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WWII American Experience

WWII American Experience

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Your Gettysburg, PA WWII History Destination.
We serve to educate the public, while preserving and honoring the sacrifices made on the battlefield and on the home front. See our vehicles and artifacts while learning about our shared American story.

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🔥 Happy Bike Week Gettysburg! 🔥

Welcome, Bikers! In honor of Bike Week, we want to share this historic bike we have on display in our exhibit hall. This is a Model 741 Indian motorcycle with a unique history!

The Indian 741 was a military motorcycle produced during World War II, based on the civilian Junior Scout model. This specific bike was owned by a descendant of the Macy’s founders in New York City and is considered WWII surplus.

After WWII, Macy’s sold surplus Indian motorcycles in their stores. This bike still has the original NY license plate from when it was first registered in 1953. 84 years later, the original Edison Indian spark plugs are still there.

This bike also has a connection to the Titanic, as the owner’s grandparents - Isidor and Ida Strauss - perished in the 1912 sinking. Every vehicle has a story.

See you soon Bikers!

#indian741 #indianmotorcycle #WWII #bikeweek #americanmade #motorcycle #history #Titanic
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🔥 Happy Bike Week Gettysburg! 🔥

Welcome, Bikers! In honor of Bike Week, we want to share this historic bike we have on display in our exhibit hall. This is a Model 741 Indian motorcycle with a unique history!

The Indian 741 was a military motorcycle produced during World War II, based on the civilian Junior Scout model. This specific bike was owned by a descendant of the Macy’s founders in New York City and is considered WWII surplus. 

After WWII, Macy’s sold surplus Indian motorcycles in their stores. This bike still has the original NY license plate from when it was first registered in 1953. 84 years later, the original Edison Indian spark plugs are still there. 

This bike also has a connection to the Titanic, as the owner’s grandparents - Isidor and Ida Strauss - perished in the 1912 sinking. Every vehicle has a story. 

See you soon Bikers!

#indian741 #indianmotorcycle #WWII #bikeweek #americanmade #motorcycle #history #TitanicImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

🚨We’ve been getting a LOT of questions about how we transported our vehicles to DC for the Army 250th Parade. While we’d love to say we drove our tanks across the Potomac, we got by with a LOT of help from our friends, staff, and amazing volunteers.

🇺🇸 Thank you to York Excavating Co LLC - an amazing local business - for getting the job done while honoring our history and our Army. Check out this video they put together. Making hard work look easy! 🫡

#military #goarmy #vehicles #WWII #history #M4
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Happy Monday! We want to draw your attention to 2 fantastic events we are hosting this month.

⭐️ JULY 19: At Ease With The Eisenhower Society ⭐️
This year’s theme is Ike, Mamie, and World War II. Enjoy food, fun, entertainment, World War II programs and trivia. Come dressed in your best World War II attire, or come in comfortable clothing, your option. Visit the museum exhibits, look inside a tank, stroll the grounds to look at period vehicles, attend a park ranger program entitled, “Ike and Monty: Two Proud Generals” or just chat with friends. Play Trivia with your tablemates, win door prizes or listen to 1940s music and maybe dance a little!

⭐️ JULY 25-27: Military Weekend - it’s back! ⭐️
Join us for 3 days of fun with…
💥 living history encampments
💥 veteran meet + greets
💥 weapons demonstrations
💥 tank + vehicle rides
💥 militaria vendors + flea markets
💥 food trucks + refreshments
💥 live music + dance celebrating the Vietnam Era
💥 the Liberty Warbirds with Huey 823

… and more! We are thrilled that so many of you are traveling to Gettysburg for this event - if you need any guidance when it comes to booking hotels or dinner, shoot us a message. We are excited to help you plan! 🫡
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Happy Monday! We want to draw your attention to 2 fantastic events we are hosting this month. 

⭐️ JULY 19: At Ease With The Eisenhower Society ⭐️
This year’s theme is Ike, Mamie, and World War II. Enjoy food, fun, entertainment, World War II programs and trivia. Come dressed in your best World War II attire, or come in comfortable clothing, your option. Visit the museum exhibits, look inside a tank, stroll the grounds to look at period vehicles, attend a park ranger program entitled, “Ike and Monty: Two Proud Generals” or just chat with friends. Play Trivia with your tablemates, win door prizes or listen to 1940s music and maybe dance a little!

⭐️ JULY 25-27: Military Weekend - it’s back! ⭐️
Join us for 3 days of fun with… 
💥 living history encampments
💥 veteran meet + greets 
💥 weapons demonstrations
💥 tank + vehicle rides
💥 militaria vendors + flea markets
💥 food trucks + refreshments 
💥 live music + dance celebrating the Vietnam Era
💥 the Liberty Warbirds with Huey 823

… and more! We are thrilled that so many of you are traveling to Gettysburg for this event - if you need any guidance when it comes to booking hotels or dinner, shoot us a message. We are excited to help you plan! 🫡

🇺🇸 Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸
As we proudly celebrate Independence Day, we reflect on the service and sacrifice of our fellow Americans in defense of freedom. We wish you a safe and fun Independence Day!
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🇺🇸 Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸
As we proudly celebrate Independence Day, we reflect on the service and sacrifice of our fellow Americans in defense of freedom. We wish you a safe and fun Independence Day!Image attachmentImage attachment

🇺🇸 Happy Gettysburg 162! 🇺🇸

The Battle of Gettysburg began 162 years ago today. After 3 bloody days of fighting and total of 50,000 combined casualties, the Union’s Army of the Potomac would ultimately halt the Army of Northern Virginia’s advance into Pennsylvania and secure victory.

