Tourism to Gettysburg National Military Park creates $66 million in Economic Benefit

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Date: March 4, 2014
Contact: Katie Lawhon, (717) 334-1124, ext. 3121

A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 1,126,577 visitors to Gettysburg National Military Park in 2012 spent $66,317,600 in communities near the park. That spending supported 838 jobs in the local area. Eisenhower National Historic Site had 53,286 visitors in 2012 and provided an economic impact of $2,867,400, supporting 38 local jobs.

"We are proud to welcome visitors to Gettysburg from across the country and around the world," said Ed W. Clark, park superintendent. "National park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy – returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service - and it's a big factor in our local economy as well. We appreciate the support of our partners and neighbors in Adams County and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities."

"Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site are an enormous draw for visitors to Adams County," said Norris Flowers, President of Destination Gettysburg. "Visitors not only look for history, but ways to experience that history, and the National Park Service sites in Gettysburg do an incredible job at telling our story. These historic sites play a big part in the success of tourism in Gettysburg."

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber and Lynne Koontz for the National Park Service. The report shows $14.7 billion of direct spending by 283 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 243,000 jobs nationally, with 201,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.75 billion.

According to the report most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores (39 percent), hotels, motels and B&Bs (27 percent), and other amusement and recreation (20 percent).

To download the report visit https://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/economics.cfm. The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

To learn more about national parks in state name and how the National Park Service works with state name communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/Pennsylvania.

Gettysburg National Military Park 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. More information is available at www.nps.gov/gett.

Eisenhower National Historic Site preserves and protects the resources associated with the presidential home and farm in order to promote understanding and appreciation of the life, work and times of Dwight David Eisenhower. For more information go to www.nps.gov/eise.



Last updated: February 26, 2015

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