Russell Tavern located in Adams County, Pennsylvania, is most known for being the location where George Washington stopped in 1794. Washington was on his way back to Philadelphia, then the Capital of the United States, after he had led forces to put down the “Whiskey Rebellion” in western Pennsylvania. Standing in front of the structure is onetime resident Harriet Hamilton Bayly (1820-1904), the great-granddaughter of tavern owner Joshua Russell (circa 1733-1805). This image was taken facing north by northwest circa 1890. It is courtesy of the Adams County Historical Society.

Russell Tavern is located approximately five miles north of the Borough of Gettysburg. Its location is indicated by the red marker. This image is courtesy of google.com/maps. It was accessed on August 23, 2024.

Russell Tavern is located at 1000 Russell Tavern Road at the intersection of Russell Tavern Road and Goldenville Road. It is located in the northwest section of that intersection. The Goldenville Road in 1794 was the Black Gap’s Road. The Russell Tavern Road in 1794 was a Gettysburg-Shippensburg Road (but not the Shippensburg Road that today goes through Mummasburg). This image is courtesy of google.com/maps. It was accessed on June 17, 2024.

The Whiskey Rebellion challenged the power of the new federal government to collect taxes. The image is titled “Tarring and Feathering an Excise Officer.” The image was created by engraver John Rogers (1808-1888) circa 1863 for the book History of American Conspiracies 1760-1860 by Orville James Victor. The book was published in 1863. The image is on page 213. This image is courtesy of the New York Public Library.

To raise money for the federal government, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton (circa 1755-1804) began two types of taxes, an import tax (tariff) and an excise tax. This image was created by John Trumbull (1756-1843) in 1792. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

An excise tax is a tax placed on goods made, sold, and used within a country… like whiskey. This image is courtesy of mountvernon.org. It was accessed in 2012.

In 1794 farmers in western Pennsylvania were angry over the excise tax on whiskey. Approximately 6000 farmers and local militia gathered at Braddock’s Field in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania at the beginning of August, 1794. British General Edwin Braddock’s forces had been defeated here on July 9, 1755 during the French and Indian War. This image was created by Gottlieb Daniel Paul Weber (1823-1916) in 1854. It is titled “Braddock’s Field.” This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. It was accessed on August 25, 2024.

The farmers refused to pay the tax on whiskey. This image is titled “Famous Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsylvania.” The figures are not exactly wearing circa 1794 clothes. This image was created circa 1876 for the publication Our First Century: Being a Popular Descriptive Portraiture of the One Hundred Great and Memorable Events of Perpetual Interest In the History of Our Country… by Richard Miller Devens. The book was published in 1876. The image is found on page 161. This image is courtesy of the Library of Congress, and was accessed August 25, 2024.

President George Washington personally led troops towards that area to put down the rebellion. This image, titled “To Execute the Laws of the Union,” was created in 2004 for the National Guard series of Heritage Paintings. This image shows Washington reviewing New Jersey soldiers in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on October 3, 1794. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

One of Washington’s main goals was to assure citizens of the power of the new United States government. The current United States Constitution was approved by delegates in Philadelphia in 1787. It became the law of the land in 1789 when approved by New Hampshire (the ninth state to ratify the Constitution). Rhode Island was the 13th state to approve the Constitution in 1790. This image is courtesy of the National Archives.

Washington reviewed militia from Pennsylvania and New Jersey in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He then rode to Cumberland, Maryland, and reviewed militia from Virginia and Maryland. During his time as president, Washington owned two white horses, Prescott and Jackson. Prescott was described as “a fine parade horse, purely white, and sixteen hands high.” This image was created circa 1795 by Frederick Kemmelmeyer (1755-1821). It is titled “Washington Reviewing the Western Army at Fort Cumberland, Maryland,” and shows Washington reviewing militia there on October 16, 1794. It is courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The information on Washington’s horses is from George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

The militia moved westward. President Washington and the first 3000 soldiers reached Bedford, Pennsylvania on October 19, 1794. Approximately 12,000 militia had been raised between those formed at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and those formed at Cumberland, Maryland. This image is titled “Capture of the Whiskey-Tax Collectors.” It was created for an American history book in 1876.

