Before you visit your favorite winery or brewery in Gettysburg, take some time to visit a hidden gem.
The borough is known for its Civil War history. Monuments are scattered about the area and local guides depict the battle scene to tourists. But did you ever think of recalling war history with a diorama of cats?
Sisters Ruth and Rebecca Brown have.
The siblings own the Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum on Baltimore Street.
They opened their museum Labor Day 2015, after living most of their life involved in history and art.
Now, locals and tourists alike can enter a world of ¾-inch clay cat sculptures created by the Browns and learn about the Civil War in an unordinary manner.
“I like being able to create and bring history alive,” Ruth Brown said. “The history lies in the men—their acts of bravery and what they went through. I like learning what makes them tick.”
When you enter the museum, to your left you’re greeted with their largest diorama depicting the fighting at the Angle during Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg.
About 1,900 cat soldiers are on the battlefield, some waving the Confederate flag and others lying injured on the ground.
The sisters take time looking at records, photos, maps and books to determine the details of a battle. By doing so, they can accurately place each soldier, cannon and tree on their dioramas.
For example, their Fort Sumter diorama shows a point in time during the second day of bombardment. Cotton balls act as smoke from the firearms and cannons are placed at distinct angles around the outside of the fort. Cat sculptures are inside, placed in locations based on photos the Browns looked at.
Other dioramas include the Battle between the Ironclads and Little Round Top. Information about each scene is located on the sides of the depictions, but Brown will take the time to explain further if asked, she said.
Just about everything is handmade, from the cat sculptures and cannons made of clay to the trees, which are made from moss.
So how did the idea of a cat museum come to life?
The Browns grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and Brown recalls her sister reading biographies about Gen. Lee and Gen. Grant. Afterward, they decided to make two clay cats and dress them up as the generals.
“I don’t know why; it just took off,” Brown said.
The two continued to read historical books and learn more, which led them to further their cat sculpting of war soldiers.
In 2013, they had the idea of putting their dioramas in a museum instead of lugging them back and forth to retirement communities in Philadelphia where they received much praise for their work.
The sisters moved to Gettysburg at 785 Baltimore Street and opened their museum just downstairs two years later.
Brown hopes to continue to add dioramas and depict more battles as time goes on, she said.
After you’re done checking out this unique find, take a walk along Baltimore Street and grab yourself a glass of wine or hard cider at Reid’s Orchard and Winery. It’s a perfect place to reminisce about the Civil War Tails museum you just experienced.
But if you’d rather have a beer, check out Battlefield Brew Works’ new tasting room on Steinwehr Avenue right down the road. The location recently opened to give people a taste of the beers offered at the original location on Hunterstown Road.
Find Civil War Tails at 785 Baltimore St. in Gettysburg; phone: (717) 420-5273.
- Top photo: Davin Jurgensen
- Remaining photos: Mary Bigham
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