Emmor Cope facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emmor Bradley Cope
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| Born | July 23, 1834 East Bradford Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, US |
| Died | May 28, 1927 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, US |
| Interment | (39°49′13″N 77°13′49″W / 39.820391°N 77.230196°W) |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 Union Army |
| Years of service | June 4, 1861 - June 26, 1865 (Sergeant: June 10, 1861; artillery Corporal: April 1862; commissioned April 25, 1864; Capt of Engineers: April 20, 1864) |
| Rank |  Major: February 9, 1865 (Bvt Lt Col: June 26, 1865) |
| Battles | 26 |
| Other work | 1861: machinist, Copesville, PA 1893 July: Topographic Engineer Chief of Engineers, GNPC 1st Superintendent, GNMP 1927: oldest US Civil Service employee |
Emmor Cope was an important American soldier and engineer. He served in the American Civil War as an officer in the Union Army. He is best known for creating a detailed map of the Gettysburg Battlefield right after the famous battle. This map was very important for understanding what happened there.
After the war, Emmor Cope played a huge role in turning the battlefield into a national park. He helped design many parts of the Gettysburg National Military Park, including roads, monuments, and even buildings. He worked to make sure the battlefield was preserved and remembered for future generations.
Contents
Mapping the Battlefield
Emmor Cope started his military career as a private. During the Civil War, he was ordered by General George Meade to return to Gettysburg. His job was to survey the battlefield. He rode on horseback to research and create a detailed map. This map, called "Map of the Battlefield of Gettysburg," was finished between August and October 1863. It showed the exact locations of important events during the battle.
From Soldier to Engineer
After the war, Emmor Cope continued his important work. In 1893, he became the Topographical Engineer for the Gettysburg National Park Commission. This group was in charge of setting up the new park. Cope led a survey of the battlefield from 1893 to 1895. He helped mark important spots and make sure the park was well-organized.
By 1904, Emmor Cope became the first superintendent of the Gettysburg National Military Park. This meant he was in charge of running the entire park. He continued in this role for many years, even after the original commission ended. He was the main person overseeing the park's development during a time when many memorials were being built.
Designing Gettysburg Park
Emmor Cope designed many important features that you can still see at Gettysburg today. His work helped shape the park into what it is.
Key Designs and Structures
Cope designed over 40 different structures and features for the park. These include:
- Observation Towers: He designed towers at five locations in Gettysburg. The first was the Big Round Top Observation Tower built in 1895. These towers allowed visitors to see wide views of the battlefield. He also designed a tower at Valley Forge National Historical Park.
- Park Gateways: Around 1896, he designed the original "gateway" at the entrance to Hancock Avenue.
- Site Markers: He created 35 cast iron tablets that helped identify important locations on the battlefield.
- Buildings and Roads: Cope designed buildings like the 1903 Roller and Storage Building. He also planned and oversaw the construction of many roads within the park, such as Cross, Brooke, and De Trobriand avenues.
- Monuments: He designed the 1909 US Regulars monument.
Cope also oversaw the creation of post-war maps by another cartographer, Schuyler A. Hammond. He even helped with a large, 14 ft (4.3 m) wooden relief map of the battlefield. This map was made for a big exhibition in 1904 and is now on display at the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center.
Later Life and Legacy
Emmor Cope lived a long life and continued to work for the park for many years. He passed away in 1927. He is buried with his wife near the Gettysburg National Cemetery. His work helped preserve one of America's most important historical sites. A book about his life, If You Seek His Monument- Look Around: E.B. Cope and the Gettysburg National Military Park, was published in 1996.
