2009 Archived News Releases
December 31, 2009
Passing of Mr. Robert H. Smith
The Gettysburg Foundation extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Mr. Robert H. Smith. Mr. Smith was a tremendous business leader who devoted himself to philanthropic causes that have helped to celebrate and bring into focus great leaders of our country.
Mr. Smith made a significant contribution to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center and its programs by sponsoring annual educational activities celebrating Abraham Lincoln's contributions to our country that families and students will continue to enjoy.
Mr. Smith's most recent and significant contribution was to commission a life-size sculpture of President Lincoln that is located at the main entrance to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, where families and individuals who visit can enjoy having their photo taken beside Lincoln. In addition, Mr. Smith's interest in Gettysburg was vividly illustrated by his creation of the landscaping that every visitor to the park's Museum and Visitor Center will appreciate as they begin their experience at Gettysburg.
Not as well known but still important to our long-term efforts at preservation and rehabilitation of the battlefield, Mr. Smith made an important contribution to the campaign to raise money to return the portion of the battlefield where the former Gettysburg National Military Park visitor center stood to as close as possible to its 1863 condition. Mr. Smith's Challenge Grant is still being met by the Board of Directors of the Gettysburg Foundation and supporters, and this campaign will serve as a legacy to Mr. Smith and his understanding and appreciation for the history of our country.
Photo (Above): Mr. Robert H. Smith (shown to the right of the Abraham Lincoln sculpture) joins Andrew Balderson, president, Donovan, Feola, Balderson & Associates and Robert A. Kinsley, Gettysburg Foundation chairman of the board to unveil the Abraham Lincoln sculpture at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center in November 2009.
View images of the Lincoln sculpture in our photo gallery.
December 28, 2009
Registration is now open for the National Park Service seminar, "Gettysburg: The Aftermath and the End of the Campaign" from April 10-11, 2010.
December 15, 2009
Gettysburg National Military Park presents a winter lecture series featuring National Park Service Ranger programs on the Battle of Gettysburg.
November 19, 2009
Public Receives First Look at Lincoln Sculpture at the Museum and Visitor Center
Members of the public received their first look at a new Lincoln sculpture at the main entrance to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center on Thursday, Nov. 19, Dedication Day.
The life-sized bronze sculpture was created by Ivan Schwartz, founder and director of StudioEIS of Brooklyn, N.Y. The Lincoln sculpture was made possible by a generous gift from philanthropist Robert H. Smith.
Associated landscaping was created by landscape architects Donovan, Feola, Balderson & Associates, Inc. of Montgomery Village, Md. The landscaping was also made possible by a generous gift from philanthropist Robert H. Smith.
View more images of the Lincoln sculpture in our photo gallery.
November 19, 2009
The Gettysburg Foundation will present the 7th Annual Remembrance Illumination at Soldiers' National Cemetery on Saturday, Nov. 21.
November 19, 2009
The National Park Service invites members of the public to celebrate Christmas at the Eisenhower National Historic Site.
November 18, 2009
Members of the public will get a first look at a new Lincoln sculpture at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center on Nov. 19.
November 10, 2009
National Park Service Northeast Regional Director Dennis R. Reidenbach has named Mel Poole as interim superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park.
November 10, 2009
Dedication Day 2009
Dedication Day events will feature Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell and Academy Award Winner Richard Dreyfuss at a ceremony on Nov. 19.
November 4, 2009
Adams County, Pa. residents are welcome to complimentary admission to the Cyclorama, Film and Museum Experience on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center.
November 2, 2009
The National Park Service at Gettysburg has updated the formula used to estimate monthly and annual visitation to Gettysburg National Military Park.
October 30, 2009
The Gettysburg Foundation will present the 7th Annual Remembrance Illumination on Saturday, Nov. 21 in the Soldiers' National Cemetery.
October 8, 2009
The Gettysburg Foundation has announced the selection of Rear Adm. Richard A. Buchanan USN (ret.) as the organization's new president.
October 7, 2009
The Gettysburg Foundation is still accepting applications for visitor services opportunities through the Friends of Gettysburg Home Guard volunteer program.
September 22, 2009
The public is invited to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center on Saturday, Sept. 26 for a special screening of the preview film for the Ken Burns series “The National Parks: America's Best Idea.”
September 17, 2009
In October, the National Park Service (NPS) will continue its program of deer management at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site, park officials have announced.
September 8, 2009
A life-sized Lincoln sculpture created by Brooklyn, N.Y.-based StudioEIS will be unveiled Nov. 19 at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center.
September 3, 2009
The public is invited to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center on Saturday, Sept. 26 for a special screening of the preview film for the Ken Burns series “The National Parks: America's Best Idea.”
September 2, 2009
The National Park Service at Gettysburg National Military Park is looking for actors and actresses to audition for an educational broadcast to be filmed later this month at Gettysburg National Military Park.
September 1, 2009
National Park Service officials at Gettysburg National Military Park have determined that a 147-year-old white oak tree must be removed for safety reasons.
August 31, 2009
Members of the public are invited to attend the World War II weekend living history events at the Eisenhower National Historic Site on Saturday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 20.
August 19, 2009
Adams County, Pa. residents are welcome to complimentary admission to the Cyclorama, Film and Museum Experience on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center.
August 13, 2009
The Gettysburg Foundation is accepting applications for visitor services opportunities through the Friends of Gettysburg Home Guard volunteer program.
August 10, 2009
Former Gettysburg Foundation president Dr. Robert C. Wilburn joins Carnegie Mellon's Heinz College in Washington, D.C. as distinguished service professor and director.
August 6, 2009
Performances by authentic Civil War musicians will fill the air on Aug. 22, 2009 at Gettysburg National Military Park during the 15th Annual Gettysburg Music Muster.
July 23, 2009
The Gettysburg Foundation accepted the donation of a scenic, historic and open space conservation easement on a 61-acre property owned by Gettysburg resident David M. LeVan.
July 7, 2009
The C-SPAN Civics Bus, an interactive multi-media center that encourages visitors to learn more about news and public affairs, will make a stop at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center on Friday, July 10.
June 30, 2009
The Gettysburg Foundation announced that Gettysburg resident Daniel M. