Gettysburg NMP and Eisenhower NHS Names New Deputy Superintendent

Zachary Bolitho has been named the new Deputy Superintendent at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site. Photo courtesy, National Park Service, Gettysburg National Military Park.

NPS News Release Date: October , 2024

Contact: Jason Martz

GETTYSBURG, PA – Superintendent Kristina Heister announced today that Zachary Bolitho has been selected as the Deputy Superintendent for Gettysburg National Military Park (NMP) and Eisenhower National Historic Site (NHS). Bolitho has worked at Gettysburg NMP and Eisenhower NHS as Division Lead of Resource Stewardship and Planning since 2011. He started his new assignment on September 22, 2024.

“For the last 13 years Zach has served as the Division Lead of Resource Stewardship and Planning providing leadership in the preservation and protection of our museum collections, cultural and natural resources, and lands. He's been involved in every large-scale project these parks have engaged in and brings a wealth of commitment and institutional knowledge. We know him and we love him”, said Heister.“

It’s an incredible honor to continue serving as Deputy Superintendent within a community that my family and I have grown to love. These two parks embody the resilience, courage, and dedication that have shaped our country. My experiences as the Division Lead for Resource Stewardship and Planning have taught me that our shared heritage is still relevant today and that these two parks hold unique and special meaning to all visitors whether in person or from afar. I look forward to contributing to the preservation and interpretation of these powerful legacies, ensuring that their stories continue to inspire future generations. It’s the “unfinished work” that inspires me to contribute in new ways, growing alongside the park and the people who make it special", said Bolitho.

Bolitho has worked for the National Park Service (NPS) for 24 years, serving in resource stewardship offices at several NPS units across the country. He has also served in Acting Superintendent details at multiple parks as well as in leadership positions with the NPS Eastern Incident Management Team. His civil service began as a Rural Training Instructor with the United States Peace Corps in the Solomon Islands, South Pacific. Bolitho started his career with the NPS as a Student Conservation Association intern at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho, worked as a field biologist for the NPS Northeast Region’s Invasive Plant Management Team, Natural Resources Specialist at Gettysburg NMP and Eisenhower NHS, and Chief of Resources Management at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Oregon. He holds a B.S. in Conservation of Natural Resources and a M.S. in Environmental Biology.

In his spare time, he can often be found cycling or running with his dog, Gracie Mae, throughout the park. His two teenage daughters, Ada and Violet, are accomplished equestrians and his wife, Carolyn Davis, is a Regional Program Coordinator for the National Park Service's National Natural Landmarks Program.

www.nps.gov

Free Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum Program on Oct 6

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC (G.A.R.) CIVIL WAR

MUSEUM & ARCHIVE

 Presents a Free Zoom Program

Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

 “Soldiers of Faith – The Chaplains of the Civil War”By Walt Lafty

  In the American Civil War, the overwhelming numbers of soldiers (both Union and Confederate), looked to religion and faith as a great sustainer of morale. Providing the spiritual needs were the clergy of almost every Christian denomination, rabbi’s and preachers of the Jewish faith, and even non-traditional ministers of the gospel.

Many of those preachers of God and their various denominational leadership, struggled with the issue of slavery in the years leading up to the war. Interpretations of scripture divided many. Yet, a few thousand of those “Soldiers of Faith” volunteered to serve as Hospital, Regimental, and Post Chaplains.

Many suffered and died, both of disease and killed in combat. Some even took up arms when situations arose, and some earned high accolades in official reports as well as a few who earned the Medal of Honor. The focus will be on highlighting some of the instrumental Chaplains who served from many religious organizations.

  Walt Lafty is a historian with a focus on the American Civil War (1861-1865), but also World War 2, as well as the history of Ireland. He has been active in various Civil War groups for many years. Those include the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Museum where he serves as the research administrator and volunteer. He is also active in the Delaware Valley CWRT where he is a board member as well as a member of the preservation committee. Walt is also an active member of Baker-Fisher Camp 101 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in Hatboro and currently serves as the camp secretary. In addition, he is a member of the Old Baldy CWRT and the General Meade Society.