By the time Washington reached Bedford, it had become obvious that those in rebellion had fled or had decided not to resist. This image is titled “1794. The Whiskey Rebellion.” The image was created in 2015 by the Federal Highway Administration. The image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

While part of the army continued towards Pittsburgh, and would arrest approximately 150 people (most of them were pardoned), Washington left Bedford on October 21, 1794 and headed back to Philadelphia. This cropped image is from a map titled “A Map Exhibiting a General View of the Roads and Inland Navigation of Pennsylvania, and Part of the Adjacent States.” The map was created by John Adlum (1759-1836) in 1791. The map is courtesy of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

Although the diary for this time period is unclear, the editors of President Washington’s diaries at the National Archives believe that the route he took back to Philadelphia was from “Bedford to Chambersburg, from Chambersburg to York, and then to Lancaster…” That route would take him through Black’s Gap (today’s Cashtown Gap) and through Hunterstown. This cropped image is from a map titled “A Map Exhibiting a General View of the Roads and Inland Navigation of Pennsylvania, and Part of the Adjacent States.” The map was created by John Adlum (1759-1836) in 1791. The map is courtesy of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

Russell’s Tavern is located at the small red dot at the intersection of the Black’s Gap Road and the Gettysburg-Shippensburg Road. It is believed that President Washington reached Russell Tavern on October 24, 1794. It is not known exactly how many people accompanied Washington on his trip back to Philadelphia, but he noted in his diary on October 26th that he had reached Wright’s Ferry on the Susquehanna River “without accident to man, horse, or carriage.” He would have had at least a driver for his carriage, and a footman for his carriage. Russell family descendants stated that he was accompanied by “four or five aides and his military secretary…” (Article by Alice Black on Russell Tavern in 1935 Page 14. A copy is at the Adams County Historical Society). This cropped image is from a map titled “A Map Exhibiting a General View of the Roads and Inland Navigation of Pennsylvania, and Part of the Adjacent States.” The map was created by John Adlum (1759-1836) in 1791. The map is courtesy of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

Adams County resident Thomas Craig, who supposedly was 104 years old when he died, told of how Washington passed by his house “on what was known as the Philadelphia road– that Washington rode in a great carriage, guarded by light horse, etc…” (Gettysburg Compiler November 30, 1877 page 2 column 5). It is not known who this group of light horse was. Unless a few members of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry returned with Washington in October, 1794, it was not this unit. The First Philadelphia City Cavalry had guarded Washington as he met soldiers in Carlisle on their way to Bedford. They state in the unit’s history that the unit did not return to Philadelphia until December 25, 1794. It seems to this editor if some of them were required to accompany the President of the United States back to Philadelphia, it would have been mentioned in their unit history. This image was taken from a frontispiece of History of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry printed by Hallowell & Company in Philadelphia in 1874.

This is a photograph of the “Powel Carriage” when it was on display for the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition. Although made identical to Washington’s carriage by the same carriage maker in England, the “Powel Carriage” belonged to Samuel Powel, a one-time Mayor of Philadelphia. Later owners of the carriage tried to present it as Washington’s carriage even though this carriage was originally a reddish color, and had the Powel crest on the door. This Powel carriage is now on display at George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon, Virginia. This image was published in Mary Stevens Beall’s The Story of the Washington Coachee and of the Powel Coach which is now at Mount Vernon. It was published by Neale Publishing Company of Washington, D.C. in 1908. The image is facing page 64.

President Washington had three vehicles, all painted cream colored. In 1790 Washington wrote to a carriage maker to make sure that his state carriage was “neatly painted and highly varnished.” His carriages were known as the “white carriages.” One of the three carriages was a “post-chaise for traveling and the country, one a family coach; and another a chariot for state purposes.” The state carriage that he had in New York and in Philadelphia had oval glass windows in the front and back of the carriage. The carriage had paintings representing the four seasons represented by cupids on the front and back of the carriage, and also on the two doors. The paintings were on copper medallions each measuring 10″ X 8″. The four panels on the carriage (bottom left and bottom right on each side) displayed Washington’s crest/coat of arms. The state carriage, and the one that was most likely used during the Whiskey Rebellion, and at Russell Tavern eventually was sold to John F. Watson who was a resident of New Orleans. It was in storage on his property from 1804-1806. The carriage was falling apart, and eventually used as a henhouse. Watson wrote that during the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, it was used as part of the fortifications of the United States defensive line, and was completely destroyed by bullets and artillery shells during the battle. Later historians dispute that story of the carriage’s demise. The information on President Washington’s coaches were published in Mary Stevens Beall’s The Story of the Washington Coachee and of the Powel Coach which is now at Mount Vernon. It was published by Neale Publishing Company of Washington, D.C. in 1908. A summary of the findings on the carriages are found on pages 69-74. The image of the Powel Coach in front of Mount Vernon was published in Harpers Weekly on March 16, 1872. It was at the top of page 13/213.

Sometimes President Washington’s state carriage was pulled by four horses, and at other times it was pulled by six horses. Another of Washington’s white carriages eventually was purchased by Episcopal Bishop William Meade (1789-1862) of Richmond, Virginia (not a direct relation to Gettysburg’s Major-General George Gordon Meade). As it was falling apart, Bishop Meade eventually had it taken apart and gave away the parts as souvenirs. The third Washington white coach, made in France, was owned by Henry Dunlap Sr., a carriage builder in Philadelphia. Like Bishop Meade, this carriage was taken apart when it was too old, and the pieces were sold as relics. This information on President Washington’s coaches were published in Mary Stevens Beall’s The Story of the Washington Coachee and of the Powel Coach which is now at Mount Vernon. It was published by Neale Publishing Company of Washington, D.C. in 1908. A summary of the findings on the carriages are found on pages 69-74. This image of President Washington’s coach in front of the Franklin House at Franklin Square in New York City was published in Leila Herbert’s The First American: His Homes and his Households. The book was published by Harper and Brothers in New York City in 1900. The image was displayed after page 44.

Today, if you don’t know what you’re looking for, it is easy to miss Russell Tavern, hidden by the large tree when the leaves are out. This image was taken facing north-northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

Russell Tavern was constructed in 1755. At least that is according to a date stone that used to be a part of the house, but which was removed following a fire. The information on Russell Tavern comes from the following files at the Adams County Historical Society: Russell Tavern File, Russell Family File. Carey Family File. This image was taken facing north-northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

The historic marker in front of the house was dedicated on June 21, 1938 by the Gettysburg Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The information on Russell Tavern comes from the following files at the Adams County Historical Society: Russell Tavern File, Russell Family File. Carey Family File. This image was taken facing north-northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

When Washington visited Russell Tavern, he and his four or five aides and military secretary were all probably lodged inside the structure. This image was taken facing east-southeast circa 1965 by Joyce Ann Nary, a student of Colonel Jacob Sheads at Gettysburg High School. The photographs that she took were part of a project on Russell Tavern that she submitted. A folder containing her project is at the Adams County Historical Society.

Were the driver, footman, and military personnel who accompanied President Washington housed somewhere outside the house or in one of the outbuildings? This image was taken facing southwest circa 1965 by Joyce Ann Nary, a student of Colonel Jacob Sheads at Gettysburg High School. The photographs that she took were part of a project on Russell Tavern that she submitted. A folder containing her project is at the Adams County Historical Society.

Descendants of the Russell family claimed that George Washington not only had a meal here, that he slept here. One story passed down through the family said there was a sick baby in the house at the time, and Washington had to go around the house in his stocking feet in order to not wake the baby. The Gettysburg-Shippensburg/Russell Tavern Road is in the foreground. The information on Russell Tavern comes from the following files at the Adams County Historical Society: Russell Tavern File, Russell Family File. Carey Family File. This image was taken facing west at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

The date stone listing the year 1755 is the lighter colored stone at the top of the stone gable right below the chimney on this (east) side of the house. This photograph was taken facing west sometime prior to March 15, 1917. It is from the Joyce Ann Nary file folder at the Adams County Historical Society.

