Ongoing Initiatives
As the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service at Gettysburg, the Gettysburg Foundation is honored to support Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site through past, present and planned initiatives. Through the strength of our donors, Friends, volunteers and corporate partners, the Foundation continues to support our National Parks at Gettysburg, help preserve the history and educate the public about the significance of Gettysburg.
Through the National Park Service sites, the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center and the Gettysburg Foundation's historic sites and experiences, the local community and visitors to Gettysburg can experience history related to the American Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg and the stories, connections, lessons and importance these sites have in our shared American history.
Learn about our latest initiatives in our Year in Review wrap ups where you can read about our impact on the National Parks at Gettysburg and in our local community.
Preservation & Acquisition Highlights
Culp's Hill Rehabilitation
2021 - present
Partnered with the National Park Service to raise funds and make the Culp's Hill site more accessible to visitors. The rehabilitation project opened sightlines, added more interpretive signage and constructed a new trail from near the 150th New York Infantry monument to Forbes Rock.
Ongoing fundraising supports the ongoing maintenance of the rehabilitated Culp's Hill for this and future generations to visit and learn about the importance of this area on the Gettysburg battlefield and the significance of Gettysburg in our shared American history.
Children of Gettysburg 1863®
in the historic Rupp HouseTM
2020/2021 - present
Renovated the historic Rupp HouseTM to present an all-new educational and interactive experience, Children of Gettysburg 1863®.
Designed for young historians in grades K-5, the hands-on history exhibits bring to life the stories of Billy Bayly, Albertus McCreary, Sadie Bushman and other young residents of Gettysburg through first-hand accounts and interactive adventures.
The Gettysburg Foundation continues to grow its interactive children's history museum adventure where visitors from all ages can also enjoy special events and living history on select dates throughout the year.
Little Round Top Rehabilitation
2014 - present
Raised funds for the National Park Service to research and provide solutions to the deterioration of Little Round Top’s pathways, walkways, parking lots and vegetation. A strategic position for the Union Army’s line of defense and immortalized in films, books and accounts of the battle, Little Round Top ranks as one of Gettysburg’s most visited landmarks.
This important area of the Gettysburg battlefield reopened to the public after rehabilitation work was completed between 2022 and 2024.
Ongoing fundraising supports the ongoing maintenance of the rehabilitated Little Round Top for this and future generations to visit and learn about the importance of this area on the Gettysburg battlefield and the significance of Gettysburg in our shared American history.
Land & Artifact Acquisition
2006 - present
Funds acquisition and conservation of Union and Confederate uniforms, swords, broadsides, books, letters—and entire collections. Acquired more than 400 acres and preserved an additional 700 acres to restore portions of the 1863 battlefield.
2016 – Accepted the donation of the Craig Bashein private collection of more than 200 Civil War artifacts including uniform, pistols, swords, medals and original oil painting.
2016 – Purchased and donated President Dwight Eisenhower's 1955 Cockshutt Black Hawk Model 40 Tractor and Cultivator to the Eisenhower National Historic Site.
2013 – Acquired an extensive collection of General John F. Reynolds’ possessions, including his kepi, officer’s field sword, sword belt and sash, enameled headquarters 1st Corps badge, handkerchiefs and service escutcheon.
2012 – Donated $300,000 for the conservation and rotation of artifacts in the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War.
Monument Restoration
2006 - present
2020 – Preservation efforts - including thorough cleaning and repair of mortar joints - on six equestrian monuments (Union Generals George G. Meade, John Fulton Reynolds, Oliver O. Howard, Winfield S. Hancock and Henry W. Slocum and the Virginia state monument featuring Confederate General Robert E. Lee)
2013 – Pennsylvania Memorial Rehabilitation – Accepted donations and raised funds for the rehabilitation of the memorial including shell blasting and removal of corrosion and grime from the Goddess of Victory and Peace statue atop the monument.
2013 – 11th Massachusetts Monument – Received contributions from the Friends of Gettysburg, donors and supporters to restore the vandalized monument including the restoration of the famed arm and sabre representative of the Massachusetts state motto (“By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.”).
George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital
2008 - present
Raised funds, purchased and restored the historic George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, site of the Union Army's 11th Corps field hospital. More than 1,900 wounded soldiers—Union and Confederate—were treated here.
2019 – Rehabilitation of stone farmhouse
2016 – Restoration of the Pennsylvania bank barn
2016 – Reconstruction of the smokehouse
2016 – Raised funds for the replanting of the apple orchard
2013 – Preservation of the summer kitchen
2012 – Removal of non-historic buildings
2008 – Purchased the 80-acre site to begin restoration and rehabilitation efforts
Cemetery Ridge
2008 - 2017
Raised funds for the restoration of Cemetery Ridge and Cemetery Hill—key to the Union position in the battle—to return these areas to their 1863 appearance.
Work included demolishing the old Cyclorama building and returning previously re-located monuments to their original positions including the 12th Massachusetts Infantry Position marker (1885), the 88th Pennsylvania Infantry Position marker (1883), and the 1st Massachusetts Sharpshooters Position marker (1913).
Civil War Museum of Philadelphia Artifacts Collection
2016
Obtained ownership of the $9.5 million, 3,000-artifact collection of the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia.
