What’s Happening at Gettysburg's Lincoln Cemetery

From Gettysburg Connections
January 16, 2025 by Community Contributors

 As many in our community know, Lincoln Cemetery has been a well-kept secret for years. This historic Black cemetery, established in 1867, is located behind the emergency room entrance of WellSpan Hospital in Gettysburg.

For many years, Lincoln Cemetery was under the dedicated care and leadership of Mrs. Betty Dorsey Myers. However, due to health challenges, Mrs. Myers could no longer serve as the cemetery’s historian and caretaker. Alongside Jean Howard Green, Mrs. Myers was one of the last two individuals overseeing the cemetery’s care. As Mrs. Myers’ health declined, Jean stepped up to honor her promise to safeguard the cemetery’s legacy.

In 2023, Jean Howard Green established a new 10-member board for the Lincoln Cemetery Project Association (LCPA). This board includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, including descendants of those buried at the cemetery. Initially, the board met monthly to strategize and organize, but now it meets quarterly to review progress and plan for the future.

Key Accomplishments and Updates

1.    Restoration of the Rostrum: Repairs have been completed on the rostrum, where loose bricks were resecured to the cement structure.

2.    Tree Removal: An 80-year-old fallen spruce tree was safely removed.

3.    Gate Repainting: Interior gates surrounding private graves have been restored and repainted.

4.    Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): A survey identified graves of individuals without headstones.

5.    Grave Markers for the Unknown: Markers for 136 previously unmarked graves have been ordered and will replace the orange flags currently in place. They are expected to arrive in March 2025.

6.    Continued Programs: LCPA has reinstated and maintained traditional programs:

1.    Annual Memorial Day Program: Held on the Sunday before Memorial Day, allowing attendees to honor both this and the Gettysburg National Military Park’s program.

2.    Remembrance Day Program: Held each year on the same day as the Gettysburg Remembrance Day Parade to honor the United States Colored Troops.

7.    Ownership and Historic Recognition: LCPA has officially acquired ownership of Lincoln Cemetery. On June 4, 2024, Jean Howard Green accepted the nomination for Lincoln Cemetery to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. One final stage remains for completion.

8.    Signage and Accessibility: New signage displays cemetery rules, regulations, and open-day schedules. A brochure box has been installed at the main entrance on Lincoln Lane.

9.    Special Tours: The cemetery is open on special occasions such as Independence Day and Juneteenth. Guided tours are available between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM, or by appointment. Donations are welcomed.

10.      Online Presence: Visit us at lincolncemeterygettysburg.org or on Facebook at Lincoln Cemetery at Gettysburg. You can also contact us via email at lincolncemeteryassociation@gmail.com.

11.      Collaboration with ACHS: LCPA and the Adams County Historical Society are partnering to create a new Black History Museum in Gettysburg. The museum will be housed in the historic Hopkins House on South Washington Street. More updates on this exciting project will be shared as it progresses.

Call for Volunteers and Gratitude

We are seeking volunteers to help place the “Unknown” grave markers when they arrive. If you’re interested in contributing, please contact us via email.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported our programs and to those who generously donated to Lincoln Cemetery through the 2024 Giving Spree. Your support means so much to us!

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our mission to preserve and celebrate the history of Lincoln Cemetery.

Sincerely,
Jean Howard Green
President, Lincoln Cemetery Project Association

Fort Pulaski National Monument Gains OK To Improve Visitor Services

From National Parks Traveler Jan 13, 2025

Fort Pulaski National Monument in Georgia has been given the final OK to move forward with improvements to visitor services and facilities.

The Development Concept Plan and Environmental Assessment will provide Fort Pulaski with a consistent planning framework. Selected actions include: 

  • Establish new desired conditions for visitor use and experience, natural and cultural resources, and facilities and infrastructure.

  • Relocate the entrance station and widen the entrance road.

  • Improve visitor center parking and visitor safety.

  • Improve picnic area Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) accessibility.

