Sunday, November 20, 2016

One Great Gettysburg Experience: Hall of Presidents

Here's a great experience to have...while you still can.  Gettysburg's long-lived Hall of Presidents and First Ladies wax museum of the American Presidents is closing permanently November 26, 2016.  This demanded a trip to Gettysburg by the Haltermans.  If you have any interest,  we recommend it...and you need to go NOW. 
 
Inside the museum, there are four narrated rooms and wax figures of each of the Presidents through Obama.  The likenesses are reasonably realistic,  and even better,  the narrations of their accomplishments are reasonably apolitical.  There are also means behind the Presidents regarding key accomplishments, but as the rooms have grown more crowded over the years,  they are a bit out-of-sync with the figures.  Tour as slowly as you can and take lots of pictures!
 
Following this exhibit, visit the Hall of First Ladies for smaller figures of the First Ladies in their gowns.  These likenesses are less realistic, but the display is enjoyable.  It is not narrated; you can move at your own pace.
 
At the time of our visit, some of the employees,  all also part of a larger group of Gettysburg attractions, seemed unaware of the closure.  However, it is "Facebook public," payed by the company itself.  We are awaiting news of the next destination for the figures.
 
If you go, a visit here would be easy to pair with Evergreen Cemetery and/or the National Park Service Visitors Center.  The Inn at Cemetery Hill and The Inn of 1873 can provide you with super-close lodging.  AAA discounts are still available at the site as are combo attraction tickets. Consider it...and help preserve the legacy of the American wax museum.   Few exist anymore.