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Just received my latest Battlefield Guides Newsletter from Gettysburg. There is a definite disagreement between the Gettysburg Museum Foundation folks and their $40 plus million dollar new facility and the Guides. I am not privy to all the negotiations between the Superintendant and the Guides Association, but correct me if wrong, they wont give them a desk or even a portable kiosk in the new museum building, and the museum wants to be in charge of taking all reservations, collecting the cash, and paying it out every two weeks. The Guides dont want someone else handling their money, they want to set up their own reservations, and they want to be in charge in general, on how the tours, reservation system and special needs customers and situations are dealt with. Their is also some confusion over walk-ins at the museum, as to how to handle those folks who just walk in and want a Licensed Guide. Their is some talk about the Guide Association moving to a different location in town and working out of their own office.
The Licensed Battlefield Guides of Gettysburg started in 1915, and have always been associated with the history, preservation, and research of the Battle, this great National treasure. How can an institution like the Guides be treated like this? The old system was that you walked into the old Museum, went to the Guide desk, asked for a Guide, and paid out accordingly in cash or check to Guide when your tour was finished. If you wanted a specific individual or a special tour, you called ahead, and would be taken care of--
I dont know how many on this Site have taken a Guide tour but they are fabulous! These folks are tested for their knowledge and ability to orate on the people, Regiments, and monuments of the Battlefield. They are also a great group of Civil War Historians and reseachers and published authors.
I ask for more info from my knowledgeable AC folks as to what they think and what maybe should be done.
Tom Arliskas
CSuniforms
The Licensed Battlefield Guides of Gettysburg started in 1915, and have always been associated with the history, preservation, and research of the Battle, this great National treasure. How can an institution like the Guides be treated like this? The old system was that you walked into the old Museum, went to the Guide desk, asked for a Guide, and paid out accordingly in cash or check to Guide when your tour was finished. If you wanted a specific individual or a special tour, you called ahead, and would be taken care of--
I dont know how many on this Site have taken a Guide tour but they are fabulous! These folks are tested for their knowledge and ability to orate on the people, Regiments, and monuments of the Battlefield. They are also a great group of Civil War Historians and reseachers and published authors.
I ask for more info from my knowledgeable AC folks as to what they think and what maybe should be done.
Tom Arliskas
CSuniforms