Results tagged “Cyclorama” from York Town Square

Workers started taking down the old Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center this week. The land eventually will be returned to its 1863 appearance. The former Cyclorama building will remain standing pending outcome of a lawsuit. Background posts: Two developers have plans for a relocated Gettysburg Cyclorama building and Gettysburg Cyclorama critics: Reviews ranged from 'huge dinosaur' to 'I was captivated' and Q&A on new Gettysburg visitor center, old Electric Map.

The former visitors center/Electric Map building at the Gettysburg Battlefield, source of so many memories, is coming down.

The Hanover Evening Sun reported on the beginning of the end of the building (3/24/09):

The information booth at the former visitor center for Gettysburg National Military Park was at time a place of bustle. Now it awaits demolition with the rest of the old building, expected in the next three or four weeks. Background posts: Two developers have plans for a relocated Gettysburg Cyclorama building and Half dozen groups probe acquisition of Gettysburg's retired Electric Map and Gettysburg Cyclorama critics: Reviews ranged from 'huge dinosaur' to 'I was captivated'.

A commenter on a inyork.com/ydr story on the upcoming demolition of the old visitors center at Gettysburg National Military Park raised a good point.

Hold an auction to offset part of the $800,000 in projected demolition costs. A photo of the information desk (above), for example, shows framed pictures that people might want for a souvenir.

But perhaps the park service should go one step further... .

The former Gettysburg Cyclorama building won't face the bulldozer's blade in December after all. Here, visitors experience the Cyclorama in its final days at its longtime post. Background posts: Gettysburg Cyclorama critics: Reviews ranged from 'huge dinosaur' to 'I was captivated', Poster highlights the life of a Civil War soldier and Old Gettysburg visitors center closes today; new site opens Monday.

National Park Service officials will wait to demolish the old Gettysburg Cyclorama building until a court rules on its fate.

A preservation group, Recent Past Preservation Network, has taken the government to court over plans to knock down the familiar round building that housed the Cyclorama from 1961 until recent years. The circular painting, moved to the new Gettysburg visitors center, was opened to the public in September.

According to news reports, the preservation group thinks the park service should explore alternatives before demolition. The park service maintains it sought all such options in 1999 in preparing a plan for the park.

One wonders what the hurry is to demoliish the building... .

Tourists visited the rehabbed Cyclorama on the weekend of its grand opening.

Background posts: Half dozen groups probe acquisition of Gettysburg's retired Electric Map, York newspaper about Gettysburg Address: 'Mr. Lincoln made a joke or two ...' and New visitors center gets buzz, but court to rule on old Cyclorama site

The Cyclorama painting is open for a much-anticipated public viewing at the Gettysburg National Military Park.

But early visitors received a special treat in addition to the revamped, round painting.

The visitors center charged $7.50 to see a 22-minute orientation firm and to view the Cyclorama, according to the York Daily Record/Sunday News... .

The restored cyclorama and a copy of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address will be the focus of the official grand opening of the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, Sept. 26-28. Background posts: Q&A on new Gettysburg visitor center, old Electric Map, Gettysburg National Battlefield produces steady supply of news, Part II Gettysburg Cyclorama, with new shape, ready for September opening.

The majority of York countians in the 1860s did not like Abe Lincoln's politics.

That's evidenced by their support of his opponents in 1860 and 1864.

And most did not like his famous speech... .

Remember these days at Gettysburg? They'll return with the opening of the restored Cyclorama at the new Gettysburg (Pa.) Visitors Center. As for the old center where this photo was taken, it's currently the subject of a lawsuit. (See additional photo below.) Background posts: Old Gettysburg visitors center closes today; new site opens Monday, Who is Bob Kinsley, builder of the new Gettysburg Visitors Center? and Gettysburg Cyclorama, with new shape, set for Sept. display.

It's a classic fight between two sides interested in preserving history.

The National Park Service in Gettysburg wants to restore the area covered by the old Cyclorama building and Visitors Center to its Civil War-era appearance.

Opponents of its demolition consider the four-decade-old Cyclorama an artifact, an architecturally significant building worth preserving.

A court will decide the matter, but it seems the Cyclorama preservationists are, well, fighting uphill. Perhaps it's time for the plaintiffs to seek a truce. Maybe the park service could work in a model of the old Cyclorama building into its exhibits at the new Cyclorama building.

Here's how a York Sunday News story (4/20/08) describes the dispute:

The Cyclorama Center at the Gettysburg (Pa.) National Military Park is pictured in 2000. The Cyclorama painting has since been moved to the new visitors center, where restorationists are working on it. The National Park Service has the go-ahead to raze this old Cyclorama building, pending resolution of a lawsuit, and accompanying visitors center. Today is the last day the old visitors center, with its Electric Map, will be open to the public. (See photo of painting under restoration below.) Who is Bob Kinsley, builder of the new Gettysburg Visitor Center?, Gettysburg's vaunted Electric Map to soon stop blinking and Restored Gettysburg Cyclorama arriving in new home.

Those looking for a Sunday afternoon drive - today, April 13 - can head for one last look at the old Gettysburg Visitors Center, with its accompanying Electric Map.

And then head over to do a windshield tour of the new center... .

Matt Gay, with a museum service company, positions a cannon at the Gettysburg (Pa.) National Military Park Museum and Vistor Center. The new center is scheduled to open April 14. Background posts: Shrink wrapping in Electric Map's future; Gettysburg tooth heads south and Gettysburg's Electric Map blinking in finale season.

Plans continue to call for the famous Electric Map at the old visitor's center in Gettysburg to be cut up, shrink wrapped and stored until a use can be found for it.

That was one of several questions the York Daily Record/Sunday News posed to park officials in these days before the opening of the new center.

Here is the Q & A:

The 21st century meets the 19th as rebel re-enactors march in Gettysburg in 2004. The 145th re-enactment of the Battle of Gettysburg is set for July 4-6 this year. Background posts:Rebel trooper: 'Broken down & in no condition to fight' and Gettysburg Cyclorama, with new shape, set for Sept. display and Gettysburg battlefield produces steady supply of news, Part I.

And these story just don't come from updates on the new visitors center construction or controversies over the current center... .

Panels of the Cyclorama painting, seen in the new Hunt Avenue visitors center in Gettysburg, await the stitching that will close the gaps. Background posts: Shrink wrapping in Electric Map's future and Restored Cyclorama heading to new home.

Imagine stitching 14 panels in a 377-foot painting that stands 42 feet high.

And further imagine that the painting would not be flat against the wall - as it's been for decades - but bowed in the middle, resembling its original hourglass shape.

That's the job facing restorationists dealing with the painting at the new Gettysburg Cyclorama location.

Workers clean one of 27 cyclorama panels at Gettysburg National Military Park in this 2006 photograph. The park recently received an appropriation to finish the cyclorama restoration and relocation project. (See another restoration photo below.) Background posts: Gettysburg battlefield produces steady supply of news and Gettysburg's Electric Map blinking in finale season.

"How did the Gettysburg National Military Park - without asking - get $3.8 million from the federal government to finish the Cyclorama painting restoration?" the newspaper story began.

The short answer: The federal government came through with the funds... .

Visitors gain a sneak preview of the Gettysburg Cyclorama in the new visitor's center in Gettysburg, the circular canvas that has attracted millions of viewers over the decades.
The Electric Map might be slated for storage, but Gettysburg's other top touristy icon is slated to return to public viewing in 12 months.

Paul D. Philippoteaux's Cyclorama depicting Pickett's charge undergoing restoration, and the first of 14 sections is being installed in its new home - the new visitor's center near the battlefield.

An Associated Press report on the project follows: