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Virginia Monument

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The Virginia Monument , also commonly referred to as "The State of Virginia Monument", is a Battle of Gettysburg memorial to the commonwealth 's "Sons at Gettysburg" with a bronze statue of Robert E. Lee on his horse Traveller and a "bronze group of figures representing the Artillery, Infantry, and Cavalry of the Confederate Army". The equestrian statue is atop a granite pedestal and the group of six standing figures is on a sculpted bronze base with the figures facing the Field of Pickett's Charge and the equestrian statue of Union General George G. Meade on Cemetery Ridge . The granite pedestal without either sculpture was dedicated on June 30, 1913 for the 1913 Gettysburg reunion . On June 8, 1917, Virginia governor Henry C. Stuart presented the completed memorial to the public.

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49-471: The Virginia Monument is located on West Confederate Avenue on the Southwest side of Gettysburg National Park. The monument consists of three different parts: a bronze General Robert E. Lee perched on his horse, Traveller; a granite pedestal with inscriptions; and a bronze group of Confederate soldiers at the base of the monument. The monument in its entirety stands at 41 feet tall, the section of Robert E. Lee and

98-535: A Gettysburg postal address, is in Cumberland Township . While all parts of the school district are assigned to the same middle and high schools, different areas are zoned to different elementary schools: parts of the borough are zoned to Lincoln Elementary, other parts are zoned to Gettys Elementary, and some parts have a choice between the schools. Vida Charter School is in Cumberland Township. It

147-473: A combined 3.1 million visitors in 2018, down 70% from 10.2 million in 1970. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. The 1864 Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association and later veteran's associations acquired land for memorials and preservation (e.g., the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument tract with the statuary memorial depicted on the 2011 America

196-560: A late 19th century foundry that manufactured gun carriages, bridgeworks and cannons for the Gettysburg Battlefield , as well as a construction industry for hotels, stables, and other buildings for tourist services. Early tourist buildings in the borough included museums (like the 1881 Danner Museum ), souvenir shops, buildings of the electric trolley (preceded by a horse trolley from the Gettysburg Railroad Station to

245-587: A national military park at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania." This piece of legislation officially allowed the transfer of the deed for the park to go from the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial National Park Association, to the Secretary of War. In February 2009, The David Wills House where Lincoln completed his Gettysburg Address was added to the national park and is operated by Gettysburg Foundation . In 2010, an effort to expand

294-544: Is 30 miles (48 km) east on the Lincoln Highway ( U.S. Route 30 ), the first transcontinental U.S. highway, and Chambersburg is 25 miles (40 km) west on it. Today the borough is a 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 hour drive from Philadelphia and a 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 hour drive from Pittsburgh via the Pennsylvania Turnpike and U.S. Route 15 . Gettysburg Regional Airport , a small general aviation airport,

343-708: Is administered by the National Park Service to commemorate the battle of Gettysburg. The site also contains the Gettysburg National Cemetery . The National Park Service states that "the Virginia Monument was the first Southern state monument placed on the Gettysburg battlefield. Dedicated in 1917, it is located near the spot where Robert E. Lee watched the repulse of Pickett's Charge on July 3, 1863." The Gettysburg National Park Commission (GNPC)

392-468: Is located in Cumberland Township, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Gettysburg. The main east–west road through downtown Gettysburg is U.S. Route 30 , which is known as York Street east of Lincoln Square and Chambersburg Street west of Lincoln Square. York Adams Transportation Authority (YATA) operates public transportation in Adams County. Freedom Transit , implemented in 2009, The hub of the bus system,

441-412: Is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 29.8 °F (−1.2 °C). Winters range from cool to moderately cold, with relatively frequent snowfalls. July is the warmest month, with an average temperature of 74.4 °F (23.6 °C), and June is the wettest month. The hottest temperature recorded in Gettysburg was 104 °F (40 °C) on July 16, 1988, while the coldest temperature recorded

490-462: The Confederate flag . The Memorial was commissioned on March 9, 1908 and cost $ 50,000 at the time (in 2023 equating to about $ 850,000). The monument, with the exception of the sculptures of Robert E. Lee and the seven Confederate soldiers, was fully installed in 1913, and was dedicated at the 50th anniversary of the Gettysburg battle (1913). The statue was completed with the two sculptures in 1917, and

539-676: The Gettysburg Address , a carefully crafted 271-word address considered one of the most famous speeches in history. Gettysburg is home to the Gettysburg National Military Park , where the Battle of Gettysburg was fought mainly; the Battle of Gettysburg had the most casualties of any Civil War battle. In 1760, Irishman Samuel Gettys settled at the Shippensburg - Baltimore and Philadelphia - Pittsburgh crossroads, in what