Today the stones and stone gable at the top of the house have been replaced by a wooden gable which has been painted white. The Gettysburg-Shippensburg/Russell Tavern Road is in the foreground. The information on Russell Tavern comes from the following files at the Adams County Historical Society: Russell Tavern File, Russell Family File. Carey Family File. This image was taken facing west at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

Washington reached York Town (York), Pennsylvania on October 25, 1794 and crossed the Susquehanna River on October 26, 1794. Washington reached Philadelphia on October 28, 1794. The information on Russell Tavern comes from the following files at the Adams County Historical Society: Russell Tavern File, Russell Family File. Carey Family File. This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

Joshua Russell, the owner of the tavern/inn, had a tavern license in 1781 (and could have had tavern licenses earlier). The information on Russell Tavern comes from the following files at the Adams County Historical Society: Russell Tavern File, Russell Family File. Carey Family File. This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

According to the 1799 tax records for Franklin Township (Russell Tavern is now located in Butler Township), Joshua Russell was an innkeeper, owned 200 acres, a stone house, and a stone barn. The information on Russell Tavern comes from the following files at the Adams County Historical Society: Russell Tavern File, Russell Family File. Carey Family File. This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

The tavern stayed in the Russell family until 1847. From 1847-1878 it belonged to Anthony Deardorff. From 1878-1892 it belonged to John Carey. From 1892 to 1894 it belonged to John McCullough. From 1894 until 1930, Russell Tavern belonged to Charles Carey. The information on Russell Tavern comes from the following files at the Adams County Historical Society: Russell Tavern File, Russell Family File. Carey Family File. This image was taken facing north-northwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

Today one of the reasons that the outward appearance of Russell Tavern is different from when George Washington visited in 1794 is because a fire “completely gutted” the house and some of the outbuildings on the morning of Sunday, March 25, 1917. The fire started in a defective flue. The Carey family escaped unharmed. The information on Russell Tavern comes from the following files at the Adams County Historical Society: Russell Tavern File, Russell Family File. Carey Family File. This image was taken facing northeast at approximately 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

Before the fire, the house used to have the date stone at the top right of the house (gable), and four windows on the second floor. There was a chimney near the center of the house and a small front porch. There were the stone gables. This image was drawn by Adams County Historical Society volunteer J. William Long in 1976. The drawing was presented in the Adams County Historical Society newsletter of March, 1977.

When the house was rebuilt after the fire, the center chimney was moved to the left/west. The roof was raised. The stone gables were replaced by wooden gables. The stones from the gables were used to build a small kitchen on the left/west. Dormers were added on this south side of the house and on the north side of the house. The front porch was removed. The date stone was removed and its location is not known. There are now three windows on the second floor. This image was drawn by Adams County Historical Society volunteer J. William Long in 1976. The drawing was presented in the Adams County Historical Society newsletter of March, 1977.

President George Washington (1732-1799) made Russell Tavern famous, but we hopefully in future posts we will study other family members with interesting stories, including... This image is known as the Constable-Hamilton Portrait. It was created in 1797 by Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828). It is courtesy of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and of Wikimedia Commons.

James Buchanan Sr. (1794-1821) the father of 15th President James Buchanan Jr. (1791-1868). James Buchanan Sr.’s uncle was Joshua Russell, the first owner of Russell Tavern. James Buchanan Sr. lived at Russell Tavern for a time. This image shows President James Buchanan Jr. (1791-1868). This painting was created in 1859 by George Peter Alexander Healy (1813-1894). It is courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery and of Wikimedia Commons.

Another interesting resident of Russell Tavern was Lydia Hamilton Smith (circa 1814-1884), the “housekeeper” of Congressman Thaddeus Stevens (1792-1868). This photograph was taken by an unknown photographer circa 1868. It is from the Lydia Hamilton Smith folder at the Adams County Historical Society.

