GDG- Civil War buffs couldn't see history for the trees

[Margaret D. Blough]

It is not uncommon for residents of major tourist destinations to have mixed feelings, bordering on the bipolar, about the attraction, and Gettysburg is no exception. However, I think the all or nothing view on the pro and con extremes re: preservation are both unrealistic.  Gettysburg was an active, growing town when history paid a surprise visit and never left and continues to this day to be an active, growing town.  On the one hand, those of us who cherish historic preservation of Civil War sites need to come to terms with the fact that it isn't Williamsburg or Brigadoon (I haven't seen that many travelers, though, who don't want the modern amenities for their overnight accommodations).  On the other hand, those who resent any limitations on what they do in the name of preservation (so far, I haven't seen too many in this group who are willing to give up the money that historic tourism brings in) need to come to grips with the fact that the extent to which Gettysburg has retaine
d its Civil War appearance adds considerably to its charm and to its strength as a tourist draw.

Regards,

Margaret

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Robert K Coffman Jr. -Info From Data Corp." <bcoffman at infofromdata.com> 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> >From the article (quoting a native of Gettysburg who has since moved): "If 
> you're a true preservationist, then all the monuments and access roads need 
> to go because they weren't there in 1863. For that matter, most of the 
> population, infrastructure, and business wasn't there either. If you are a 
> true preservationist, then get rid of it all." 
> 
> Wow, so it's one extreme or the other? 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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