Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #7

On Wednesday the contractors again worked on the 1962 building and advanced well into the Electric Map auditorium. They also worked on the 1921 building, and progressed into the front lobby of the Old Visitor Center. We’ll take a walk around what’s left of the structures. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

In today’s update on the Visitor Center Demolition, the contractors made significant progress on both the 1921 building and the 1962 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. In the sixth post, 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.

Here’s a generation of America’s youth who aren’t concerned about the destruction of the Visitor Center since it wasn’t “their” Visitor Center. They pass the demolition area with hardly a glance. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

A view of the area from the southeast near the wall to the Soldiers National Cemetery. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

Not much left of the 1921 structure. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

This will probably be one of our last shots of the structure from the Taneytown Road entrance to the National Cemetery. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

Looking down the south side of the demolition area. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

As one approaches the front entrance, it apparent that the debris is now in the front lobby. This view was taken facing west at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The far right (north) window. This view was taken facing west at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The red white and blue sign on the floor was produced by Gettysburg Tours to give visitors an overview of the paid tours (Battlefield Bus Tours, Licensed Battlefield Guide car tours) they could take and paid events (Electric Map and Cyclorama)that they could attend. This view was taken facing west at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The entrance to the men’s restroom is the last red door on the right. The steel beams in the foreground are from the floor of the 1962 Electric Map Lobby. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

A view from the northeast by the National Cemetery wall. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The demolished area between the two structures has increased significantly since Tuesday. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The rear of the 1921 building. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

A closer view of the progress. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

A view of the 1962 structure. Progress has been made well into the Electric Map auditorium. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

In this view of the open area between the structures, one can see near the bottom right, a part of a white bus waiting in the Cyclorama parking lot. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The last two views were taken courtesy of a set of steps someone left as a viewing platform. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The work on the 1962 building has advanced to the structure that provided the stadium seating for the Electric Map program. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

Here’s the seating area on the north side of the building and of the Electric Map program. The best seats were always on the other (south) side so you would be oriented facing to the north. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

Notice how the bricks are coming off the north wall. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

A wider view from the northwest. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The view from Steinwehr Avenue east of the Friendly’s Restaurant. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The west side of the 1962 addition is still fairly intact. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

Looking along the south wall. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

We’ll zoom in a little here. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The trees in the National Cemetery are clearly visible in the gap between the two structures. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

Today’s rain not only didn’t slow down the deconstruction it actually helped it. As we explained in an earlier post on this project, the workers don’t have the sun in their eyes as they operate the equipment, and the rain keeps down the dust as they move the debris. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The 1921 building was added on more than a few times over the year. Now one can see the original back (west) brick wall to the structure. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

Here’s what’s left of the Eastern National bookstore. Notice the black display cases. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

One can also tell where the original 1921 building ended by the foundation. Notice the original stone foundation on the right and a later cement block foundation on the left. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

A view of what’s left of the 1962 addition from the southeast. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

See the following related posts:

Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #6 on April 1, 2009.
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.