This week, we will be hosting a display honoring the GAR on Saturday and Sunday as part of the Gettysburg festivities - join us!

But… what about WWII?
During WWII, the battlefield was home to up to 400 German Prisoners of War. POWs were transported to Gettysburg beginning in June 1944, providing agricultural labor in the immediate area. In July 1944, two POWs escaped, eventually turning themselves in in nearby York.

Will you be coming out to Gettysburg this week and weekend? Drop us a comment!

📸 Submitted by one of our volunteers

#wwiihistory #AmericanHistory #gar #WWII #gettysburg #Battlefield
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🇺🇸 Happy Gettysburg 162! 🇺🇸

The Battle of Gettysburg began 162 years ago today. After 3 bloody days of fighting and total of 50,000 combined casualties, the Union’s Army of the Potomac would ultimately halt the Army of Northern Virginia’s advance into Pennsylvania and secure victory.

This week, we will be hosting a display honoring the GAR on Saturday and Sunday as part of the Gettysburg festivities - join us!

But… what about WWII? 
During WWII, the battlefield was home to up to 400 German Prisoners of War. POWs were transported to Gettysburg beginning in June 1944, providing agricultural labor in the immediate area. In July 1944, two POWs escaped, eventually turning themselves in in nearby York.

Will you be coming out to Gettysburg this week and weekend? Drop us a comment! 

📸 Submitted by one of our volunteers

#wwiihistory #AmericanHistory #gar #WWII #gettysburg #BattlefieldImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment
2 weeks ago

75 years ago today, the Korean War began when North Korean forces - backed by the Soviet Union and China - invaded South Korea. We honor and remember our Korean War veterans and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom.

Millions of American men and women served during the Korean War, with over 36,000 killed in action. We still wait for the missing to return home.

We recently had the privilege of hosting Korean War veterans from Antietam Chapter 312. They have a fantastic veteran-created exhibit at Fort Ritchie - pictured below - that we encourage you to visit. You might even get the chance to thank a Korean War vet!

Do you know someone who served in Korea? Feel free to share in the comments. ♥️
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75 years ago today, the Korean War began when North Korean forces - backed by the Soviet Union and China - invaded South Korea. We honor and remember our Korean War veterans and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of freedom. 

Millions of American men and women served during the Korean War, with over 36,000 killed in action. We still wait for the missing to return home. 

We recently had the privilege of hosting Korean War veterans from Antietam Chapter 312. They have a fantastic veteran-created exhibit at Fort Ritchie - pictured below - that we encourage you to visit. You might even get the chance to thank a Korean War vet! 

Do you know someone who served in Korea? Feel free to share in the comments. ♥️

♥️ We love our visitors and we love our veterans. Earlier this month, we hosted WWII Veteran Herbert Ridyard and the 94th Infantry Division Historical Association.

We were fortunate to listen to Herb share his experiences and stories — growing up in Pennsylvania during the Depression, wartime, and then serving in the Battle of the Bulge and beyond. Thank you Herb for your service, and thank you to the 94th ID Historical Association for stopping by. We hope to see you and Herb soon! 🇺🇸
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♥️ We love our visitors and we love our veterans. Earlier this month, we hosted WWII Veteran Herbert Ridyard and the 94th Infantry Division Historical Association. 

We were fortunate to listen to Herb share his experiences and stories — growing up in Pennsylvania during the Depression, wartime, and then serving in the Battle of the Bulge and beyond. Thank you Herb for your service, and thank you to the 94th ID Historical Association for stopping by. We hope to see you and Herb soon! 🇺🇸Image attachmentImage attachment

🇺🇸 We are honored to have showcased a small part of our WWII vehicle collection in the Army’s 250th Birthday Parade in Washington, D.C. These vehicles — and the men and women who operated them — were critical to victory in WWII.

It was a privilege to honor our military, all while sharing these vehicles with crowds in D.C. and hundreds of thousands spectators at home. As always, thank you to all who have served and currently serve. The last parade these vehicles were in was our Memorial Day parade, where we had the privilege of escorting 3 WWII veterans. 🫡

Thank you to York Excavating Co LLC for transporting these vehicles safely and securely. A special thank you to our staff and volunteers who preserve these vehicles with passion — this passion helps bring our history to you. 🇺🇸
... See MoreSee Less

🇺🇸 We are honored to have showcased a small part of our WWII vehicle collection in the Army’s 250th Birthday Parade in Washington, D.C. These vehicles — and the men and women who operated them — were critical to victory in WWII. 

It was a privilege to honor our military, all while sharing these vehicles with crowds in D.C. and hundreds of thousands spectators at home. As always, thank you to all who have served and currently serve. The last parade these vehicles were in was our Memorial Day parade, where we had the privilege of escorting 3 WWII veterans. 🫡

Thank you to York Excavating Co LLC for transporting these vehicles safely and securely. A special thank you to our staff and volunteers who preserve these vehicles with passion — this passion helps bring our history to you. 🇺🇸Image attachmentImage attachment+8Image attachment
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