The Hot Air Balloon and what Visitors think of Residents

[Mr Blonde]

I have zero problem with the balloon and I applaud the owner of the Heritage Museum for thinking outside the box to try to attract more people to Steinwehr and give those visiting something else to do. But boy oh boy is it pissing off the Battlefield purists.

Just click the link if you're on Facebook and start reading the threads about the Balloon. You can draw your own conclusions.

www.facebook.com/groups/149673501730568/768513996513179/?notif_t=group_comment_reply

[Alex Oreilly]

Wow, talk about a bunch of close minded people. It is like according to them the only way Gettysburg should be is all battlefield and nothing else.

[Venter]

WOW!
Instead of "Gettysburg Past & Present, it should be called "Gettysburg Past & Further Past".

It is a Helium Balloon, so it won't have that loud whooshing fire sound.
It is white with a blue "basket", and it is tethered.

While I appreciate the fact that people want to visit Gettysburg, they need to realize that there is PLENTY to do for the "Purist".
By offering an exciting way to view the Battlefield, I think the Heritage Museum has succeeded, and I hope it is successful.

What hypocrites those people are to request Photos from members who go up in the Balloon, while at the same time they are totally TRASHING the operation.

[Venter]

Another thing...
Many of those "Gettysburg Purists" don't even know the NAME of the Street, or the Location, yet they will BITCH about this with venom.

Fuck 'em all.
I get so tired of hearing these close-minded idiots spout off about something they are so clueless about.

Plus, if you think about it, if the GNMP hadn't cut down all the fuckin' trees, then most visitors wouldn't even be able to see this balloon from most venues.

[lifesaver]

Jun 27, 2014 17:50:33 GMT -5 Mr Blonde said:

I have zero problem with the balloon and I applaud the owner of the Heritage Museum for thinking outside the box to try to attract more people to Steinwehr and give those visiting something else to do. But boy oh boy is it pissing off the Battlefield purists.

Just click the link if you're on Facebook and start reading the threads about the Balloon. You can draw your own conclusions.

www.facebook.com/groups/149673501730568/768513996513179/?notif_t=group_comment_reply

I especially like the comments about shooting it with a pellet gun, missile, or black powder. Classy.

[Venter]

And ANOTHER Nother thing:

• If the Balloon is UP and just Happens to be in the Exact Spot you want to Photograph... just wait a few minutes and it WILL come down.
  
• It's just like Waiting for a Car to Pass so you can take a picture of the Historically-Accurately-Placed Pennsylvania Monument - except you won't have to wait as long.
• If Gettysburg were just like Sharpsburg, then it would ALSO be a sleepy unassuming little podunk town.
  
• People come here to "See the Battlefield" - What better way than from above?
• I think ALL VEHICLES should be banned from the Battlefield; all Monuments Removed; All Viewing Towers torn down; and then Place Replica Bodies and Horses onto the Battlefields, along with Cannon Sounds Blasting away during the entire day.
• And I approve of Live Fire in some circumstances
  

[philliesfan]

I also do not have a real issue with the balloon other than the fact that a few years ago we used to have a tower that provided a spectacular view of the battlefield and one of the arguments was that it didn't belong becasue it distracted from the town/battlefield skyline, so it was torn down. Now we have a balloon that rises above the town/battlefield skyline and it wasn't here during the great battle, however it is acceptable?

Just my personal observation.

[Venter]

I'm sure there will be many places on the battlefield that the balloon will not be visible.
We need to map that out for the idiots.
I'll bet you can't see it from Sharpsburg!


Better yet, send them here:
An Option

[Fire Marshal Bill]

Jul 3, 2014 8:56:10 GMT -5 philliesfan said:

I also do not have a real issue with the balloon other than the fact that a few years ago we used to have a tower that provided a spectacular view of the battlefield and one of the arguments was that it didn't belong becasue it distracted from the town/battlefield skyline, so it was torn down. Now we have a balloon that rises above the town/battlefield skyline and it wasn't here during the great battle, however it is acceptable?

Just my personal observation.

Philliesfan, the opinions of the tower and the balloon are the same. Most who live here have no problems with either. Most casual tourist have no problems and enjoy the different experience. It is only the purest who visit here once or twice every year, and don’t want anything to interfere with how they perceive this experience should be, for their pleasure and enjoyment

I liked the tower. From the tourist prospective, it was one place where you could get a view of the entire battlefield at one time. Although the park towers to allow you to see larger portions of the field, you can’t see the entire field from any of them. It was also accessible to people with disabilities.

From a local citizens view, the tower paid property tax, and employed a small number of people, who also paid taxes. And since it was considered “entertainment” it paid that tax which went to the school (I was told they were paying $80,000 a year in school tax.)

As a student of the battle, or as a tourist, when you tour, you get the view of various parts of the field, such as the first day battle west of town, from Confederate Ave, as the Pickett/Pettigrew Assault starts out, and a bit further where the second day assault started. You see Little Round Top, Devils Den, and of course the Angle where the attack of the third day was repulsed.

But you only see that part of the field. It was nice to go up the tower and see how it all ties together, and I am sure the balloon will be the same. It is only from an elevated vantage point that you can truly see how confusing it was for the Union to fall back through town on the first day while attempting to get to Cemetery Hill.

One comment I saw was “you should only see the battlefield as the soldiers saw it.” Well if this is the case, all the monuments should be removed, along with the roads. First the roads on the field did not exist at the time of the battle they were put in to make it easier for people to view the field. The soldiers did not see the field from the comfort of air conditioned vehicles or from double decker busses, they didn’t even ride to the field.

If you want to see the battlefield as the soldiers did, you must first walk here from York, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Westminster, or Frederick. So when you get here you are hot, tired, and hungry. If you wish to truly have the soldiers experience, you must walk from one place to another, and often be redirected because of poor directions. And you must exist with only those items you carry with you.

[bullet]

Nice picture in the paper today. Might even want to try it myself.

[Dexter]

I think the balloon idea was pure genius!!! I, jealously, applaud the owners. Anyon who complains can simple look away while the balloon is flying.