  To reserve a virtual seat for this outstanding presentation, reply by e-mail to garmuslib1866@gmail.com

  You will be sent a link with a password that will enable you to access the program within 24 hours of the start of the presentation. 

  Deadline for signing-up is Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Noon.

  As a lover of history, you know how critical it is to keep history alive, especially today.  We very much appreciate your continued support for the GAR Civil War Museum & Archive

 GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC MUSEUM & ARCHIVE
8110 Frankford Ave. (Holmesburg - N.E. Philadelphia), 19136
 www.garmuslib.org

New Walking Trail at Daniel Lady Farm in Gettysburg

Explore the historic Daniel Lady Farm in Gettysburg with a new, free public walking trail

Harrison Jones
Hanover Evening Sun

A new walking trail is giving the public a fresh, and free, look at a historic Gettysburg site.

The trail, which opens on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, provides free access for visitors to explore the historic Daniel Lady Farm, located at 1008 Hanover Road in Straban Township, according to a release from the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association that owns the farm.

Public hours will be dawn to dusk, and parking is available in a grass lot to the left of the main entrance.

Featuring 14 self-guided stops, the quarter-of-a-mile trail provides numerous markers with additional information on the history of the farm, from its founding to its involvement as a field hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Free brochures will be available outside the front office for those participating in self-guided tours on the trail, and will feature additional information about each marker as well as a map of the trail.

The trail can be expected to be completed in around 30 minutes, according to the release.

The association credited farm facilities manager Chris jones and museum curator Lauren Wilmoth with the creation of the tour, who it said worked to compile facts and sift through information to produce a compelling history of the farm.

"The story of the Lady family's involvement in the Battle of Gettysburg is a harrowing tale of survival, acceptance, and perseverance," said Wilmoth in the release.

In 1863, the farm was used as the headquarters of Major General Edward Johnston, as well as a staging area for the confederate attack on Culp's Hill. During the Battle of Gettysburg, the site served as a field hospital for the countless wounded from the battle.

The farm has been owned and operated by the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association since 1999, which has sought to restore and preserve the historic property.

Camp William Penn and Historic La Mott Day on September 21.

Annual Camp William Penn and Historic La Mott Day on September 21.

This is a great opportunity to learn about the United States Colored Troops who trained at Camp William Penn during the Civil War.

Also, learn about our historic community which has been Integrated since its mid-1800’s beginning and how the community came to be called La Mott in honor of Lucretia Mott.

Seminary Ridge Museum Announces New Executive Director

Gettysburg Museum Announces New Executive Director

September 13, 2024 by Community Contributors

From the Gettysburg Connection

Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center (SRMEC) has announced that Judy Morley will serve as its new Executive Director and President of the Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation Foundation (SRHPF).

SRMEC inhabits the 1832 Lutheran Seminary structure that became a centerpiece of the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Inside, it interprets the causes and consequences of the Civil War, in a building where slavery was debated, where military leaders used the Cupola as a lookout, and where the battlefield’s largest fixed field hospital was created July 1, 1863. 

Morley was unanimously elected by the SRHPF Board of Directors on Friday, September 6 at its fall meeting. She brings degrees in American History and teaching experience in the American Civil War to the award-winning Museum, as well as depth in executive and management experience. She has extensive communication training and expertise in entrepreneurship and fundraising.

Em Cole, SRHPF Board Chair, sees in Morley “a superb combination of historian, educator, and manager for leading the Museum. She has breadth and depth of experiences that will serve the mission of the Seminary Ridge Museum well, and she has familiarity with nonprofit organizations in Adams County.”

Brad Hoch, a member of the search group, suggested reasons Morley rose to the top of their list. Her “lifelong studies in the American Civil War, her professionalism, communication abilities and high energy bring a powerful skill set to the ongoing work of those on Seminary Ridge.”

Morley reflected her high energy for the SRHPF mission and its Museum, saying “I am thrilled to join the team of this amazing organization! It’s an honor to be able to work with such skilled and passionate individuals, and I hope that my talents will be a beneficial contribution to our mission.”