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588-475: The Gettysburg Electric Railway right-of-ways in 1917 ( cf. 1896 United States v. Gettysburg Electric Ry. Co. ). Donated land included 160 acres from the 1959 Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association and 264 acres (107 ha) from the W. Alton Jones Foundation . The Gettysburg Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit philanthropic, educational organization that operates in partnership with

637-554: The Gettysburg National Cemetery ) and Eisenhower National Historic Site . Gettysburg has many activities and tours to offer to vacationers and tourists who are interested in the Gettysburg area and the history of the community and the battle. Tourists for the annual reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg use borough facilities, which include the Dobbin House Tavern and Hotel Gettysburg. Every year from July 1–3 volunteers reenact

686-650: The Gettysburg National Cemetery , where the Gettysburg Address was delivered by then President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863. Many of the park's 43,000 American Civil War artifacts are displayed in the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center . The park has more wooded land than in 1863, and the National Park Service has an ongoing program to restore portions of the battlefield to their historical non-wooded conditions, as well as to replant historic orchards and woodlots that are now missing. In addition,

735-461: The Gettysburg Railroad completed the construction of a railroad line from Gettysburg to Hanover , and the Gettysburg Railroad Station opened a year later. Passenger train service to the town ended in 1942. The station was restored in 2006. In 2011, Senator Robert Casey introduced S. 1897, including the railroad station within the boundary of Gettysburg National Military Park. By 1860,

784-623: The Monocacy River and part of the Potomac River watershed, flows along its eastern edge. According to the United States Census Bureau , the borough has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.3 km ), all land. Gettysburg lies in the humid continental climate zone of northern and central Pennsylvania , just north of the humid subtropical zone of central Maryland , with hot, humid summers and cool winters. On average, January

833-535: The county seat of Adams County, Pennsylvania , the United States. As of the 2020 census , the borough had a population of 7,106 people. Gettysburg was the site of the Battle of Gettysburg , the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War , fought from July 1 to July 3 of 1863. Later that year, on November 19, President Abraham Lincoln traveled to dedicate Gettysburg National Cemetery , where he delivered

882-488: The 1963 commemoration was lower than the 20,000 to 30,000 persons who attended the original address by President Lincoln in 1863. Thousands of photographers attended the 1963 event while U.S. Air Force aircraft passed overhead. Also attending the event were the 28th Division of the Pennsylvania National Guard headed by Maj. Gen. Henry F. Fluck, the U.S. Marine Band, and the 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) of

931-644: The Battle of Gettysburg. Each day re-enactors display a different part of the battle with commentary regarding the hardships of the battles. The battles are narrated by the battlefield guides of the Gettysburg National Military Park. Many roads radiate from Gettysburg, providing hub-like access to Washington, D.C. 75 miles (121 km), Baltimore 55 miles (89 km), Harrisburg 37 miles (60 km), Carlisle 27 miles (43 km), Frederick and Hagerstown, Maryland 32 miles (51 km) and Hanover, Pennsylvania 14 miles (23 km). York

980-516: The Beautiful Quarter dollar). Federal acquisition of land that would become the 1895 national park began on June 7, 1893, with nine monument tracts of 625 sq ft (58.1 m ) each and a larger 10th lot of 1.2 acres (4,900 m ) from the Association, as well as 0.275 acres (1,110 m ) from Samuel M Bushman. In addition to land purchases, federal eminent domain takings include

1029-562: The Chairman of GNPC, the memorial's form and inscription were debated. Smith proposed that the inscription should state "VIRGINIA TO HER SOLDIERS AT GETTYSBURG. THEY FOUGHT FOR THE FAITH OF THEIR FATHERS." After multiple meetings with the entirety of the GNPC, Smith and Nicolson agreed to change the inscription to "VIRGINIA TO HER SONS AT GETTYSBURG" and to substitute the Virginia State flag in place of

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1078-471: The GNPC. Sievers sought to produce a work that memorialized all of those who dedicated their lives to the Confederate army. Sievers found that the majority of Civil War monuments did not accurately reflect the range of soldiers who served. Sievers aimed to shift the focus from military generals and lieutenants to lower ranking soldiers. Sievers produced many Civil War monuments for prominent locations after

1127-578: The Gettysburg station. He rode, in the parade as did Lincoln, on horseback to the National cemetery where actor Massey gave the President's famous address (this time for brevity, Edward Everett's preceding two-hour speech was not read). The parade followed the same route that President Lincoln and Gov. Andrew G. Curtin took 100 years before. Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower —who lived nearby—was there, accompanied by Gov. William W. Scranton . The attendance at

