Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #6

On Tuesday the contractors began to demolish the west side of the 1921 building. We know there were more than a few additions to this building over the years, but we’re labeling this structure the 1921 building. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

In today’s update on the Visitor Center Demolition, the contractors knocked down the south wall separating the 1921 building from the 1962 building, and began to demolish the west and southwest sides of the 1921 building. In our first post we saw the initial work in the middle of the structure. In our second post we saw the breaching of the wall to the 1962 addition. In our third post, they had almost completely removed the 1962 Electric Map Lobby. In our fourth post the contractors broke through the wall to the Electric Map Auditorium. In the fifth post the contractors advanced farther into the auditorium and broken through the south wall.

We’re stepping back to show you a wider view of the demolition work. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

The south wall connecting the 1921 structure on the left (east) with the 1962 structure on the right (south) has now been completely removed. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

A view from an area near the Emmitsburg Road of the demolition area. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

A little closer view from the northwest. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

The current state of the 1921 building. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

The brick wall on the west side is now gone. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

It doesn’t appear that any progress was made Tuesday on the 1962 structure. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Much of the area between the two structures has been cleared of debris. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

A view from the northeast at the National Cemetery wall. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Through the front doors on the right we can see the signs at the end of the lobby showing the way to the museum and to the Electric Map. This view was taken facing west at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

The door on the left gives us our first hint that much of the Eastern National Bookstore is now gone. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

The black bookcases and other display cases (circa 1993) have been left to be demolished along with the rest of the building. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

We’ll walk from the front (east) side of the building down its left (south) side. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

A little wider angle from the southeast. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

A view from the southeast of the 1962 addition. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

The large open area that now exists between the 1962 building on the left and the 1921 building on the right. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

We’ll attempt to identify some areas that have been demolished. The paneled wall on the top right was the right (east) wall of the National Park Service Conference Room. To the left of it on the second floor would have been an old Guide Room (before it was moved circa 1996 to the first floor on the north side) and later the reservations office for Eastern National. To the left of it would have been the Eastern National break area. On the floor below that was the Eastern National Bookstore. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Again, it still holds its bookcases and display cases which were donated to the National Park Service by Eastern National circa 1993. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

A view from the Cyclorama parking lot. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

A wider view from the Cyclorama parking lot. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

See the following related posts:

Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #5 on March 31, 2009.
Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #4 on March 27, 2009.
Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #3 on March 26, 2009.
Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #2 on March 25, 2009.
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.