Before receiving stewardship of the collection, Gettysburg Foundation—in partnership with the Civil War Museum—conserved, stored and displayed much of the museum's collection.
New Cannon Carriage Shop
2014
Acquired and renovated the Gettysburg Armory garage for use as the cannon carriage shop. Replacing the original shop secured and funded by the Friends since 1991, the new shop provides for the preservation of monument artwork and the nearly 400 cannons used to represent the actual artillery lines on the battlefield.
Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad StationTM
2014 - present
Purchased and refurbished the historic railroad station where President Lincoln arrived and departed Gettysburg upon delivering his immortal Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19, 1863. The Gettysburg Foundation owns, operates and continues to preserve this historic site located in downtown Gettysburg.
Devil’s Den Battlefield Rehabilitation
2009 - 2010
Raised $330,000 to bury intrusive overhead utility powerlines in Devil’s Den and other historic areas in efforts to restore the Gettysburg battlefield—as closely as possible—to its 1863 appearance.
Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center
2008 - present
Working closely with the National Park Service, raised $103 million to build the Museum & Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park. Home to the historic Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama painting and the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War, the Museum & Visitor Center annually welcomes more than one million visitors to the battlefield.
The Gettysburg Foundation owns and operates in partnership with the National Park Service the Museum & Visitor Center, providing for facility maintenance and safety, care and curation of museum artifacts, and creating and maintaining a quality, memorable visitor experience.
Gettysburg Cyclorama Restoration
2004 - 2008 & Ongoing Preservation
Acquired $15 million from federal sources for the restoration of the Gettysburg Cyclorama—a federally owned artifact.
Provided an additional $120,000 for the cleaning of the painting in 2013.
Support the annual maintenance of the lights and equipment associated with the painting.
Supported a crucial cleaning and continued preservation of the painting in 2025.
Environmental Stewardship
2008 - present
Opened the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center with an environmentally friendly LEED Silver certification before upgrading to LEED Gold designation in 2010.
Gettysburg Foundation continues striving to maintain its LEED Gold certfication, in partnership with the National Park Service, Aramark (eateries partner) and Event Network (book store partner).
Education Highlights
The Great Task Youth Leadership Experience
2016 - present
Fund the National Park Service summer residential, student-centered educational program, The Great Task Youth Leadership Experience, designed to build character by focusing on actions and decisions.
National Park Service Ranger Programs
2008 - present
Continue to support National Park Service programming at Gettysburg National Military Park, Eisenhower National Historic Site and the Museum & Visitor Center.
Higher Ground Leadership at Gettysburg
2007 - present
Conduct, guide and facilitate professional leadership development programming in The Kinsley Leadership Center at the historic George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital and on the Gettysburg battlefield. Inspired by the real-life decision makers in our American history, the program focuses on communication, strategic planning, team building, adaptability and decision making. Programs are customized based on the client's needs.
The Gettysburg Foundation's leadership programming has been progressively enhanced over the years and was revamped with virtual options in 2020-2021 and new features in 2022.
Children of Gettysburg 1863®
in the historic Rupp HouseTM
2021 - present
Provide educational programming for families and student groups with children and youth (grades K-5), and those young at heart, through the galleries and interactive exhibits, special events and living history presentations at the Gettyburg Foundation's children's history museum.
As Gettysburg’s only children’s history museum designed specifically for young historians, Children of Gettysburg 1863® immerses visitors in the compelling stories of children, teens and young adults who lived in and around Gettysburg during and after the 1863 battle. Young visitors are immersed in Gettysburg’s rich history through an engaging, hands-on experience designed to inspire a lifelong love of learning. Visitors can explore interactive exhibits, hear firsthand accounts and participate in meaningful activities that bring 1863 to life. On select dates, living history programs enhance the experience, providing visitors of all ages with a deeper connection to this pivotal moment in history.
Friends of Gettysburg
& Volunteers
Maintain the legacy and mission of the original Friends of the National Park at Gettysburg (1989) through today’s Friends of Gettysburg (2006 – present) with 22,000 Friends nationwide and around the world.
Friends annually donate more than 1,000 volunteer hours to preservation and administrative efforts including restoring posts and fences at Cemetery Hill (2015), replanting the historic orchard at Ziegler’s Grove (2017) and operating the Rupp House History Center.
In addition, Friends continue to raise money for restoration and rehabilitation projects including the Pennsylvania Memorial (1999, 2003), George Spangler Farm smokehouse (2016), George Spangler Farm trail (2018) and Little Round Top (2014 - present).
About Us
The Gettysburg Foundation is the official nonprofit partner of the National Parks at Gettysburg, working to enhance the preservation and understanding of the heritage and lasting significance of Gettysburg.
Help Preserve the Klingel Farmstead
The Gettysburg Foundation is raising funds for the urgent restoration of the Klingel Farmstead in the heart of the Gettysburg battlefield.
Your support will directly impact a key historic structure and the battlefield-wide historic structure restoration efforts of our partners, the National Park Service at Gettysburg.
Learn more about the history of the Klingel Farmstead and the plans for its restoration in our Preservation Spotlight.
Preservation & Education
From Little Round Top to the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, our initiatives are guided by our mission to preserve the battlefield and educate the public about the significance of Gettysburg in our American history.
Learn how you can join us in our mission as a member of the Friends of Gettysburg.