Gettysburg Battlefield Hours To Change
October 2005

GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Visitor hours at Gettysburg National Military Park will change during the winter months. From Nov. 1 through March 31 the park will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily. From April 1 through Oct. 31, the park will remain open from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m.

The National Park Service (NPS) made the decision after consideration of more than 200 public comments received in May (see July Civil War News).

“We believe this compromise will strike the right balance between allowing for public enjoyment of the battlefield and ensuring that battlefield resources will be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations,” said park Superintendent John Latschar in a press release.

During the formal comment period local citizens and park neighbors wrote about their enjoyment of the peacefulness and serenity of the park after sunset. Students and teachers, whose yearly class visits to Gettysburg include an evening of reflection on the battlefield after dark, asked to continue this use. Several families who travel here from great distances explained that they can only afford to stay a short time in Gettysburg and wanted to maximize their time on the battlefield by staying past sunset.

The concerns outlined in the NPS proposal to change its hours were: threats to park resources during after-dark hours, visitor safety, and lack of adequate staffing.

Latschar said park staff will continue to closely monitor potential threats to park resources at Devils Den, Little Round Top, the Peace Light Memorial, the Pennsylvania Memorial, and elsewhere as a result of both deliberate abuse and unintentional acts during after-dark use. Visitor safety and adequate law enforcement staffing will continue to be a concern.

He said, “In the future we may have to reconsider this issue if incidents and threats continue or increase.

After the new visiting hours become effective Nov. 1, the NPS will establish a grace enforcement period from through Dec. 31, 2005, to acclimate the public to the changes in park operating hours. Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, fines will be enforced as specified.

Under the policy, park-approved special events, such as the annual Remembrance Illumination, youth group campground operations, and park-sponsored public meetings will continue to be permitted. Certain park avenues will continue to be accessible 24 hours a day for vehicular through-travel only.

For more information contact Gettysburg National Military Park at (717) 334-1124, ext. 422 or 431 or visit the park web site at www.nps.gov/gett/home.htm