Have you ever heard a good ghost story? Being witchy folk, we absolutely tend to lean towards the paranormal, the spooky, and the unexplained. Perhaps, we have abilities that others do not which lure us to eclectic happenings.
White Witch Magazine
Back in 2022, my cohort Don and I visited Gettysburg. I posted some clips on my TikTok here. I worked nearby for nearly 12 years and must have driven through the town at least one hundred times before my curiosity set in. My first impression of the town was totally historic, and very old. Granted, I just adore old and vintage things (Living a Vintage Life Podcast) so I had to spend the day and really scout it out. Many of the buildings seem to be trapped in centuries old styles. Yet, this is not uncommon for small Pennsylvania towns. I later learned that the historic district zoning takes pride in overseeing alterations so that you must keep the homes somewhat period style historic.
Don, on the other hand, is a huge history buff who usually spent his weekends off galivanting to historical sites in the Eastern Panhandle area with his sister. Gettysburg was not fresh news to him and had visited it years ago. According to Don, “One of the greatest battles in history happened there. ” After his sister passed, he felt less inclined to get out. Unfortunately for me, my real job takes my weekends and holidays, yet my slow season is winter. We decided to do a winter trip.
One freezing cold day in February we decided to tour the town, and even booked a ghost tour. Ironically, most things were open and still you could find tour guides on the street.
Normally in the spring and summer months you can’t get a parking spot within miles of Gettysburg, and ghost tours are booked months in advance. Needless to say, the town is such a huge tourist attraction. People from all over the country and abroad visit there. There is something for everyone. Shops and history are found everywhere. If you are on a budget, there’s an easy self-guided walking tour, and the visitor’s center is where you should start.
We actually happened upon someone on the streets dressed as a soldier who (for a modest fee) acted as our paid tour guide (and was so knowledgeable we were astonished.) Don himself, learned a new thing or two. There are too many sites to finish in just one day, and the magic of Gettysburg is that it lures you back, again and again. The more you go the more you learn and the more you can see.
There’s an old inn to eat in, where they house a lot of the actual “props” used in the film “Gettysburg”. Then there’s a few ghost tour companies, so really, there’s never any shortage of add on activities. Some of the historic homes also give paid tours and small productions. You can hear all about our experience on the podcast !
The best part of Gettysburg for me, was standing in the spot of the battles, and feeling the long list vibes of ancestors who stood before me and fought for freedom. We did record the episodes in Gettysburg, but they are only available as bonus podcasts to our paid subscription members. Find out more here.
Enjoy! See all videos on the TikTok here.
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Don, messing with the dowsing rods in the bathroom of the old schoolhouse. Believe it or not, many groups got activity inside, but for us, the most activity was outside near a well for us. We were told the soldiers may have camped and / or fought directly behind the structure.