Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #2

The 1962 addition to the “old” Visitor Center was breached on Wednesday. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

Demolition of the “old” Gettysburg Visitor Center on the Taneytown Road continued Wednesday. The demolition is part of an effort by the National Park Service to restore the Ziegler’s Grove area closer to its 1863 appearance. In our previous post we showed how the demolition crew concentrated on the center of the building where the first (1930s) Electric Map was located. In today’s post we show that there was more progress made in the center of the structure.

We’re stepping back to give you a wider view of the work that has been accomplished. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

The contractor has saved some of the stadium seating from the Electric Map. There were other items not saved, as we will show you in a couple of photographs. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

Debris is starting to pile up in front of the old guide room. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

The frame above the window is cracking, and the glass on the right door is open. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

In the area where the 1930s Electric Map and later the wall of cannon tubes was located, more progress was made on Wednesday. More work has been done to the south wall. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

Let’s look at the back right (southwest) corner of the new demolition. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

At the top right you might remember the light grayish colored HVAC system. We used to walk by it and the Longstreet painting before we went down the staircase to see the uniform displays. Through the door at the bottom left one can see the reflection off the glass of one of the display cases that were left in the building. These cases held the edged weapons displays. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

The bricks, stones, and cement blocks closest to the camera will be ground up and placed in the basement area as filler. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

The plan for today (Thursday) is to bring in two 100 foot trailers, and make a couple of trips to remove the rest of the debris. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

One excavator will work on completely removing the far (south) wall of the middle section. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

Both excavators are then going to be brought back into the cleared area. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

After the area is cleared, the excavators will begin in earnest on the 1921 strucuture closest to the Taneytown Road. One excavator will be positioned on the west side of the 1921 building near the light colored wall. The other will be placed in front of north (left) side near the restrooms and get to work. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

All the openings between the front lobby and the middle section are now open. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

We’re now looking through the lobby towards those rear doors. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

Hopefully the “waiting tree” will still be standing after the building is removed. Locals newspapers stated it would take approximately five weeks to completely remove the building and its debris. This view was taken facing west at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

The workers, however, stated they would be finished in two to three weeks. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

See the following related posts:

Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Begins on March 24, 2009.
Cyclorama Construction Fencing: Completed on North Side, Redone on West Side on March 13, 2009.
A Fence Too Far: Cyclorama Construction Fencing Completed on West Side on March 1, 2009.
Construction Fences Arrive at Old Visitor Centers on February 27, 2009.
Old Visitor Center Lawn in Limbo on May 28, 2008.
Lights Out at the Electric Map on April 13, 2008.
Moving Day at the Gettysburg Visitor Center on April 12, 2008.
An Emptiness at the Visitor Center on March 31, 2008.
Gettysburg Guide Room: The Final Days on March 8, 2008.
A Sunday Afternoon Walk Around the Old Gettysburg Visitor Center on February 24, 2008.