Approximately ten years ago, Adams County Historical Society Historian and Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith was looking through the George Eastman Museum online photographs, and discovered this image labeled “Round Top, Harper’s Ferry, 1881.” Tim thought that this looked like Gettysburg, and later, then-Director Wayne Motts ordered the image for the Adams County Historical Society. Tim and Garry Adelman were able to match the rocks in this image with the rocks on the south slope of Little Round Top. The image is now labeled as “Little Round Top, 1881” on George Eastman’s digital collection. We are thankful for the George Eastman Museum for giving us permission to use this photograph in this one time only post. This is a digital positive from a gelatin silver glass plate negative in the George Eastman Museum’s Collection. Courtesy of the George Eastman Museum. This image was taken facing south in 1881.

The photographer was Philadelphia attorney Samuel Fisher Corlies. In the 1880s, he was taking single plate photographs such as these outdoor views which are displayed on the George Eastman site.

Samuel Fisher Corlies was at Gettysburg circa November, 1863. Some of the photographs that he took while in Gettysburg are featured in William Frassanito’s Early Photography at Gettysburg, including: a photograph of the reburial of the soldiers in the National Cemetery (Early Photography pages 170-171), headboards on the graves of New York soldiers in the National Cemetery (Early Photography pages 172-173), and views of Union earthworks on Culp’s Hill (Early Photography pages 195-199).

In 1863 however, Samuel Fisher Corlies was not taking outdoor single plate photographs at Gettysburg or anywhere else. He was taking stereo views, such as this photograph that he took of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall in November, 1863.This image is courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Because the title on the George Eastman Museum envelope containing the image states that the year was 1881, and because no single plate negatives of Gettysburg by Corlies in the 1860s have been found, this image has continued to carry the 1881 date. This is a digital positive from a gelatin silver glass plate negative in the George Eastman Museum’s Collection. Courtesy of the George Eastman Museum. This image was taken facing south in 1881.

Little Round Top will be closed to visitors in the near future for approximately 18 months. If one would like to find where Corlies’ photograph on Little Round Top, looking back to Big Round Top was taken, go the the Bus parking space on the west side of Sykes Avenue. Face south near the Wrong Way sign. Go west into the undergrowth where the figure with the dark hooded sweatshirt is standing. He is holding his arms out to capture the view that Corlies captured in his image.This image was taken facing south at approximately 10:45 AM on Saturday, June 18, 2022.

The dark hooded figure was standing on this rock. This might have been the spot where Corlies setup his tripod to take the picture.This image was taken facing south at approximately 10:45 AM on Saturday, June 18, 2022.

Garry Adelman informed us that the photographer’s location was “closer to the 44^th NY monument than you’d think.” The 44th New York Monument is barely visible through all of the undergrowth. So the site where the camera stood might have been between the site that we chose and the 44th New York Monument. It is difficult to tell with all of the undergrowth.This image was taken facing west at approximately 10:45 AM on Saturday, June 18, 2022.

The distinctive set of rocks on the right side of the Corlies’ image are south of the 44th New York Monument.This image was taken facing southwest at approximately 10:45 AM on Saturday, June 18, 2022.

One may reach those distinctive rocks by taking the pathway leading from the Vincent’s Brigade marker.This image was taken facing southeast at approximately 10:45 AM on Saturday, June 18, 2022.

According to the George Eastman House, the image changed hands before it was acquired by the George Eastman House, and the envelope is not the original envelope in which the negative for this image was stored. The museum states that the negative’s envelope is labeled Little Round Top, but when it was originally presented online, it was labeled “Round Top, Harper’s Ferry.” Originally, we thought that the image was also dated incorrectly. We thought that the correct date was 1863 instead of 1881. After all, what event would bring Corlies to Gettysburg in the fall/winter of 1881?

The George Eastman House assured us that this is a single plate image, and not a half of a stereo view. They informed us: “This is a digital positive from a gelatin silver glass plate negative. The dimensions are as follows: Image: 6 1/16 × 8 1/4 in. (15.4 × 21 cm) — Overall: 6 7/16 × 8 7/16 × 1/16 in. (16.4 × 21.5 × 0.1 cm).” This is a digital positive from a gelatin silver glass plate negative in the George Eastman Museum’s Collection. Courtesy of the George Eastman Museum. This image was taken facing south in 1881.

