9 free in �09

For visitors to the Historic Gettysburg area, there is an array of free attractions to enjoy

(Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - 6/23/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE �

CONTACT:
Carl Whitehill
Media Relations Manager
Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau
717) 338-1055
[email protected]

Free is certainly everybody�s favorite word. In a summer travel season when vacationers will certainly be looking to spread their money further, the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau has put together a list of free attractions in the destination for visitors to enjoy.

Vacations should be enjoyable and not a burden on visitors� finances,� said Norris Flowers, President of the Gettysburg CVB. �Our destination is still rich in free opportunities, which give our visitors a great, inexpensive experience.�

These attractions focus on both Gettysburg�s rich history and its other great attractions, including outdoor recreation, agriculture and the lighter side of Gettysburg:

Gettysburg National Military Park
Known by most as simply �the battlefield,� the Gettysburg National Military Park is the country�s largest history classroom. It remains one of the few free national historic sites in the United States and draws 2 million visitors annually. With 6,000 acres of preserved battle ground, the park is a place where visitors come to honor and pay their respects to the fallen soldiers, reflect on a nation torn by war or learn about the most documented battle in U.S. history. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/gett

Gettysburg Train Station
When President Abraham Lincoln arrived in Gettysburg to deliver what would become known as the Gettysburg Address, this small Pennsylvania town was in the midst of a massive cleanup effort after the battle just four months earlier. The train station � Lincoln�s first stop in Gettysburg � explains that story and demonstrates the world the 16th president would have seen when he stepped off that train on Nov. 18, 1863.

Historic Roundbarn
It was probably the most ingenious � yet expensive � barn design of its time � the Roundbarn. Only a handful of them remain today � including the one outside Gettysburg in the heart of Pennsylvania�s Fruit Belt. Built in 1914, this Roundbarn now houses one of the best Farmer�s Markets in the region. This rare structure has become one of Adams County, Pa.�s most popular landmarks. For more information, visit www.roundbarngettysburg.com

Mister Ed�s Elephant Museum
Speaking of landmarks � for many visitors to Gettysburg, Mister Ed�s Elephant Museum is as much of a must-stop attraction as the battlefield itself. Yes, the candy comes with a cost, but to see one of the largest collections of elephant figurines in the world won�t cost you a cent. What started out as a simple wedding gift has turned into a nationally known museum with more than 10,000 elephants. For more information, visit www.mistereds.com.

Soldiers� National Cemetery
Before Arlington, there was Gettysburg. It featured the most recognized dedication the country has ever seen. President Lincoln was asked to share �a few appropriate remarks,� and of course, those ten sentences � a mere 272 words � would become one of the most famous speeches of all time. And it happened here in Gettysburg. The cemetery�s gates are now open for the world to see. It�s not only a place to honor soldiers who were in Gettysburg but to appreciate the magnitude of what our 16th president said here.

Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve
There are many ways to enjoy Gettysburg�s countryside, but Strawberry Hill Nature Center is a remarkable experience and one that�ll challenge your body yet relieve you of the stress of your daily life. With 600 acres � plus a new adjoining 2,500-acre plot of preserved forest � Strawberry Hill is not just a hike in the woods. It�s an experience that will put visitors face-to-face with nature. For more information, visit www.strawberryhill.org

Self-Guided Tours
The Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau has put together a collection of self-guided tours that enable visitors to explore on their own at their own pace. The Scenic Driving Tour and the Historic Conewago Valley Tour take you out of town and into the great countryside of Adams County, Pa. Along the way, you�ll find orchards, farmer�s markets, antique malls and plenty of picturesque stops. Our Downtown (Gettysburg) Walking Tour and New Oxford Historic Walking Tour give our visitors a chance to stretch their legs, learn a bit of history and an opportunity to explore shops, galleries and diners along the tour. For more information, visit www.gettysburg.travel

Camp David Museum
Not far from Gettysburg, down U.S. Route 15 in Thurmont, Md., is one of the most unique places around � The Cozy. It�s a restaurant, it�s an inn, but it also houses a museum you won�t find anywhere else, and it�s dedicated to the famous presidential retreat just a couple miles away. Inside, you�ll learn about the handful of presidents and international dignitaries who�ve stayed at Camp David, and you�ll see that the Cozy itself has played an important role in the vacation spot. For more information, visit www.cozyvillage.com

Willow Pond Farm
This 1760s vintage stone farmhouse is best known as the centerpiece of the Pennsylvania Lavender Festival, but outside those three days in June, Willow Pond Farm is a great place to enjoy a warm spring or summer morning, strolling through gardens of herbs. Varieties include culinary herbs, edible flowers, mint, scented geraniums, medicinal herbs and, of course, lavender. For more information, visit www.willowpondherbs.com

This list of free attractions showcases Gettysburg�s unique diversity,� said Flowers. �Certainly, we are rich in Civil War history, but Gettysburg and its countryside provide our millions of visitors with a well-rounded vacation experience.�

For more information on Gettysburg�s free attractions or other events and activities in Gettysburg, visit www.gettysburg.travel.