Gettysburg NMP Museum: Entrance Fee

[csuniforms]

Re: Gettysburg NMP Museum: Entrance Fee

Hello, Be sure to E-mail the Superintendant and tell him what you believe is fair. I have a feeling that whatever the public wants, if it does not agree with the Foundation Fathers and their budget needs, will be disregarded.

Have had several interesting discussions with folks who live in Gettysburg and they oppose any fees to see the museum. One local said that if he has to pay $7.50 every time he goes into the museum to kill some lunchtime or look for a book, he wont go anymore, obviously.--

If they start charging to get into the park-- what a nightmare for the locals that would be.--

The Foundation got into this pickle-- they should call another meeting with their budget and accounting officers and come up with something to get them out of their pickle-- not the public and the people who live around Gettysburg.

TOM ARLISKAS
CSUNIFORMS

[JimKindred]

Re: Gettysburg NMP Museum: Entrance Fee

they should call another meeting with their budget and accounting officers

Most likely that is the same crew that got them into this mess in the first place.

[Rob Walker]

Re: Gettysburg NMP Museum: Entrance Fee

Hello all,

If the Foundation wants to charge a fee for the movie that is fine with me . If they want to charge a small fee for the viewing of the cyclorama after spending money to refurbish it to recoup the funds, okay. But, to charge a fee for the American public to see the artifact that own is upsetting.

It seems the Foundation rolled the dice and lost now they want to change the game, which is okay as long as they charge fees for what they produced. As far as the fees are concerned , allow the free market system decide whether the movie flies or falls. People will pay to see it. If it is worthy people will enjoy it and some will go into the gift shop and buy a copy if it is made available. If the movie is, let;s say, not so good. Then it wil fail and the Foundation should either pull it from the theater or re-make it.

I reality I put more money than they are asking in the "states" collection bin by the front door than they are asking for. So I have no probelm with a nominal fee and in reality I have no problem if it means the museum would have to close without it. But the Foundation had to see this coming and should have used sound business sense and allowed for this short-fall. It just seems like there were a few faux-pas with the planning and set up of the entire project.

[M.Latham]

Re: Gettysburg NMP Museum: Entrance Fee

All,

"We become what we habitually do. If we act rightly, we become upright men. If we habitually act wrongly, or weakly, we become weak and corrupt" - Aristotle

I am to understand that the NPS partnered with a for PROFIT organization, then went substantially over budget in their original estimate on the cost of the new center. Built said center in an economic boom, and foolishly placed expectations on visitor ship consistent with said boom. Concurrently, changed and diluted the interpretation of the Battle at Gettysburg to include elements that smack of political correctness run amok, and, at the same time cut the number of artifacts on display quite significantly, in line with the new (re) vision.

This then is the business plan, which we are told the NPS and the Foundation came up with…

Perhaps I am wrong, perhaps I should learn not to complain or criticize the “good” intentions of persons who know better than I. After all now we have a place to store all those precious artifacts, which people can see if they contact the NPS and make arrangements. Hopefully now, financial difficulty won’t force the cutting the staff that would have accommodated said request.




“If your business plan won’t include me, don’t expect my help”

Mark Latham

[EasySam]

Re: Gettysburg NMP Museum: Entrance Fee

I had never been to the places out east until last fall. Gettysburg was great, but Antietam did more for me. I have not seen the new offerings, but it sounds like the movie thing is the biggest gripe getter. That is to be expected in these days of PC above the truth. The movie at Pea Ridge is one of the best I have seen. Told from the perspective of an old vet, it stayed pretty much centered on what happened "there". What he knew of it. Did not get into other battles & the politics (of that time or this). If the movie is the problem, "pluck it out". I do understand the need to educate the public about ALL history, but you can only do so much at any one location. As has been mentioned, the artifacts belong the people. They should be free & more on display. Any John Doe should be allowed the same access as any other. They do not belong to the richest, the researcher, nor the most political more than to me. Of course you all know what will happen if money becomes a problem - There will be Round Top merri go rounds, Pickett's Chaaaaarge roller coasters, etc. Sad thing.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Gettysburg NMP Museum: Entrance Fee

Hallo!

August 30, 2008 edition of the "Philadelphia Inquirer," page B2:

Gettysburg visitor center proposes admission fee
By Amy Worden

Inquirer Staff Writer

There may soon be a price tag attached to your next visit to Gettysburg.
In a sudden about-face, the foundation that operates the new Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center has proposed a $7.50 admission fee.

Facing a nearly $1.8 million revenue shortfall as the tourist season winds down, officials of the Gettysburg Foundation are asking the National Park Service to approve the fee.

Said Robert Wilburn, the foundation's president: "We want to avoid having a problem, so we are reacting to that."

The park service is accepting comments from the public on the proposal until Sept. 29. Wilburn said he expected a decision this fall.

The request comes only four months after the $103 million center opened to the public. Under an agreement with the park service, the Gettysburg Foundation, the park's nonprofit fund-raising partner, will operate the museum until 2028.

Wilburn said operating costs are driving the fee proposal, not debt from the higher-than-anticipated construction cost.

There would be no charge to access the 6,000-acre battlefield.

Chris Rebmann, a spokesman for the Licensed Battlefield Guide Association, said he worried that school groups from lower-income districts might be shut out of the museum.

"It is a big turnabout from the tradition of the museum being free," Rebmann said. "A lot of students come in motor coaches and are well funded. Others come in yellow school buses with sack lunches. Those are the people I am concerned about."

Wilburn said tickets for school groups would be $5. There are would be discounted rates for children under 13, adult groups and senior citizens.

The museum opened to visitors in April but will hold its grand opening on Sept. 26, with the unveiling of the newly restored cyclorama painting. The 42-foot-high, 377-foot-long circular artwork, completed in 1884, depicts Pickett's Charge. The canvas was badly deteriorated and was missing large sections when the $15 million restoration project began five years ago.

The foundation had proposed a $12 fee for the cyclorama and the movie. Under the new proposal, all visitors would pay the flat rate of $7.50 for the museum, film and cyclorama.

Comments may be submitted to John Latschar, Park Superintendent, Gettysburg National Military Park, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Suite 100, Gettysburg, Pa. 17325, or by e-mail to GETT_Superintendent@nps.gov.

Curt

[jake.koch]

Re: Gettysburg NMP Museum: Entrance Fee

I think that it is important to remember that we are not the average visitor to Gettysburg and the other battlefield parks. We will probably forget more facts about the Civil War in our lifetimes then the average visitor will learn. Yes I was a little disapointed in the new visitor center, but then again, I know where to look for information about the battle, joe blow visitor probably doesn't. I'm all for interpretation being a bit simplified to help educate the visitor and to put the battle into context (something that I thought the video did do a good job of doing) for those that don't know much about gettysburg.

As far as paying a nominal fee to visit the park, it would to me be backpay for the countless hours I have spent on the park, not to mention the countless hours of free ranger led programs I have been lucky to attend. I in no way mean this harshly, but I think it is important to remember that we are griping about paying $7.50 or whatever it is. What would the 51,000 men that paid with their sweat and blood think about that coming from the community that tries to learn about and emulate those men so closely?

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Gettysburg NMP Museum: Entrance Fee

Hallo!

"...it is important to remember that we are griping about paying $7.50 or whatever it is. What would the 51,000 men that paid with their sweat and blood think about that coming from the community that tries to learn about and emulate those men so closely?'

While the discussion about what actual Civil War veterans would actually think or not about what we as "reenactors" do is, has been its own thread past and present-

IMHO, the $7.50 per person would be better spent on preserving portions of Civil War ground than having to pay for the cost of the new Visitors' Center's construction, or yearly maintenance, or returning profits to businessmen's pockets.

