Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #9
April 4, 2009
On Friday, the contractors removed the north wall to the Electric Map Auditorium, giving us a better view inside. We apologize for the spots on the camera. It was beginning to rain pretty hard when we stopped by to take pictures today. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
In today’s update on the Visitor Center Demolition, the contractors significantly opened up the 1962 Electric Map Auditorium.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. In the seventh post, the contractors made significant progress on both the 1921 building and the 1962 building. In the eighth post, the contractors had almost completely demolished the 1921 building and made more progress on the 1962 building.
The wooden control center of the Electric Map defiantly remains poised on the west side of the auditorium. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
We’re looking through the large opening now in the north side of the auditorium. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
A closer view of the seats on the south side of the auditorium. This was the preferred location to view the Electric Map because individuals sitting here were oriented to the area facing north. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
A view of what’s left of the northwest corner of the structure. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
Some of the seats on the east side of the auditorium are visible in this view. The east side is where many first time visitors sat who didn’t hear the recommendation by the ticket takers to sit on the south side. They took the first seats they came to after they entered the auditorium on the east side. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
The west wall has lost about a third of its left (north) side. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
A closer view of the north side of the west wall. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
A view from west of Steinwehr Avenue in the area of the Friendly’s restaurant. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
Some of the 550 seats which used to and still are in the 1962 Electric Map auditorium. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
The southwest corner of the 1962 addition. The seats in the previous photograph are on the left. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
A wider view of the demolition area. The rubble on the far right is what remains of the 1921 structure. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
The largest intact part of the visitor center remaining is this section of the south wall. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
A view of the 1962 addition from the southeast. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
A view of the 1962 addition through the area which used to be the 1921 building. This view was taken facing west at approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
It doesn’t appear that very much if any work on what remains of the 1921 building was accomplished as the doors to the restroom still remain. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009.
A wider view of the demolition area from the north. This view was taken facing south at approximately approximately 4:30 PM on Friday, April 3, 2009./p>
See the following related posts:
Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #8 on April 3, 2009.
Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #7 on April 2, 2009.
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.
