Cyclorama Building (Gettysburg) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cyclorama Building |
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Cyclorama Building in Zeigler's Grove
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Modernist (Mission 66) |
| Location | Zeigler's Grove |
| Address | 125 Taneytown Road Gettysburg Battlefield |
| Town or city | Gettysburg, Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 39°48′56.8″N 77°14′2.9″W / 39.815778°N 77.234139°W |
| Construction started | 1958 |
| Completed | 1962 |
| Inaugurated | November 19, 1962 |
| Demolished | March 8–9, 2013 |
| Cost | $687,349 |
| Owner | Gettysburg National Military Park |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Richard Neutra |
| Main contractor | Orndorff Construction Company, Inc. |
The Cyclorama Building was a unique building in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States. It was made with a modern design using concrete and glass. The building was officially opened on November 19, 1962.
Its main purpose was to be a visitor center for the Gettysburg Battlefield. It also displayed a huge painting called the Battle of Gettysburg cyclorama. This painting was created by Paul Philippoteaux in 1883. The building also had a special deck where visitors could look out over the battlefield. The Cyclorama Building was taken down in 2013.
Contents
Building the Cyclorama: A Look at Its History
Designing the Visitor Center
A famous architect named Richard Neutra was chosen to design the Cyclorama Building. He started working on the plans in 1958. His design included offices for the park, a large space for the cyclorama painting, and an auditorium. This auditorium could open up to the nearby lawn. Neutra even called the building "the Abraham Lincoln Shrine of the Nation."
Construction and Opening Day
The company Orndorff Construction Company, Inc., won the job to build it. Their bid was $687,349. The building was placed at Zeigler's Grove. This spot was chosen so the painting would be close to the actual battle location it showed. The total cost to build it was $959,603. The Cyclorama Building was officially opened on November 19, 1962. This date was also the 99th anniversary of the famous Gettysburg Address.
Changing Views on Battlefield Buildings
As time went on, people's ideas about how battlefields should look began to change. The National Park Service (NPS) wanted to remove many modern buildings from important historical sites. In 1977, a group called the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation suggested moving the Cyclorama Building. They thought it should be in a less central part of the battlefield.
Debates Over the Building's Future
Requests for money to fix up the building were turned down in 1993 and 1996. However, in 1998, an official noted that the building was very important. They said it had "exceptional historic and architectural significance." This meant it was special enough to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Many people supported keeping the building. Dion Neutra, the architect's son, started a campaign to save it. He received over a thousand letters of support. Famous architect Frank Gehry wrote that the building was very important for its time. The American Institute of Architects called it "one of the most important buildings" built by the Park Service in the 20th century.
The Painting Moves and the Building Closes
In 2005, the large Gettysburg Cyclorama painting was carefully taken out of the building. It needed to be restored and later moved to the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center in 2007. After the painting left, the Cyclorama Building was closed to the public.
The Final Decision and Demolition
In 2010, a court ruled that the NPS needed to study the effects of tearing down the building. They also had to find other options instead of destroying it. In August 2012, the NPS study concluded that the best plan was to demolish the building. It had stood in the park for 50 years.
In January 2013, the Park Service announced its plans to take down the building that winter. There was a protest in February 2013 by people who wanted to save it. However, in March 2013, the Cyclorama Building was demolished. The National Trust for Historic Preservation later listed it as one of ten historic sites lost that year.
