President Eisenhower's Gettysburg Farm
World War II Weekend on the farm is an educational experience.
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Many people don’t realize that President (and General) Dwight D. Eisenhower loved Gettysburg, PA so much that he bought a farm there.
The Eisenhower National Historic Site preserves the farm of “Ike” and his wife Mamie, which is open daily for self-guided tours.
Adjacent to the Gettysburg battlefield, the farm served the president and first lady as a weekend retreat and as a meeting place for world leaders.
With its peaceful setting and view of South Mountain, the farm served as a respite from Washington, DC, and a backdrop for efforts to reduce Cold War tensions.
Every year in September, the farm hosts a special World War II Weekend.
World War II
Of course, World War II was a defining event in the lives of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower and in the course of world history.
This September’s WWII event focused on 1943, a year when the American people and their allies fully engaged in a global war.
The event featured a living history camp, a family education tent, special guest speakers, guided walking tours with park rangers, tours of the Eisenhower home and displays of artillery and radio equipment.
Lots To See
There was lots to see at the World War II Weekend event including weapons, demonstrations, and all types of vehicles.
A Peek Inside
It was so interesting to get a look inside different tents and see how they would have been set up on the front lines.
I especially loved the Communications tent, where they had a radio set up, complete with a code book that had the password for the day.
Make sure you see next week’s post that features the INSIDE of the historic Eisenhower farmhouse, the place that Ike and Maime loved and called home.
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