GDG- Administrative History of the Gettysburg National Military Park and National Cemetery

[Gitt, Doug]

Several weeks ago, I posted a question about the history of the GNMP.  A Google search found the above document (in PDF format), authored by Harlan D. Unrau, published in 1991.  The answer to my question is that much of the work on the Battlefield was done between 1895 and 1905 by the Gettysburg National Military Park Commission.  During this time, the Commission mounted 300 obsolete cannon on cast and wrought iron carriages and positioned them on the Battlefield.  In addition to many other accomplishments, the Commission also constructed the five observation towers.

It is interesting to note that, before the turn of the century, most of the work on the Battlefield involved only AoP units.  The ANV veterans and southern states generally did not wish to participate before then.

Given the above time-line, it is evident that most of the monuments, markers, etc. are over 100 years old.  (I suspect that includes most of the artillery gun carriages.)


Doug