the carnage of the Battle of Gettysburg, but was also standing when President Abraham Lincoln’s procession walked down the street to the cemetery in November of 1863.
There is a second Sycamore tree just down the block, and there are lots of other witness trees on the battlefield and around Gettysburg.
It’s amazing to be able to touch these living connections to our nation’s past.
‘Penelope’
Penelope is starting to gain a little more attention these days, but since this cannon from the War of 1812 has been embedded in the sidewalk for more than 150 years, you would think she’d be even more famous.
Penelope was used to celebrate Democratic elections until her barrel blew up in 1855. She’s been in the sidewalk every since.
Location: In front of a brick building with a plaque on the east side of the second block of Baltimore Street.
Artillery Shells And Bullet Holes
Almost every building that stood during the Battle of Gettysburg shows evidence of the conflict with pock marks in the brick or stone.
A few even have artillery shells protruding from their facades.
The Coster Avenue Mural
Sadly, most people never see the Coster Avenue Mural that depicts scenes of the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg.
It takes up the entire side of a building and is a beautiful work of art.
Tip: Parking is limited to one or two cars, but I’ve never seen anyone else here!
Directions: From Lincoln Square, head north on Carlisle Street, and turn right onto Stevens Street (one block from first traffic signal). Go straight through the stop sign and you will come to the monuments and mural.
So Many More…
There are too many hidden gems in Gettysburg to list in this post, but you can read more about the historic sites that no one sees on Past Lane Travels.
If you’re planning a trip to Gettysburg, you might want to pick up a copy of the Gettysburg Handbook and Insider’s Travel Guide.