Demolition of the Old Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center Update #5

On Monday the contractors advanced approximately another twenty feet into the 1962 Electric Map Auditorium. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

In today’s update on the Visitor Center Demolition, the contractors have advanced farther into the auditorium and broken through the south wall. 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.

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 Monday, March 30, 2009.

A significant section of the south wall has now been removed. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

The Licensed Battlefield Guide room, which used to be on the left side of the 1962 structure has now been removed. The open doors show the area where the Electric Map was removed a couple of weeks ago. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

Here’s more of the debris field/sorting piles on the north and west sides of the structure. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

Some visiting the site are struck by the difference in materials used in the different parts of the structure. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

Most of the 1921 structure is brick… This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

…and much of the 1962 structure was made of concrete blocks. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

If they make as much progress on Tuesday as they did on Monday, then they should be getting fairly close to the open doors. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

We’ll take another at the hole in the south wall. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

From this angle the hole isn’t that noticeable. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

When you’re standing in the Cyclorama parking lot, it’s more apparent. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

We’re a little closer to the south wall… This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

…and now we’re much closer to the hole. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

In the 1990s following the Gettysburg movie, Gettysburg National Military Park welcomed approximately 1.7 million visitors a year, many of whom came through this visitor center. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

Word was received on Monday that the Cyclorama Center will be reprieved from experiencing the wrecking ball for a while longer. The Alfred Woolson monument is in the foreground. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

A federal judge ruled that the National Park Service must prepare an environmental impact statement on what the removal of the building will do to the area. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

The judge also ruled that the National Park Service must investigate demolition alternatives, such as relocating the Cyclorama building. This view was taken facing east at approximately 5:00 PM on Monday, March 30, 2009.

See the following related posts:

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.