1176-531: The Military Park, is in the borough limits. Cumberland Township is also the site of the Eisenhower National Historic Site that preserves the home and farm of Dwight D. Eisenhower . Gettysburg is located near the intersection of U.S. routes 15 and 30 , approximately 25 miles (40 km) west of York and 35 miles (56 km) north of Frederick, Maryland . Rock Creek , a tributary of

1225-506: The NPS is restoring native plants to meadows and edges of roads, to encourage habitat as well as provide for historic landscape. There are also considerably more roads and facilities for the benefit of tourists visiting the battlefield park. Attendance in 2018 was 950,000, a decline of 86% since 1970. The five major Civil War battlefield parks operated by the National Park Service (Gettysburg, Antietam, Shiloh, Chickamauga/Chattanooga and Vicksburg) had

1274-535: The National Park Service to preserve Gettysburg National Military Park and the Eisenhower National Historic Site, and to educate the public about their significance. (e.g., the Foundation raised funds for and built the new Museum and Visitor Center, opened in 2008, and secured funds for the creation of a new cannon shop that daily preserves the nearly 400 cannons representing actual artillery lines on

1323-517: The Northeast region. Former and current Superintendents of the Gettysburg National Military Park. · Zach Bolitho: 2014-2014 · Zach Bolitho: 2019-2019 As the Gettysburg National Military Park increases in popularity it has run into ecological changes caused by this popularity and also natural causes. There are an estimated annual 2 million people visiting the park a year, and with this large influx of visitors concerns have arisen on its effects on

1372-488: The Springs Hotel), and stands for hackmen who drove visitors in jitneys (horse-drawn group taxis) on tours. Modern tourist services in the borough include ghost tours, bed and breakfast lodging, and historical interpretation (reenactors, etc.). The Gettysburg National Military Park extends partially into the Gettysburg borough limits, though it is mostly in nearby Cumberland Township . The Soldiers' National Cemetery, of

1421-481: The U.S. Army. The parade ended at the rear entrance into the Gettysburg National Cemetery . It was not until the installation of a monument to General Lee in 1917 that Confederate memorials were included, which first took the form of individual monuments symbolizing a specific Confederate state. The Gettysburg National Military Park is administered in the North Atlantic–Appalachian region, also known as

1470-540: The War Department Observation Tower and a large rock. The park staff were able to clean and revive both objects to their original condition. All of the following are filed under Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Gettysburg ( / ˈ ɡ ɛ t i z b ɜːr ɡ / ; locally / ˈ ɡ ɛ t ɪ s b ɜːr ɡ / ) is a borough in Pennsylvania and

1519-500: The amount of the federally-owned GNMP land failed in Congress. The Park has been a highly symbolic venue for memorials and remembrance. On November 19, 1963, a parade and ceremony was held in Gettysburg commemorating the centennial of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address , given less than five months after the Battle of Gettysburg . The actor, Raymond Massey , playing the role of President Lincoln, arrived by 1860s period steam train at

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1568-685: The battlefield. In addition, the Gettysburg Foundation has provided approximately $ 20 million in direct support of the National Park Service just since 2009. The Visitor Center houses the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War and the 19th century, painting in the round, the Gettysburg Cyclorama) The park officially came under federal control on February 11, 1895, with a piece of legislation titled, "An Act To establish

1617-418: The borough had grown in size to consist of "450 buildings [which] housed carriage manufacturing, shoemakers, and tanneries". Between July 1 and 3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg , one of the bloodiest battles during the American Civil War , was fought across the fields and heights surrounding the town. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia , under the command of Robert E Lee , experienced success in

1666-612: The early stages of the battle but was ultimately defeated by the Army of the Potomac , commanded by George G. Meade . Lee executed an orderly withdrawal and escaped across the Potomac River without being drawn into another battle. Meade was heavily criticized by President Abraham Lincoln for his cautious pursuit and failure to destroy Lee's retreating army. Casualties were high, with total losses on both sides – over 27,000 Confederate and 23,000 Union. The residents of Gettysburg were left to care for

1715-412: The environment. Natural areas like wooded areas, thickets and wetlands, have been stressed by pollution caused by traffic, and the issue of invasive species threatening the ecology of the park. Vandalism at Gettysburg National Military Park is also a challenge to the integrity of the premises. The National Park Service released a statement on August 21, 2024, that spray paint and graffiti caused damage to

1764-415: The horse standing at 14 feet tall and the granite pedestal standing at 16 feet tall. Below Lee, who is shown looking toward the distant Union lines, are seven Confederate soldiers. The men are meant to represent individuals who left various occupations to join the Confederate army: "a professional man, a mechanic, an artist, a boy, a business man, a farmer, and a youth." According to a description published at

1813-471: The landscape of the Battle of Gettysburg , fought over three days between July 1 and July 3, 1863, during the American Civil War . The park, in the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania area, is managed by the National Park Service . Totaling 3,785 acres (1,532 ha) of area, it is mostly located in Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania , where it takes up almost 20% of the municipality's area. Portions of