Because of circumstantial evidence, which we present here, we thought it was possible that Corlies took this silver negative on glass in November, 1863. We believed that there are a couple of reasons that made this possible. First, this is a fall/winter scene because many of the leaves are off of the trees. This is a digital positive from a gelatin silver glass plate negative in the George Eastman Museum’s Collection. Courtesy of the George Eastman Museum. This image was taken facing south in 1881.

Second, there is a flag flying off of the top of Big Round Top as it did in November, 1863. We are showing an article in the Gettysburg Compiler from Monday, November 16, 1863, page 2, column 6. “The large flag raised on the summit of Round-top, several weeks since, was blown down by the high wind on Friday week. The pole was broken into four pieces, but the flag was fortunately very little injured. It has again been put up.”

Third, at least one of the soldiers on horseback in the Corlies photo appears to be wearing a dress uniform with a large hat, possibly a Hardee hat, epaulets on his shoulders, and white/light colored gloves. The soldier on the left at least appears to have something white on his shoulders. Again, what event brought them to Gettysburg in the fall/winter of 1881 in their dress uniforms? More than a few soldiers in the National Cemetery for the dedication ceremonies on November 19, 1863 are wearing Hardee hats, epaulets or white shoulder boards on their shoulders, and white/light colored gloves. This is a cropped version of this image, courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Fourth, we know Samuel Fisher Corlies was on the summit of Little Round Top in November 1863, and took a photograph facing to the northwest. William Frassanito wrote an article about that photo for the July/August 1991 issue of Military Images Magazine. We know of the other Corlies photographs taken here in November, 1863 which we mentioned at the beginning of this post. We did not discover any other photograph that Corlies took of Gettysburg in 1881 (or anytime in the 1880s as far as we found) except for the photograph featured in this post. Was it possible that Corlies came to Gettysburg in 1881 and this is the only photograph that he took? Of course, those who believde this photograph is from 1881, might have asked, why did Corlies take only this one single image negative in 1863, and the rest of the photographs that he took were stereo views?

The George Eastman House was also curious, and figured out that this was a gelatin silver glass plate negative instead of a collodion silver glass plate negative as they had originally thought. Gelatin was not used in the 1860s. It was not commercially available until 1878. Their conservators reexamined the image and are confident in the 1881 date, and that this is NOT an 1863 image copied onto a negative in the 1880s. Their reasons are: “First, the negative captures movement in both the flag and in the clouds, meaning that the clouds were photographed in camera on this negative. Orthochromatic film was first introduced by Herman Wilhelm Vogel in 1873, when he discovered that the addition of aniline dyes increased the spectral sensitivity of silver halides to include both blue and green wavelengths of light, a technological development which made it possible to easily and correctly expose both the landscape and sky in a single negative. The properly exposed sky and landscape suggest this was an orthochromatic gelatin dry plate, further supporting the 1881 date. Second, I was unable to identify any printed-in artifacts in the negative that would suggest it is a copy negative. The image is quite sharp in the foreground, and the top and sides have clearly defined unexposed lines that are consistent with a camera plate holder.” So much for our circumstantial evidence/wishing compared to science and hard evidence. However, it is still a remarkable view from Little Round Top showing what the south side of Little Round Top looked like 18 years after the battle. It is very fortunate for us that Tim Smith discovered it long ago and realized that it is a Gettysburg photograph. We are thankful that the George Eastman Museum has preserved it, and we are grateful to them for patience, research, help, and for this onetime opportunity to show the photograph. We hope that the current undergrowth, and more than a few trees on Little Round Top, can be removed someday in order to better replicate this historic view. This is a digital positive from a gelatin silver glass plate negative in the George Eastman Museum’s Collection. Courtesy of the George Eastman Museum. This image was taken facing south in 1881.

Near the end of our tours at Gettysburg National Military Park, we were walking home while the Memorial Day Parade was ending. We thought we would show you a couple of pictures, including the elementary school children near the intersection of Baltimore Street and Steinwehr Avenue.This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

Frequently on our way home, we cut through the National Cemetery. The Pennsylvania section and the Charles Collis Memorial.This image was taken facing southeast at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

This is the New York Section with the New York State Monument in the background.This image was taken facing east at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

The New York Section is closest to the camera on the left of this photograph. The Soldiers National Monument is in the center at the end of the sidewalk, and the Pennsylvania section is closest to the camera on the right of the image.This image was taken facing southeast at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

The Pennsylvania section is shown from another angle.This image was taken facing south at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

By the time we reached the area of the Soldiers National Monument, the parade was entering the cemetery.This image was taken facing northeast at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

We assume because of the label on the car, that these must be the Sons of the American Revolution.This image was taken facing northeast at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

Veterans in the helicopter greet admirers on Baltimore Street.This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

Even though it is a Marine helicopter, it carries veterans from the other services.This view was taken facing north at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

Near the Baltimore Street entrance to the Soldiers National Cemetery, these are Union soldiers who have finished their parade duty.This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

These Union veterans are taking a break on the stumps of one of the original trees that landscaped the cemetery.This image was taken facing southwest at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

Back on Baltimore Street, we saw a visitor from Washington, D.C.This image was taken facing northeast at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

This is the Gettysburg Area Middle School Band.This image was taken facing northeast at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

As usual, the crowds are pretty good for the Memorial Day Parade.This image was taken facing north at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

The Freemasons made an appearance.This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

This is our token animal shot.This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

The Gettysburg elementary school children are shown again.This image was taken facing northwest at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

By the time we reached the intersection of Baltimore Street and Steinwehr Avenue, the parade was over.This image created facing south at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

Baltimore Street: The aftermath of the parade.This image was taken facing north at approximately 2:30 PM on Monday, May 28, 2018.

The archaeological dig taking place at the foundation of the Alexander Riggs House is a partnership between the Adams County Historical Society, Gettysburg College, and the Civil War Trust. The Riggs House was located on Seminary Ridge along the Chambersburg Pike. The property is currently managed by the Civil War Trust.The home in the background is the James Thompson House. This view was taken facing east at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

A map showing the location of the Alexander Riggs House foundation.This map was created in a chair facing east at approximately 2:30 PM on Saturday, October 7, 2017.

The Mary Thompson House and the James Thompson House (pictured here in the left background) sit on the location of General Robert E. Lee’s Headquarters during the Battle of Gettysburg. The property was a significant Gettysburg acquisition for the Civil War Trust, and though we’ve covered the restoration of the property before, today we were here for something unique: a program on the Alexander Riggs House.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Let’s get oriented. The Mary Thompson House is on the left along the Chambersburg Pike. The James Thompson House is across the road in the center background.This view was taken facing east at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

The orange buckets mark the boundary of the excavation site.This view was taken facing south at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

After the Civil War Trust acquired the property, ground-penetrating radar revealed the existence of the house’s foundation. The excavation of the Riggs House foundation began about a month ago.The McPherson Barn is in the right background along McPherson’s Ridge. This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

It was well underway when we arrived Wednesday afternoon.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

The archaeological study is being conducted by students at Gettysburg College, as well as volunteers from the Adams County Historical Society.The Chambersburg Pike is in the right background. This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Bob Scappini is a volunteer for the Adams County Historical Society and a retired teacher.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Bob and the rest of the work crew were receiving direction from Benjamin Luley (left), Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Gettysburg College. Professor Luley teaches a course called Archaeology of Pennsylvania. The class has about 20 students who have been heavily involved in the dig. Professor Luley received his B.A. in history and anthropology from Penn State University, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Chicago.“His research focuses on the archaeology of Iron Age and Roman Europe and the Mediterranean, and in particular on how the expansion of the Roman Empire effect the Celtic peoples of France.” This view was taken facing east at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Professor Luley and his students were asked to excavate the Riggs House to uncover one important feature: its cellar door. This hole in the ground marks the outside entrance to the basement of the Riggs House.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

This map shows the location of the 1863 structures at the Thompson property, acquired and restored by the Civil War Trust. Note that the Riggs House foundation used to be covered by a paved parking lot.This image courtesy of the Civil War Trust.

LBG Garry Adelman briefly explains the significance of the Riggs House site as it relates to John Burns and the cellar door.Garry is standing in the red rectangle marking the Riggs House in the previous image. This video was taken on Thursday, August 18, 2016.