  • Relocate Volunteer-In-Parks (VIP) campsites and construct a new building for maintenance, resource programs, and law enforcement staff and equipment.

The plan/Environmental Assessment also establishes visitor capacities for Cockspur Island. The signed FONSI and final DCP/EA can be found here.

For much of the 19th century, masonry fortifications were the United States’ main defense against overseas enemies. However, during the Civil War, new technology proved its superiority over these forts. Using rifled cannons, the U.S. Army compelled the Confederate garrison inside Fort Pulaski to surrender. The siege was a landmark experiment in the history of military science and invention.

Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on U.S. Highway 80, 15 miles east of Savannah.

Adams County Historical Society is New Owner of Shriver House Museum

The Adams County Historical Society (ACHS) is thrilled to announce that it has assumed ownership and management of the renowned Shriver House Museum, located in the heart of historic downtown Gettysburg. This expansion will unite two institutions with a shared commitment to preserving and illumination Gettysburg's civilian experience during one of the most pivotal moments in American history. The museum, located at 309 Baltimore Street, is an impeccably restored Civil-War era home that offers an authentic look into the lives of the Shriver family. ACHS is honored to to continue the legacy of Del and Nancie Gudmestad of meticulous preservation, education, and community engagement.

ACHS has appointed Abbie Hoffman, a longtime guide at the Shriver House Museum and the current Director of Programs & Events at ACHS, as the new Director of the Shriver House Museum. The Shriver House Museum will open on March 1st, 2025.

Members of the Adams County Historical Society will receive free admission to the Shriver House Museum as an added membership benefit. Advanced booking is recommended for the guided tour experience. Additional details on how to book your tour will be available soon on the Shriver House website.

Gettysburg Foundation Announces 2025 Schedule for “An Evening with the Painting”

Gettysburg Foundation Announces “An Evening with the Painting”

2025 Program Schedule

A Popular Program on the Gettysburg Cyclorama Painting Continues to Draw Visitors
Behind the Scenes for a Closer Look at the Largest Oil-on-Canvas Painting in North America.

Gettysburg, Pa. (Dec. 18, 2024)—The Gettysburg Foundation is pleased to offer area residents and visitors to Gettysburg the opportunity to experience “An Evening with the Painting” on select dates in 2025. A popular program on the historic Gettysburg Cyclorama in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, the first presentation in 2025 will take place Saturday, Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. The after-hours program provides a behind-the-scenes experience and a close-up look at the restored painting with a presentation combining history, art and preservation.

Painted in the 1880s by French artist Paul Philippoteaux and a team of artists, the Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama is an immense work of art measuring 42 feet high and 377 feet long. The Gettysburg Cyclorama is one of the largest, free-standing paintings in North America. A rendition of "Pickett's Charge" on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the painting is suspended in-the-round from the ceiling. This massive piece of history creates a remarkable 360-degree, three-dimensional appearance when viewed from the platform.

An Evening with the Painting explores the history of the genre of cycloramas and the iconic Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama. The presentation covers the creation of this historic piece of art, the rich symbolism found in the painting and the extensive conservation effort to restore the canvas visitors experience today. Ticket holders spend extended time on the viewing platform to observe the close-up details and distant battle scenes depicted in the painting. Guests journey under the diorama to get a better view of how the three-dimensional “illusion” comes alive. Time is provided for Q&A.

Limited to 40 attendees, each presentation offers ticket holders approximately two hours of programming. The program begins in the Ford Motor Company Fund Education Center and continues on the Cyclorama platform. The program will be presented on the following schedule:

Saturday, Jan. 18, 4-6 p.m.

Saturday, June 28, 5-7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 10, 5-7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 15, 4-6 p.m.

Saturday, July 5, 5-7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 25, 5-7 p.m.

Saturday, March 15, 5-7 p.m.

Saturday, July 19, 5-7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 14, 4-6 & 5-7 p.m.

Saturday, April 12, 5-7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 9, 5-7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6, 4-6 p.m.

