History of the General Management Plan Process

These pages include information about Gettysburg National Military Park’s process in the development of the new park General Management Plan. The plan includes many different goals, including the construction of a new Visitor Center and Museum through a public/private partnership. The plan sets a course for the future of Gettysburg National Military Park to enhance the visitor experience, preserve and restore major sections of the battlefield landscape, and provide a close co-operative effort with the borough of Gettysburg to preserve and enhance the area around it. The planning process has taken over three and one-half years to complete and for those interested in the background, the pages below will provide you with some of the more interesting elements of the planning process.

• General Management Plan calendar
  The history of the General Management Plan development and public involvement record.
• Gettysburg National Military Park Request For Proposals Fact Sheet. The goals set forth by the National Park Service for the construction of a new Visitor Center and Museum.
• Decision on Visitor Center/Museum Proposal
  Decision and announcement issued in 1997.
• Congressional Committee Hearing, February 24, 1998
  NPS Deputy Director Galvin's Statement before Congressional Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands.
• General Management Plan Alternatives
  Alternatives presented at the March 1998 park workshop
• Public Comments
  from March 1998 meeting on the new Visitor Center and Museum proposal.
• March 1998 Historians' Report on the Levan Site
  for the proposed new Visitor Center and Museum.
• Map of Proposed Site for new Visitor Center and Museum.
• Advisory Commission Holds Public Forum
  The April 15, 1998 forum. Superintendent Latschar spoke on changes in the Visitor Center proposal.
• General Management Plan Summary
  June, 1998. A summary of the General Management Plan as originally proposed in 1998.
• Proposed Visitor Center Plan update for June 17, 1998.
• Draft Conceptual Letter of Intent
  Draft of agreement between the park and museum foundation
• Letter of Intent signed
  July 21, 1998 Press Release about the agreement between Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum Foundation.
• Gettysburg National Military Park Museum Collection Profile
  The museum collection inventory for inclusion in Visitor Center and Museum plan.
• Historians Pledge Support
  October 1998 pledge of support by noted Civil War historians for the General Management Plan.
• Congressional Committee Hearing, February 11, 1999
  NPS Deputy Director Galvin's Statement before Congressional Subommittee on National Parks and Public Lands.
• Record of Decision
  The official decision, signed on November 24, 1999. The General Management Plan is approved!

The General Management Plan

Gettysburg National Military Park
97 Taneytown Road
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325