Here is the photograph that shows the cellar door where a wounded John Burns called for people at the Mary Thompson House to get his wife.The photograph appears on the Riggs House wayside in the first image of this post.

Professor Luley is showing us where the cellar door to the Riggs House would have been located.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith (left), also a Collections Manager at the Adams County Historical Society, was interested in the Riggs House foundation since the property’s acquisition by the Civil War Trust in 2015.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

LBG Tim Smith is the author of John Burns: The Hero of Gettysburg. To order this book on Amazon click here or order it directly from the Adams County Historical Society.

Tim was joined by Andrew Dalton (right), who is pictured here talking to Gettysburg Times reporter Mary Grace Keller (left) and longtime Gettysburg Times photographer Darryl Wheeler (center). Andrew is a junior at Gettysburg College and one of the Collections Managers at the Adams County Historical Society.The Gettysburg Times article (paywall). This view was taken facing west at approximately 5:15 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Andrew’s book “Beyond the Run: The Emmanuel Harmon Farm at Gettysburg” is available on Amazon, or you can order it directly from the Adams County Historical Society.

Andrew, Tim, and Professor Luley invited the public out to the site for a brief program on the Riggs House. They can be seen here examining the photograph of a boy sitting at the front door of the Riggs House.This view was taken facing east at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

The excavation of the foundation is partial, exposing the eastern wall of the home and the entrance to the cellar. Prof. Luley and Andrew were busy lining up the historic photographs.The rebuilt picket fence of the Mary Thompson House is in the background along the Chambersburg Pike. This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Hey, could someone sit where the boy was in the photograph to show us the modern view?This view was taken facing south at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Andrew was more than happy to oblige. He’s sitting in the approximate location of the front door of the Alexander Riggs House.This view was taken facing south at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

John Burns, back on the cellar door of the Riggs House, 154 years later. John Burns may have needed a fly-swatter when this photograph of him was taken.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Tim was talking to Barb Adams about the location of the eastern wall of the house.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Tim is showing Barb the Riggs House as it appears on the Warren Map, overlaid with a modern satellite image. The Riggs House was right where Tim thought it would be, underneath the parking lot.This view was taken facing west at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017. This composite map was created by Andrew Dalton.

Here’s Tim pointing to the eastern wall of the house. Bob Scappini (orange shirt) has his legs on a brick patio that was a surprise discovery for the archaeological team. The stones to the right of the bricks mark the eastern wall of the house.This view was taken facing south at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Tim and Andrew gave a program that lasted about an hour and started in the yard of the Mary Thompson House.This view was taken facing north at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

The program was free and open to the public. You can find updated news and information about the Adams County Historical Society and their program offerings on their Facebook Page.This video was taken between 4:00 and 5:00 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

After the program’s conclusion, LBG Tim Smith was talking to visitors…This view was taken facing west at approximately 5:15 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

…but he made sure to show us how far his love for John Burns goes. Under his dress shirt was a t-shirt of John Burns with the caption: “Get Off My Lawn.”This view was taken facing west at approximately 5:15 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

As we were preparing to leave, Professor Luley’s students recovered an object. As Prof. Luley explained in the program, most of the items recovered so far are not from 1863 and consisted of objects left behind when the foundation was filled in and subsequently paved over.This view was taken facing south at approximately 5:15 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

The student in the green shirt is Brandon Peeters, a sophomore history major at Gettysburg College. In the approximate location where Brandon was digging in this photograph, a figurine was recovered.This view was taken facing north at approximately 5:15 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

The students were calling it an Egyptian figurine. Here’s the front, and yes…This view was taken facing west at approximately 5:15 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

…the back. The dig at the Riggs House concludes this month and the site will be covered again. Though excavations in the future are possible, there are currently no plans to reveal the rest of the foundation.This view was taken facing west at approximately 5:15 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

From the Archives: The New York State Monument viewed from the air. The monument is 95 feet in height. This photo was taken during restoration work.This image was taken circa the 2010s. | (c) The Barbara Adams Photo Collection