A statue of Abraham Lincoln greets visitors — and in this case a statue of a visitor to Gettysburg — in the center of town, outside the Wills House. (Photo by Michael E. Grass)

GETTYSBURG, Pa. — All roads may lead to Rome, but in this part of Pennsylvania, all roads lead to Gettysburg, including, naturally the Lincoln Highway. Roads from Harrisburg, Carlisle, Chambersburg, Hanover and York in Pennsylvania plus Emmitsburg, Taneytown and Baltimore in Maryland converge here.

At the center of it all is Lincoln Square. It’s a charming public space (if you can ignore all the semi trucks passing through on U.S. 30). At the southeast corner of the square is a somewhat peculiar bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln. He’s lifesize in this setting and standing with a statue depicting a contemporary visitor to Gettysburg, who is dressed in a wooly sweater, slacks with sneakers and carrying a copy of the Gettysburg Address.

Lincoln in front of the David Wills House in Gettysburg, Pa. (Photo by Michael E. Grass)

The Lincoln statue is facing the David Wills House on the square, the building where he wrote the famous speech, which is inscribed in the walls of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg in order to dedicate a military cemetery just outside town on Nov. 19, 1863, just a few months after the great battle here. He slept overnight in the Wills House the night before.

Gettysburg has tons of historical markers, important sites and landmarks and that’s for good reason. History put this town on the map.

I could probably spend two days here exploring the town in greater detail. But I’ve visited the battlefield on a previous visit and my time is limited for this trip.

Onward to Breezewood and beyond!

Chambersburg Street in Gettysburg, Pa., is part of the Lincoln Highway. (Photo by Michael E. Grass)