The Museum opened in 2013 on the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg under the direction of Barbara Franco. Morley succeeds Peter Miele, who had served in various roles on the Museum staff since 2013 and served as its Executive Director since 2020. She will assume the new position October 1.

Historic Chatham Manor At Fredericksburg And Spotsylvania To Close Until Spring

From National Parks Traveler Sept 1, 2024

Read the original story here

Beginning Tuesday, the interior of Chatham Manor at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia will be closed until spring while a fire suppression system is installed in the historic structure.

For the duration of the project the Chatham gate will remain open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the grounds will remain open sunrise to sunset.  

Accomplishing this project involves taking great care to protect the existing structure and exhibits inside Chatham. The museum collection pieces currently on display in Chatham will be safely stored offsite for the duration of the work. Once complete, the updated system will support the safe display of artifacts and protect the building in case of fire.

While the building is closed, the grounds remain open for visitors. Park staff will be stationed at an orientation table on the grounds on Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., until October 19. The 2 p.m. tour, Sparking Freedom, will occur as scheduled on these weekends. To watch the park video that plays inside the building and to learn more about Chatham visit the Chatham page.

The restrooms near the parking lot will remain open and accessible. Due to the maintenance work onsite, there may be some parking impact while work is ongoing, but this impact should be minimal on weekends. The installation of the fire suppression system is projected to be complete by early spring.

On Zoom - Sept 8: Wounded for Life: The Post-War Journey of Two Union Soldiers

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC (G.A.R.) CIVIL WAR MUSEUM & ARCHIVE

 Presents a Free Zoom Program

Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

Wounded for Life: The Post-War Journey of Two Union Soldiers by Robert Hicks

 Many Civil War books discuss the mortality due to bullets and diseases but very few explore the postwar lives of wounded warriors. Based on his new book, Wounded for Life: Seven Union Veterans of the Civil War, Dr. Robert Hicks examines two Union veterans, Presley Dawson and Henry Huidekoper. Dawson, an African American private, was lamed by collapsed earthworks under fire and contracted malaria. Huidekoper, a lieutenant colonel, was shot twice at Gettysburg and suffered an amputated arm. Both men worked, married, and had children, yet the war changed their bodies. Dr. Robert Hicks looks at how they constructed new identities after the trauma of the battlefield.

 

Robert D. Hicks, PhD is an independent scholar of the history of science and medicine. Formerly, he served as director of the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library and William Maul Measey Chair for the History of Medicine at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.  He has worked with museum-based education and exhibits for four decades, primarily as a consultant to historic sites and museums. Robert has a doctorate in maritime history from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, and degrees in anthropology and archaeology from the University of Arizona. He also served as a naval officer with the U.S. Naval Security Group and found time to have a career in law enforcement. His most recent book, Civil War Medicine: A Surgeon’s Experience, appeared in 2019 by Indiana University Press.

To reserve a virtual seat for this outstanding presentation reply by e-mail to garmuslib1866@gmail.com

You will be sent a link with a password that will enable you to access the program within 24 hours of the start of the presentation. 

 Deadline for signing-up is Saturday, September 7, 2024 at Noon.

 GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC MUSEUM & ARCHIVE
8110 Frankford Ave. (Holmesburg - N.E. Philadelphia), 19136
 www.garmuslib.org

 

Annual World War II Weekend at Eisenhower NHS from Sept 20 to 22

GETTYSBURG, PA – Join Eisenhower National Historic Site (NHS) staff for our annual World War II Weekend from September 20 to 22. This year’s event theme is 1944, remembering the millions of Americans and Allies in arms who joined together with General Dwight D. Eisenhower in a “great crusade” to fight for freedom over fascism 80 years ago. Park rangers, guest speakers, living historians, and partner organizations will bring the stories and people of 1944 to life through three days of interactive programming and activities for visitors of all ages. All programs and activities are free of charge.

Event highlights include:

Notable guest speakers and historians: Henry Sledge, son of famed World War II Marine Eugene Sledge, will speak Friday evening at the Gettysburg National Military Park (NMP) Museum and Visitor Center. On Saturday and Sunday, speakers at Eisenhower NHS include Dr. John C. McManus, Dr. Sara Parry Myers, Kevin Hymel, April Cheek-Messier, Dr. Tyler Bamford, Dr. Jared Frederick, and John Orloff, writer and co-executive producer of the Apple TV+ miniseries Masters of the Air.

