The Cyclorama Building's Gone

From the March 9, 2013, Hanover (Pa) Evening Sun.

I'm sure sad to have to report this, but the Cyclorama Building, despite a valiant 12 year fight to save it, is gone.  It wasn't a really pretty building, but with as long as it was around, a bit of history attached to it.

The National Park Service announced they were going to destroy it in 1999 and ever after that had a constant battle with architectural preservationists..  In January, the NPS cleared the last hurdle to its destruction and now its gone.

It was built near the site where the Cyclorama painting it housed was painted, concerning Pickett's Charge.  All this last week, people visited the site to get one last look.

The NPS wants to return the land to its 1863 appearance, an admirable thing, but one that could have had some context as to other historical features, even those not present when the battle was fought.

Of course, there is quite an industry in Gettysburg revolving around the battle, something you will not see if you go to the Battle of Antietam at Sharpsburg, Maryland.  That's a whole different environment.

Sorry To See It Go.  --Old Secesh