08/11/2026
Gettysburg was surprising in so many ways. Going in despite my brief moment in high school as a civil war reenactor, I knew nothing about this battle nor the town. I was humbled by the history as we wandered the field and grounded in the loss (everyone loses in war). We may be haunted by some friendly ghosts from our numerous 👻 tours. We stole the Gburg address via Escape Gettysburg. We made friends at the The Sign of the Buck. We toured and ate way too much at the Dobbin House Tavern.
And we were delighted at how queer-friendly it was: Rainbows and flags and art at businesses and in home windows. We stayed at the charming and beautiful gay-owned Olinger House Bed and Breakfast. Even the deer heads were adored in a rainbow wreath at the town bar.
It’s often a fair assumption that small town USA might not be safe (or full of rainbows) 🇺🇸 🏳️🌈. As a gay traveler, an American wartown might not be top of the list. Thank you Destination Gettysburg for surprisingly us in such a way and making us feel so welcomed and thanks mom for getting us that horse tour 🐎 for Christmas.
We loved it. To the Union!
