Gettysburg lighted battle map to be dismantled

[fyrfighter17]

Gettysburg battle map will go.
Lights out for piece of electronic history
By Martha Raffaele

Associated Press

GETTYSBURG, Pa. - For decades, visitors willing to shell out a few extra dollars at Gettysburg National Military Park could be entertained - or bored - watching an electric light display showing troop movements in the Civil War battle.
With a new museum and visitor center offering a bigger "wow" factor for the park's nearly two million yearly visitors, the National Park Service has decided its 1960s-era electric battlefield map has outlived its usefulness.

As patrons of the new $103 million facility learn about the battle by immersing themselves in new technology, the old center stands vacant, awaiting demolition next year. Before that happens, the 30-by-30-foot map inside it - embedded with more than 625 colored lights - will be dismantled and stored.

At least a few people who believe the map still has educational value are urging the Park Service to find a way to keep the lights on.

One regular visitor has created a Web site devoted to preserving it, www.savetheelectricmap.com. Jon DeKeles, 51, of Post Falls, Idaho, said he had learned of the map's pending demise during a visit in late March, and he started the site when he returned home.

"Does everything have to be multimedia, high-tech in this world?" DeKeles asked. "I haven't met anybody who hasn't said the map was informative and gave a great overview."

From the earliest planning stages for the new museum, park officials envisioned using updated technology to give visitors a more vivid picture of how the battle unfolded, just as the electric map tried to do, park spokeswoman Katie Lawhon said.

The Park Service never formally surveyed patrons about the map, but received mixed reviews from those who did comment on it, Lawhon said.

"We do know that for the majority of our visitors, and especially our younger visitors, that it was not very engaging," she said. "We were concerned about a missed opportunity for students that came through Gettysburg on what can sometimes be their one and only visit."

On a Friday during the visitor center's last week of operation, about 80 people took in the map's noontime show - fewer than one-fifth of the auditorium's capacity.

Afterward, several fifth graders from Plainfield Elementary School in Carlisle gave the show a thumbs-up, including 11-year-old Lauren Baker.

"When you read a book, it's not as easy to understand as if you're looking at it and someone's saying it to you," she said.

Taejon Branch, 10, didn't share his classmates' enthusiasm.

"I thought it was boring," he said. "All it did was just show lights."

The Park Service has not ruled out resurrecting the map in the future.

It is also willing to turn it over to any government agency or nonprofit group that would use it for education, Lawhon said.

"We haven't had any really serious interest, but we have gotten a couple nibbles."

[garyf]

I haven't seen the new presentation, but I thought the electric map was very helpful. I have always recommended it for first-time visitors to the park. I hope someone saves it because it's part of the park's history, too.

[Aquila]

Is it allowed to use metal detector in the Gettysburg battlefield area? What about Antietam?

[fyrfighter17]

Is it allowed to use metal detector in the Gettysburg battlefield area? What about Antietam?

nooooo not on national park service property surrounding private proprty with permission yes

[Pimp Lenin]

Is it allowed to use metal detector in the Gettysburg battlefield area? What about Antietam?

I wish!

[ivan salis]

if you want to be arrested try firing up a detector on any historic well known national "battlefeild" park -- clink off to jail wit youse --- now nearby "private" land is a differant matter however provided you can get land owner permission of course, -- often there are camp site and lines of march that are "outside" the "main" battle feild park limit areas -- many times these camp sites and their dump spots often yeild some on the best finds of all. --good luck

[Aquila]

if you want to be arrested try firing up a detector on any historic well known national "battlefeild" park

Well, sure I`m not, because Im living very far away from Gettysburg, actually in Europe. But what is the point of this legislature of no metal detecting there? Is it considered to be some kind of cemetary? Is there still bones in the battlefield or what? I know it´s national park, but is this normal legislature in all national parks in US? I´m just curious.

[ivan salis]

most federal land is off limits to metal detecting --except for prospecting in some cases --- however due to the facts that bodies may remain and their "special" nature as a sort of "holy place" in our national history--- major civil war battlefields are considered to be very very off limits and trying to detect there will get you arrested on sight if your seen with a detector -- even having one (in your car ) on the grounds of the parks is banned . ---when they say NO METAL DETECTING they mean it.

[Aquila]

even having one (in your car ) on the grounds of the parks is banned . ---when they say NO METAL DETECTING they mean it.

Wow. That´s hard legislature. It's very sad that belt buckles and buttons will rotten in the ground.

[Aquila]

Is there serious punishments for detecting Gettysburg area? It´s very irritating and disgusting to image someone (park rangers) stealing your relics because you have found them. Little round top would be heaven for detectors.

[fyrfighter17]

Is there serious punishments for detecting Gettysburg area? It´s very irritating and disgusting to image someone (park rangers) stealing your relics because you have found them. Little round top would be heaven for detectors.

jail time,fines and lose your euipment

[Aquila]

Never detected there and never will. Too far to go detecting some illegal sites to the other side of the Atlantic ocean. Sounds like illegal fishing and really those park rangers can kiss my ***** .

[hollowpointred]

Is there serious punishments for detecting Gettysburg area? It´s very irritating and disgusting to image someone (park rangers) stealing your relics because you have found them. Little round top would be heaven for detectors.

yes very serious. the federal Gov`t doesnt mess around when it comes to this.