The Sculptor

One of Mom's favorite places in Gettysburg is Casteel Sculptures. It is the shop of Gary Casteel, renown artist and sculptor who has done many Civil War pieces, including the statue of Confederate General Longstreet. 

A monumental experience

Casteel makes replicas of many Gettysburg Battlefield monuments that you can buy in his shop. I'm waiting for him to make a replica of the Maryland monument, which features soldiers from both sides.

A work in progress

Another piece

Gary Casteel

One of Casteel's most notable works is the equestrian statue of Confederate General James Longstreet, located on West Confederate Avenue in Pitzer's Woods (of the Gettysburg Battlefield). It was commissioned by the North Carolina Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and sculpted by Casteel. 

The statue was unveiled in 1998 and is controversial because it is "hidden" in the woods and does not sit on a pedestal like other generals' statues. Other people have complained about the size of the horse. Regardless, the statue was long overdue. Longstreet was scapegoated after the war by Southerners who couldn't accept defeat.

General James Longstreet, c. 1998

Casteel has proposed a massive circular "National Civil War" monument that has yet to come to fruition. They haven't been able to find a "home" for it.