Others' mileage will vary...

Curt

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Gettysburg NMP Museum: Entrance Fee

This is a real "No SXXt, Sherlock!" kind of moment
- The 22-min movie for $8 isn't pulling its weight of the revenue? No SXXt, Sherlock!
- You're worried people won't pay a big fee to see (what to most folk is just) a painting? No SXXt, Sherlock!

When I went to the old VC, I wanted to see the relics. The new joint was supposed to have more space to display the relics. Didn't happen. Now the same folks that somehow managed to spend $100 mega-bucks, can't seem to turn a profit on their revisionist/apologist museum. No SXXt, Sherlock!

People aren't stupid. They know when they're being sold a pile of crap, but being told its steak.

I wish they'd make the museum a museum again.

IMHO, the $7.50 per person would be better spent on preserving portions of Civil War ground than having to pay for the cost of the new Visitors' Center's construction, or yearly maintenance, or returning profits to businessmen's pockets.

Agreed. I part with my money a lot easier when I know its going for a good cause. $100M would have gone a long way toward maintenance and restoration of the battlefield, buildings, and monuments.

[KarinTimour]

What about the Electric Map?

Personally, I would like to see the "exhibits" or "museum" portion of the visitor's center stay free.

I like the idea of a range of options for payment. I like the "season visitor's pass" for a set amount of money that gives someone free admissions to the other parts of the visitor's center for the rest of the year. I got a "sneak peek" at the Cyclorama this summer because I donated a pair of socks for the diorama portion. And I know I'm going back once they open it for real, several times.


I like having a "family pass" which gives a discount to family groups, especially those with children under 18.

Their costs have been more than projected. They know the volume of visitors they can expect, both on an "average" year and also this year with the new visitor's center and now the Cyclorama reopening.

I'm wondering about whether it would be feasible to modify one of the meeting rooms to offer the electric map for a small fee -- $3-5 per person? There would be nominal start up costs -- setting it up again, seating. But then it could produce money into the future. No royalties to pay, and would broaden the range of options available for families on a budget.

I think the ranger station needs to be moved/modified. It used to be right at the front of the old visitor's center, where you stopped first thing. There should be a listing of the ranger talks on the wall over the cashiers' stations where it lists the movie and the Cyclorama ticket prices. People should have a "one stop" place to see all the options available for planning their visit. It should be made very public and clear that the ranger talks are free.

My family travelled all over this country during my father's two weeks of vacation, with four kids on a very limited budget. We pinched every nickle, and we always hit the national and state parks. We knew that ranger talks were a wonderful way to learn a ton about the history, geography, flora and fauna of any given park. But how many families get distracted and confused by the current visitor's center, and don't make the distinction between the staff of the Foundation, the Battlefield Guides, and the Rangers?

I was in the visitor's center in June and July. There were a lot of people (many of them visibly veterans wearing service patches and insignia, others simply seniors of the right age to have served) who had difficulty getting around. Walkers, canes, wheelchairs were well represented. There should be ranger talks that are billed as "easy walking/no walking". Where people could travel by a school bus or small van to several spots on the battlefield and have the rangers talk to them. Or, if a van is too expensive, travel in their own cars and stop at different spots on the battlefield.

Gettysburg is a mystical, sacred spot. I think Dave's point that people have been making money off it since July 4, 1863 is well taken.

I haven't seen the marketing push to explain "what a Cyclorama is" to judge whether they are giving it a big push to get people there. But opening it after school has started will cut down on the number of tourist families who can make it. The electric map could help provide some additional income, and they might need to reconsider the movie -- do they have to pay royalties every time it's shown? Or is it now paid for and they just need to pay off the building and the salaries?


Just a bunch of thoughts all in a jumble, but hopefully it will feel further discussion (and everyone who is posting here, myself included, needs to sit down and put in some public comments before the deadline).

Sincerely,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting, Socks, Sleeping Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com