Saturday, May 24, 5-7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 27, 5-7 p.m.

Ticket reservations for An Evening with the Painting are available by calling the Gettysburg Foundation Guest Relations team at 717-334-2436 or by visiting GettysburgFoundation.org. Tickets can also be purchased in advance at the Ticket Counter inside the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, Pa. Friends of Gettysburg receive a special member rate when purchasing tickets for this program. The Gettysburg Foundation is the official non-profit partner of the National Parks at Gettysburg. Proceeds from ticket purchases benefit Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site.

Gettysburg Winter Lecture Series -- Weekends in January & February

Winter Lecture Series 2025

Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m.
January 4 through February 23, 2025
Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center

Featuring some of the best Rangers, historians, and authors from across the country, this popular eight-week Winter Lecture Series will once again return to the Gettysburg National Military Park (NMP) Museum and Visitor Center in 2025!

The Winter Lecture Series (detail in link below) is held at 1:30 p.m. on weekends in the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center from January 4 through February 23, 2025. Seating is available on a first come – first serve basis. Free tickets are available day of at the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center. Schedule is subject to change.

Thanks to the Gettysburg Foundation, all presentations will be recorded and made available on the Gettysburg Foundation YouTube channel at Gettysburg Foundation - YouTube. 
No live stream will be available.

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE

Battle of the Bulge 80th Anniversary Commemoration at Gettysburg National Cemetery

American soldiers march down a snow-covered road during the Battle of the Bulge.

Photo courtesy of The National WWII Museum New Orleans.

Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge with Special National Cemetery Program on December 14th

 

Gettysburg PA—Eighty years ago this December, General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Allied forces faced one of their greatest challenges of World War II when the Battle of the Bulge erupted in the Ardennes Forest. More than 30 Americans who died in the Battle of the Bulge are buried in Gettysburg National Cemetery. On Saturday, December 14, join a park ranger in Gettysburg National Cemetery at 3 pm for a special ranger-guided walking tour to commemorate the 80th anniversary of this battle.

In December 1944, a massive German assault left a gaping hole in Allied lines, leading to thousands of troops cut off from reinforcement, as well as thousands more killed, wounded, captured, or missing. The Battle of the Bulge was the largest and costliest battle of World War II for American forces. Nearly one out of every ten American casualties in the war occurred in this month-long battle.

This free guided walking tour will explore the stories of these Americans who, in General Eisenhower’s words, “endured greatly in their country’s cause” 80 years ago. This hour-long program will meet at the Taneytown Road entrance to the national cemetery. Visitors are encouraged to dress for the elements and check the Eisenhower NHS website (www.nps.gov/eise) and Facebook page for updates in the event of inclement weather. In the event this program is postponed, there is a rain date of Monday, December 16, also at 3 pm.

Gettysburg NMP Museum & Visitor Center to Begin Winter Hours

November 21, 2024
by Gettysburg Connection News Team

The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center will begin winter hours on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. The Museum & Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. December through February.

Timed tickets are issued for all Film, Cyclorama & Museum Experience showtimes. During the winter months, showtimes begin every 30 minutes from 9:15 a.m., with the final experience of the day beginning at 3:15 p.m.

The Museum & Visitor Center closes annually on the following holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve at 1 p.m. and New Year’s Day. Hours are subject to change.

Winter hours at the Museum & Visitor Center are in effect through Feb. 28, 2025.

Also, beginning Dec. 1, the Museum & Visitor Center will close Parking Lot 3 for the winter season. Parking Lot 3 is scheduled to remain closed through March 2025.

Parking Lot 1 and the Bus Parking Lot are available to visitors during the winter months.

Visit GettysburgFoundation.org or call 877-874-2478 to check operating hours and weather, emergency or early closures for the Museum & Visitor Center.

Visit nps.gov/gett or call 717-334-1124 to check operating hours and weather or emergency closures at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Visit nps.gov/eise or call 717-338-9114 to check operating hours and weather or emergency closures at the Eisenhower National Historic Site.

