National Park Service Ranger Jim Bittle, kneeling, and National Park Service Cartographer/Geographic Information System Coordinator, Curtis Musselman, work with a GPS system to place pink flags on the field west of the McMillan House. The McMillan House is in the left background. This view was taken from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
In 1863, what was the largest orchard on what is now the Gettysburg National Military Park? The David McMillan Apple Orchard on Seminary Ridge. The National Park Service is preparing to replant this orchard in the spring of 2009. This week they are placing over 600 pink flags in the fields surround the McMillan House. One tree will be planted at the site of each flag. The McMillan Apple Orchard covers an area of approximately 20 acres.
See our post on the McMillan House on April 16, 2008 and an update to this post on September 24, 2008.
The field west of the McMillan House is now the home to hundreds of pink flags. The McMillan House is in the background. View from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
To give one an idea of how big this area is, we are standing at the northern edge of the fields where the orchard will be planted. The whole field to the right west of West Confederate Avenue in this view will be replanted. View from the north facing south at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
Let’s cross West Confederate Avenue near the National Guard Armory and Griffin’s Battery. View is from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
We have now turned to look southeast at Griffin’s Battery. The green grass in this view now also has hundred of flags. The McMillan House is in the right background. The Round Tops are in the center background above the brown looking fields. View from the northwest facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
Eventually the Park Service will have replanted over 160 acres of orchards. Remember you can enlarge our pictures, just by “clicking” on them if you would like to see some of the pink flags better. View from the north facing south at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
Jim Bittle and Curt Musselman placed a flag approximately 40 feet from any other flag. View from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
The south side of the McMillan House will have flags tomorrow (Wednesday). View from the southwest facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
To see the fields where the flags will be placed on Wednesday, go to the stone wall near Huger’s Virginia Battery. View from the northwest facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
Look over the stone wall, and much of the green grass on the slope in front of you will have pink flags tomorrow, and apple trees in the spring. The Round Tops are in the right background. The Pennsylvania Monument is in the center background. Colt Park is the trees and houses in the left background. View from the northwest facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.