Gettysburg Cyclorama Receives Rare Cleaning
Feb 5, 2025
From the Gettysburg Foundation
Visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center have a rare opportunity to witness firsthand the careful preservation of one of the nation’s most significant historical artworks this month.
Chief Conservator David L. Olin and his team from Olin Conservation, Inc., based in Great Falls, Va., are conducting an extensive cleaning of the “Battle of Gettysburg” Cyclorama painting, ensuring the iconic 360-degree painting remains preserved for generations to come.
Displayed in its own room at the Museum & Visitor Center, the circular painting portrays the final Confederate assault on July 3, 1863, known as Pickett’s Charge. Spanning longer than a football field and standing taller than a four-story building, the Gettysburg Cyclorama is one of the last surviving examples of a popular 19th-century entertainment format.
“This is our largest object in the park’s collection, so we’re under obligation to maintain and care for it as we would any historical object that the National Park Service owns,” said Greg Goodell, museum curator at Gettysburg National Military Park.
Olin Conservation, Inc. has a longstanding history with the painting, having led its multimillion-dollar restoration from 2004 to 2008 before its relocation to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center in 2008. Routine maintenance has continued since, with a significant mechanical cleaning last conducted in 2013 in preparation for the 150th anniversary of the battle.
The current cleaning process, which will take about seven weeks, involves both mechanical and aqueous cleaning techniques to remove embedded dust and grime. According to Olin, the painting is constantly exposed to environmental factors, including humidity fluctuations and the presence of 500,000 visitors per year. “Those 500,000 people bring with them dust and dirt, and, you know, it’s an active environment,” Olin said.
Unlike traditional paintings housed in protective cases, the cyclorama hangs freely, making it susceptible to airborne particles and gradual deterioration. Olin explained that after years of periodic dry cleanings, conservators determined a more involved approach was necessary. “There’s electrostatic charges to every surface, and so there may be some sort of electrostatic charge that collects dust and doesn’t want to release it,” he said.
Olin futher explained that the team is using a mild chelator system to safely lift dirt without damaging the original paint, adding that adjustments to areas of loss and seams are also being made to maintain the painting’s visual integrity. Olin emphasized that while conservators strive to match colors perfectly, variations in material aging can cause subtle shifts over time. “With a trained eye, the conservators can see when something looks a bit off-color. Now, you might look up there and not really notice that. So that’s why we have to do it,” Olin said.
Cleaning the cyclorama presents logistical challenges, including working 45 feet in the air with heavy equipment around an irreplaceable artwork. “You’ve got 1,200 pounds of sharp metal lift and two crews working 45 feet in the air against an invaluable canvas that could easily be torn or destroyed, costing millions of dollars to repair,” Olin said. Olin also said that his primary concern is the safety of the staff and the painting.
Goodell noted that this time of year is ideal for conservation efforts, as lower visitor traffic minimizes disruptions. “It’s the perfect time to do it,” he said.
The cleaning process also allows conservators to assess the long-term effects of prior treatments. Olin explained that varnish applied during the 2008 restoration may have drawn out materials left behind from earlier conservation efforts. “Over time, that varnish somewhat acts as a poultice. So it may have leached materials out that we didn’t originally remove back in 2006. Now, we’re trying to figure out how to approach those again without overcleaning it,” Olin said.
As the team refines its cleaning methods, they will also provide recommendations for future preservation. With 14 original fabric sections making up the painting, the project requires meticulous attention to detail. Olin and his team have allocated 60 days to complete the work, with eight conservators alternating between cleaning and touch-ups five days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Gettysburg Foundation, which funds and supports preservation efforts, remains committed to preserving the cyclorama as an immersive educational experience. Painted in 1884 by French artist Paul Philippoteaux, the artwork continues to offer visitors a powerful, three-dimensional perspective of the pivotal moment in American history.
As the conservation effort progresses, Olin and his team are determined to uphold the painting’s integrity while ensuring it remains a vibrant centerpiece for historical reflection. “We’re making sure that structurally everything is sound, and it is indeed as sound as it was the day that we left here in 2008,” Olin said.
Updated Feb. 18, 2025
This story first appeared in the Feb. 5, 2024, edition of the Gettysburg Times.
Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation were pleased to host media outlets on Feb. 4, 2025, to help us tell the story of the important ongoing preservation of the historic, restored Gettysburg Cyclorama painting while it undergoes the special cleaning, scheduled to be completed by Feb. 21, 2025.
After cleaning is complete, the "lights up" program continues through Monday, Feb. 24. The light and sound show of the Cyclorama resumes Tuesday, Feb. 25.
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