1862-538: The new Gettysburg Transit Center, is under construction on Carlisle Street. Beginning in 2011, a Rabbit Transit commuter bus to Harrisburg runs two times each weekday in each direction. Gettysburg is served by the Gettysburg Area School District . Schools in Gettysburg borough include Lincoln Elementary School and Gettysburg Area Middle School. Gettysburg Area High School is in nearby Straban Township . James Gettys Elementary School, which has

1911-535: The park extend into the Gettysburg borough limits, including the Soldiers' National Cemetery, and an exclave is in Mount Pleasant Township . The park's properties include most of the Gettysburg Battlefield , many of the battle's support areas during the battle, including reserve, supply, and hospital locations, and several non-battle areas associated with the battle's aftermath and commemoration, including

1960-526: The success of the Virginia Monument. In September 2022, the National Park Service worked to preserve the Virginia Memorial. The preservation project included the replacement of an old patina with a newer patina that resembled a close relation to the finish of the original construction of the Memorial. Gettysburg National Military Park The Gettysburg National Military Park protects and interprets

2009-413: The time that sculpture was completed, "the shattered cannon, broken wheel, discarded knapsack, swab and exploded shells which are scattered at the feet of the seven men would indicate that the place had been the scene of some desperate engagement, while the attitude of each of the character shows defensive, rather than offensive action." Gettysburg National Military Park is a 3,500 acre historic park that

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2058-662: The western portion of York County into a separate county had begun. A commission was drawn up to fix the site of the new county's seat; they ultimately chose a location in Strabane Township (now Straban Township), just northeast of Gettysburg. In 1791, additional trustees were appointed to plan to construct public buildings in Gettysburg instead of in Straban. On January 22, 1800, the Pennsylvania Legislature created Adams County, with Gettysburg as its county seat. In 1858,

2107-427: The wounded, and bury the dead following the Confederate retreat. Approximately 8,000 men and 3,000 horses lay under the summer sun. The Union soldiers' bodies were gradually reinterred in what is today known as Gettysburg National Cemetery , where, on November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln attended a ceremony to officially consecrate the grounds and delivered his Gettysburg Address . A 20-year-old woman, Jennie Wade ,

2156-447: Was entrusted with the erection of a monument for the troops of Virginia that participated in the Battle of Gettysburg. The Commission instructed Thomas Smith, Secretary of Virginia Gettysburg Commission (VGC), to report to Henry L. Stimson , Secretary of War, that the location site of the Memorial would be in the Confederate line of battle known as " Spangler Woods " In an extensive correspondence between Thomas Smith and John P. Nicolson,

2205-536: Was the first company established in the borough for the purpose of manufacturing residential furniture. Other companies soon followed. The borough's industry reached peak production and success about the 1920s. This important industry declined from 1951, when the three main companies either moved, closed or were sold. The Gettysburg Furniture Company factory closed in 1960, becoming a warehouse and distribution point for other furniture factories outside of Pennsylvania. Gettysburg manufacturing associated with tourism included

2254-513: Was the only civilian killed during the battle. She was hit by a stray bullet that passed through her kitchen door while she was making bread on July 3. Physical damage can still be seen in some of the houses throughout the town, notably the Schmucker House located on Seminary Ridge . The furniture manufacturing industry employed people in Gettysburg for the first half of the 20th century. The "Gettysburg Manufacturing Company", formed in 1902,

2303-467: Was then western York County , and established a tavern frequented by soldiers and traders. In 1786, his son James purchased 116 acres of his land, divided it up into 220 lots and sold them, and is thus considered the founder of Gettysburgh. The borough boundary was established, with the Dobbin House tavern (established in 1776) sitting in the southwest. As early as 1790, a movement seeking to split off

2352-483: Was unveiled by Miss Virginia Carter, General E. Lee's niece, in tandem with Henry C. Stuart, the governor of Virginia at a ceremony hosted by the Gettysburg National Military Park. The contract for the design of the Virginia Memorial was awarded to Frederick William Sievers . Sievers was not known for equestrian statues, yet his design was exhibited in Richmond, Virginia and thoroughly impressed John P. Nicolson, Chairman of

2401-550: Was −25 °F (−32 °C) on January 21, 1994. Pennsylvania's first on-farm methane digester was built near Gettysburg at the Mason-Dixon Farm in 1978, and generates 600KW. As of the 2010 census, Gettysburg had a population of 7,620, and was 79.6% non-Hispanic white, 10.9% Hispanic or Latino, 5.4% African American, 1.9% Asian, 2.2% all other. The main industry of the borough is tourism associated with such historic sites as Gettysburg National Military Park (including

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