(National Park Service)
Superintendent J. Robert Kirby
Welcome to Gettysburg!
Few events in our national past have held the same significance as the American Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg has come to symbolize the defining moment of that war. Many in the North and South knew what was at stake in the summer of 1863 and it was President Abraham Lincoln who not only recognized the importance of the battle’s outcome, but further defined its impact with his Gettysburg Address and why our nation could only survive as a “house undivided”. As the President said on November 19, 1863, “The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but can never forget what they did here.”
To ensure that we never forget the significance of Gettysburg, the National Park Service has committed itself to preserving and caring for Gettysburg National Military Park as a symbol of America's struggle to survive as a nation and as a lasting memorial to the armies and soldiers who served in that great conflict. Our job is not only to preserve the battlefield but to provide you, the park visitor, with a fulfilling experience. We would like you to visit the park take away with you not only an understanding of the magnitude of this battle, but inspiration as well.
The National Park Service will continue to work closely with its partner, the Gettysburg Foundation, in our campaign to restore Gettysburg’s historic integrity and preserve its remarkable resources. The park’s battlefield rehabilitation program has provided our visitors with a view of the battlefield not seen in over 100 years and a better understanding of the course of events during those three bloody days in July 1863, while creating a sustainable environment with improving wetlands, water quality and wildlife habitat.
Our web site will not only help you plan your visit to Gettysburg National Military Park and interesting places in Gettysburg, but will also inform you about our ongoing battlefield rehabilitation program and initiatives to preserve and sustain this national symbol of war and unity. We encourage you to discover the history of Gettysburg not only as a symbolic battle of the Civil War but as an inspiring moment that defined us as a nation.
Thank you for visiting our web site and we look forward to your visit to Gettysburg National Military Park.
Sincerely,
Bob Kirby
Superintendent
Gettysburg National Military Park
