Are you a history buff? Do you yearn to re-enact the battles of the Civil War? Are you fond of annoying your kids with fun facts to know and tell? Or are you just curious about the history that lies just under the surface of our everyday American life? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you probably want to know How to Visit Gettysburg.

Gettysburg, PA has been home to a national monument since Abraham Lincoln dedicated the Soldiers' National Cemetery there on November 19, 1863. You probably remember this from your history class. At that dedication ceremony, President Lincoln delivered one of the most famous speeches in US history, right up there with Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" and John F Kennedy's Inaugural Address. In that speech, Lincoln said: "But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate...we can not consecrate...we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/gettyb.asp

He was right, of course—there is nothing we can do to make this site more sacred. The soldiers did that by dying there. But when we visit and learn, we pay tribute to the struggle our ancestors had to make democracy work. And when we take the tour of this battlefield—whether we watch hundreds of volunteers re-enact the battle, or go when it is quiet and reflect in the peace of the Pennsylvania countryside—we are participating in our own citizenship. Visiting Gettysburg has been popular for quite a while—General George S Patton, Jr took his family there back in the days before World War II. Patton's great-uncle fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. Another famous American, President Dwight D Eisenhower, was a Gettysburg resident. His farm is a national historic site.http://search.barnesandnoble.com/War-as-I-Knew-It/George-S-Patton/e/9780553259919 http://www.nps.gov/eise/index.htm

On July 1-3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg was fought between the armies of the Confederacy, under the command of General Robert E Lee, and the Army of the Potomac under General George Meade. This Union victory marks the turning point of the Civil War, in which Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was turned back. It is sometimes called the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy". The victory was a big boost for morale in the North, and changed the feeling that Robert E Lee was undefeatable. The battle took place in the fields of Gettysburg between the Confederate army, about 72,000 men, and the Union army, about 94,000 men, and lasted for three days. It was the bloodiest battle in that bloody war. Total casualties were between 46,000 and 51,000. This is one reason the battlefield was later converted into a national cemetery. When you visit, be aware that this is a burial ground. http://www.gettysburg.com/

The Civil War is one of the first conflicts to have what we might think of as modern media coverage. The photographer Matthew Brady took many photos of the Battle of Gettysburg, making it one of the first military subjects of photojournalism. The photos give us a chilling look at the aftermath of war, and put us in touch with figures in history that we usually think of as just names on a page. A lot of people go to Gettysburg every year—some of them in costume. So you need to watch out for passing re-enactors. http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/brady-photos/

The Civil War was sort of labor intensive—lots of people doing lots of things, not just fighting. So it's no surprise that re-enactment is a big-crowd operation, especially at Gettysburg. You can check the schedule, and go and watch: You can see battle re-enactments, learn about survival skills, and even watch (and hear—bring your earplugs) live mortar demonstrations. http://www.gettysburgreenactment.com/

Re-enactors like to "live the part"—so don't be surprised to see soldiers with sore feet, people with dirty faces, etc. You can sample the food if you show up at the right time. (Diet note: They probably aren't gluten-free.) Of course, the big battle days are around 4th of July weekend, so plan accordingly. http://www.gettysburgreenactment.com/maps.htm

If you catch the re-enacting bug, you can even join up. There are lots of different groups, and it pays to get the info ahead of time, by reading an FAQ. A well-prepared re-enactor can even bring his own horse. You just need to be over 16—a requirement the original armies didn't have. http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=46774 http://reenactor.gettysburgreenactment.com/index.htm http://www.gettysburgreenactment.com/reenactorInfo.htm

Of course, if you want to re-enact, you'll have to pick a side. You don't have to be from the South to join the Confederate army—just get a gray uniform.The 2010 re-enactment will be taking place from July 2nd-5th. http://www.civil-war-costumes.com/gettysburg-battle-reenactment http://www.3gvi.org/ga3gburg.html

Now that you know what you want to see, plan how to get there.

The Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureauhttp://www.gettysburg.travel/ is a good place to start for information on what to see, when and where to see it, and what special events are planned for your visiting time. You can get a visitors' guide from them, and book group tours, as well. Since Gettysburg is out in the country, you'll want to get good maps. http://www.gettysburg.travel/visitor/index.asp They've got coupons and tips on places to stay and eat, too.

If you don't have an invitation to stay with the Eisenhowers, you might try a hotel.http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g60798-Gettysburg_Pennsylvania-Vacations.html You can imitate the Army of Northern Virginia and camp without re-enacting—just pick a campground.http://www.drummerboycamping.com/ Or try cabins.http://gettysburgcampground.com/cabins.htm

Pennsylvania is a beautiful state. If you don't want to watch the battle in the July heat, mosey over in the fall for some spectacularly beautiful foliage.http://dc.about.com/od/photos/ig/Fall-Foliage-Pictures-/gettsyburg2.htm. Do you like bluegrass? Try the Gettysburg Folk Festival.http://www.gettysburgbluegrass.com/ Check the event calendar for other things to do, such as events at the American Civil War Museum or living history encampments.http://www.gettysburg.travel/visitor/event.asp There are non-Civil War events as well—even an Easter egg hunt.http://www.visit-gettysburg.com/gettysburg-events-schedule.html While you're there, you'll find that all that history tires you out, and you need to do something modern, like shopping. It's rural Pennsylvania—of course there are outlet malls.http://www.gettysbg.com/gettysburgoutlets.shtml Whatever your taste, you'll be glad you went. The battleground makes you thoughtful. Nature makes you peaceful. You'll satisfy your curiosity, and build memories for yourself and your family.