Gettysburg Daily

Gettysburg Rock Carvings 8 with Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith is the co-author of the book Devil’s Den: A History and Guide, from Thomas Publications. He continues our look at Gettysburg Rock Carvings by showing us carvings on the Rose Barn. Tim is pictured here at the southeast corner of the barn, pointing to one of the two carvings he will show us today. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith begins a series on Gettysburg Rock Carvings. Tim is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and has been a Licensed Battlefield Guide at Gettysburg National Military Park since 1992. Tim is the Research Historian for the Adams County Historical Society, and has written numerous articles, booklets, and books about the Gettysburg area. Tim is the co-author with Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Garry Adelman of Devil’s Den: A History and Guide,.

In our first post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith began our tour of Gettysburg Rock Carvings at Devil’s Den. He introduced us to the rock carvings and explained how the government chiseled away many of the rock carvings in 1894.

In our second post Tim Smith showed us more items around the Table Rock area, and how the angle of the sun helps find rock carvings.

In our third post, Tim Smith showed us the most well-known carving at Devil’s Den, and how some people make sure that they stay at Devil’s Den forever.

In our fourth post Tim Smith showed us carvings at the Elephant Rock, his ability to get on top of the Elephant Rock, and carvings on the Flag Boulder.

In our fifth post, Tim Smith showed us carvings in Plum Run Valley/The Valley of Death.

In our sixth post, Tim Smith showed us the Vincent Rock, the Hazlett Rock, and the Balancing Rock on Little Round Top.

In our seventh post, Tim Smith showed us rock carvings in the Culp’s Hill area.

In today’s post, Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith shows us rock carvings on the Rose Barn.

See the following posts with Tim Smith:

Devil’s Den with Garry Adelman on July 1, 2011.
ACHS Battle of Gettysburg Civil War Research Room on February 10, 2009.
Lutheran Theological Seminary Cupola Part 1 on February 12, 2009.
Lutheran Theological Seminary Cupola Part 2 on February 16, 2009.

This map shows us the location of the Rose Barn on the Rose Farm property for the Gettysburg Rock Carvings series. Videos #20 and #21 (Videos 1-19 were shown in previous postings) were taken at the southeast corner of the collapsed barn.

Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith is pointing at one of two rock carvings he will be showing us on the Rose Barn structure.  This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

The top carving says “H.H.W. July 18, 1888” and the bottom carving says “H.H. Wert.” This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

In Video #20 Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith explains the origins of the H.H.W carvings on the Rose Barn.

In the next few images we’ll show you detailed views of the carvings. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

The Rose Barn was constructed in 1812. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

Like the majority of barns constructed in 19th century Adams County, it was a bank barn. The “bank” of the Rose Barn can be seen here. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

The roof of the barn was destroyed during a 1934 windstorm and the barn was allowed to deteriorate. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

The National Park Service did not acquire the Rose Farm and its buildings until 1958. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

The photographer is standing on the bank of the Rose Barn, looking at one of the collapsed walls. Years ago, before the wall fell, the stones were numbered by the National Park Service so that they could be restored in their proper locations. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

A closer look at the Rose Farm and Barn can be found in Gettysburg at Savannah Part 6, which includes an image of one of the barn walls still intact. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

In our next video, Tim Smith will discuss a carving on the front of the Rose House, which can be seen here, southeast of the Rose Barn (in right of frame). This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

In Video #21 Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith talks briefly about a carving located on the front of the Rose House.

The Rose House — the carving mentioned in the previous video can be found on the bottom-right front of the house, but the structure is currently being used as a residence by the National Park, and we didn’t want to go inside the fence. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

Licensed Battlefield Guides Tim Smith and Garry Adelman, pictured here investigating a possible location for the Harvest of Death photo series on the Rose Farm property. We’ll be bringing you Tim and Garry’s series on the Harvest of Death in the near future.
Tim Smith and Garry Adelman are the co-authors of Devil’s Den: A History and Guide. It was first published by Thomas Publications in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1997.