Probably a dumb question.......but

[guad42]

Folks,

I don't get back east much and it has now been 20 years since my last Gettysburg trip. But, do the ongoing restorations include not only the removal of modern fixtures, but also attempts to return the landscape to the look and conditions of summer 1863?

-Sam Dolan

[NYCivilWar]

Re: Probably a dumb question.......but

Sam,

Gettysburg National Military Park is "rehabilitating" the battlefield...so yes, this does mean removing modern fixtures. Non-historic wood-lots that have grown up since the National Park Service's tenure began in the 1930s are being removed. Historic orchards are being replanted; over 2500 orchard trees have been replanted including the famous Peach Orchard. Miles of fencing has been rebuilt as well. And as of just a few weeks ago, the former comfort station at Devil's Den has been torn down. Of course, the exact 1863 appearence can never be recreated due to monuments, park avenues, and observation towers, these items interpret the history of the battlefield since the war. At any rate, much work has been done in the last 20 years.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Probably a dumb question.......but

Hallo!

That also included the demolition of the NPS Visitor Center (formerly Rosensteel's), and is to include the future demolition of the Cyclorama center to "restore" Ziegler's Grove (assuming it is not overruled).

Some of the fights, er proposals, from the Past are dead such as the removal of the portion of Steinwehr across the Pickett's Charge line to return it to the Emmitsburg road of 1863. As well as totally removing the road that follows Plum Creek between the two Round Tops, Houck's Ridge, and Devil's Den.

(And not all of the deforestation was well thought out. For example, the woods removed from behind the PA monument that used to block the modern commercial buildings and junk along the Taneytown (?) Road are no longer hidden by trees and looks.. modernly bad.)

Curt

[bhutton]

Re: Probably a dumb question.......but

Just wanted to mention that the bathroom building and overhead wires feeding it at Devil's Den parking lot are also slated for removal.

[guad42]

Re: Probably a dumb question.......but

Folks,

Thanks for the helpful information.

-Sam Dolan