Ranger-Guided Walking Tours of WWII burials in Gettysburg National Cemetery: Park rangers will offer guided walking tours of Gettysburg National Cemetery that will explore stories of the 590 fallen World War II soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen buried there. These programs will focus on stories relevant to 1944.

1944 Living History Camp at Eisenhower NHS: Visit American and Allied units, as well as groups depicting life on the Homefront, to explore the people and events of 1944. Park rangers will lead guided walking tours of the living history camp throughout the weekend.

Family Activities and Programs at Eisenhower NHS: Pick up a Family Activity Booklet, explore the Living History Camp, and look for special Family Activity chalkboard signs. Learn more about the military and civilian groups to complete your five-stars and earn your very own World War II dog tag! Special family programs, reading adventures, and more will take place throughout the weekend.

Special 1944 Museum Exhibits: Visit the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center to see exhibits from the Naval History and Heritage Command, the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and Eisenhower NHS.

Eisenhower Home Tours: Free tours of the only home that Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower ever owned are available on both Saturday and Sunday of World War II Weekend.

For a full World War II Weekend event schedule and information, visit the Eisenhower NHS website at https://www.nps.gov/eise/world-war-ii-weekend.htm.

For the safety of visitors, living history groups, and staff, Eisenhower NHS will close to visitation on Friday, September 20 for the World War II camp set up.

How to visit Eisenhower NHS during World War II Weekend:

Weather permitting, free on-site parking for passenger vehicles only will be available at Eisenhower NHS in a farm field accessible from Emmitsburg Road, Business Route 15. For GPS, use 250 Eisenhower Farm Rd.

Shuttle buses depart every hour from the Gettysburg NMP Museum and Visitor Center, located at 1195 Baltimore Pike, on both days of the event. A shuttle fee does apply. Visit the Gettysburg Foundation website or call 877-874-2478 to make reservations.

Bus groups should plan to use the shuttle system. Accessible parking is located at the Museum and Visitor Center with access to the site via the shuttle. Limited accessible parking is available on-site.

All National Park Service World War II Weekend programming is free of charge. Outdoor programs are weather dependent.

www.nps.gov

Vandalism Discovered at Gettysburg Battlefield – Hallowed Ground Heroes to the Rescue!

GETTYSBURG, PA August 21, 2024

Two separate incidents of vandalism were reported to park officials at Gettysburg National Military Park on August 15 and August 19. Park staff reported multiple boulders on Little Round Top had graffiti scribed into the large stones on August 15. Battlefield visitors reported that the historic War Department Observation Tower on Oak Ridge was spray painted with graffiti on August 19. But by August 20, all traces of these two acts of vandalism had been removed by park preservation staff.

Park Superintendent Kristina Heister said, “Our hearts sank when these two cases of vandalism were reported within days of each other. We were fearful that the graffiti carved into the rock may be there for future generations. I’m so very thankful for our amazing preservation staff who expertly restored these sites quickly so visitors could continue to experience them as they were intended. They truly are the heroes of this hallowed ground!”

Throughout the National Park Service, visitors are asked to help park staff by immediately reporting any occurrences of vandalism or illegal activity. Anyone who has any information regarding this incident is asked to contact the park at 717-334-0909 or email the park at GETT_Superintendent@nps.gov. For all emergencies, visitors should always call 9-1-1.

“We can’t do it alone,” continued Superintendent Heister. “Vandalism of irreplaceable historic objects and structures that belong to all Americans should concern everyone. We all share in the responsibility of protecting and caring for this special place and everyone is a steward of the heritage, history, and resources of Gettysburg during their visit.”

The Gettysburg Borough Police Department is also investigating multiple acts of vandalism throughout the borough and Gettysburg College. Multiple areas were also spray painted. Please visit their website at https://adams.crimewatchpa.com/gettysburgpd for more information or to submit a tip. 

 

www.nps.gov