Public Input on Cyclorama Center's Future

Date: August 25, 2010

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(National Park Service)

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Gettysburg National Military Park is seeking the public’s input on the future of the Cyclorama building. National Park Service staff will be preparing a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document called an environmental assessment. The environmental assessment will describe and evaluate alternatives regarding the future of the Gettysburg Cyclorama building, a National Register eligible structure located on North Cemetery Ridge on the Gettysburg battlefield.

Park staff will host two "open houses" in the classroom at the park Museum and Visitor Center, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, on September 16 and 17, 2010, so that interested members of the community can ask questions, learn more about this undertaking and submit comments. The first session will be on September 16, at 7:00 p.m., immediately following the business portion of the park Advisory Commission meeting, until 9:00 p.m. Another session will be held on September 17, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend

Public participation is very important to the success of this planning process. Information about the planning process will be available for review at the open houses and on the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website available via www.nps.gov/gett, click on "Management" and then click on "Public Involvement." It is also on the website: parkplanning.nps.gov. Information will also be available in hardcopy at the information desk at the Museum and Visitor Center and the Adams County Public Library.

The NPS is responding to a March 2010 decision of the United States District Court directing the NPS to undertake a "site-specific environmental analysis on the demolition of the Cyclorama" building and to consider "non-demolition alternatives" to its removal before "any implementing action is taken" on the building.

The 1962 Cyclorama building was designed by noted architect Richard Neutra and was constructed on an area of the Gettysburg battlefield where major battle action occurred.

In 1999, the NPS approved a General Management Plan for Gettysburg NMP that called for (among numerous other actions) the demolition of the Cyclorama building in order to provide for the long-term preservation of the Cyclorama painting (a National Historic Object) and the rehabilitation of the historic landscapes of the battlefield. During the general management planning process the NPS consulted with the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Officer, the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, numerous interested parties, and the public. The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Officer and the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation both approved the demolition of the building in order to rehabilitate the 1863 battlefield, as did the majority of the public comments received.

The current planning process will consider a range of alternatives including: keeping the building in its current site and "mothballing" it; reusing the building in its current site; relocating the building to a new site; and demolishing the building to return the area to its appearance at the time of the fighting of this pivotal Civil War battle in July 1863.

"We respectfully request the public’s thoughtful evaluation and comments on these questions: 1) What are the planning issues we should be thinking about?; 2) What are the alternatives we should be considering?; 3) What are the important impacts we should be evaluating?" said Bob Kirby, Gettysburg NMP Superintendent. "Comments would be most useful if we can receive them by October 1, 2010,"

Comments may be submitted by regular mail to: Superintendent, Gettysburg National Military Park, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Suite 100, Gettysburg, PA 17325; via the Internet at www.nps.gov/gett, click on "Management" and then click on "Public Involvement" or at parkplanning.nps.gov; e-mail us or by fax to 717/ 334-1891, attn: Cyclorama building.

For more information or questions concerning the planning process, please contact park management assistant Katie Lawhon at 717/ 334-1124 x 3121.

Gettysburg National Military Park is a unit of the National Park Service that preserves and protects the resources associated with the Battle of Gettysburg and the Soldiers' National Cemetery, and provides an understanding of the events that occurred there within the context of American history.