Visit GettysburgFoundation.org or call 877-874-2478 for information and tickets for the experiences at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, the exhibits, tours, historic sites and events offered by the Gettysburg Foundation. Friends of Gettysburg memberships and donations to the Gettysburg Foundation can also be obtained and transacted online at GettysburgFoundation.org or at the Friends Desk inside the Museum & Visitor Center.

Source: Gettysburg Foundation

Preservation Alert - Downtown Gettysburg

Dear Friends,

 A proposed multistory development near the Gettysburg historic train station has raised concerns because of its potential impact on the town’s historic character and iconic viewsheds.   

 

Our Foundation purchased the train station at the National Park Service’s request; it’s the historic site where President Lincoln arrived to deliver the Gettysburg Address. 



The developer has submitted a request to theGettysburg Borough Council to construct a 72-foot-tall building (about six stories) adjacent to the train station. If approved, this structure would impact the town’s skyline and alter visitors’ experience of this historically significant area. We are particularly concerned about how the project might impact viewsheds from landmarks such as Cemetery Hill, Culp’s Hill, and sites associated with the Battle of Gettysburg’s first day. 

 

While the Foundation has not yet taken an official position, we encourage you to review the proposal and share your thoughts.

 

Also, for those interested, “Save Historic Gettysburg” has started a petition to preserve the town’s historic integrity. You can find that petition here.

 

As always, we value our Friends perspective as we continue to advocate for the preservation of Gettysburg’s historic landscape. Please feel free to share this alert with others who may be interested. Also, let us know if you have any comments or questions – which can be directed to Friends Membership Program Manager, Bethany Yingling. We will keep you updated as the situation progresses. 

 

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to Gettysburg’s legacy. 

 

The Gettysburg Foundation 

NPS Invites Public Comment On Fort Pulaski Development Plan

Fort Pulaski National Monument / NPS

From National Parks Traveler
October 11, 2024

Fort Pulaski National Monument, built on Cockspur Island between Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia, is in a low-lying coastal area prone to flooding during storms and as sea level rises. The National Park Service invites the public to comment on proposed developments meant to mitigate future damage.

Fort Pulaski was the site of the Union Army's cannon test-firing facility during the Civil War. It also served for a time as a prisoner-of-war camp. 

The NPS invites the public to review and comment on the proposed development concept plan for Fort Pulaski National Monument. The purpose of the development concept plan is to provide comprehensive guidance for addressing the national monument's facility and infrastructure deficiencies in the wake of recent storms and continued sea level rise. In addition, the inherent obsolescence of facilities has outlived their life cycle and do not meet current laws and regulations, or the evolving needs of the park. The development concept plan would help the National Park Service provide a safe and quality visitor experience and ensure that adequate and resilient facilities are developed to protect park resources and support monument operations and park-partner access requirements on Cockspur Island.  


The following concepts are proposed to help address issues identified during this planning process:
 

  • Relocate the entrance booth closer to the visitor center and provide a queueing lane for entry. 

  • Construct a new building near the US Coast Guard station to house park maintenance, cultural and natural resources, and law enforcement staff and equipment. 

  • Add a third tier of parking and a large vehicle turnaround at the visitor center parking area. 

  • Modify fort parking entrance road to use the original alignment and use a one-way loop. 

  • Ensure that Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) standards are met by improving the picnic area and restrooms. 

  • Relocate the Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) campsites to the field across from the maintenance yard.

The NPS has prepared and is making available for public review an environmental assessment to evaluate the effects of proposed actions in the development concept plan, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The development concept plan/environmental assessment is available for a 30-day public review and comment period and can be accessed on the project website at: 

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/fortpulaskidcp.

Comments must be submitted by November 9, 2024.

Written comments may also be mailed to: Park Superintendent, Attention: DCP/EA, Fort Pulaski National Monument, 41 Cockspur Island Road, Savannah, GA 31410.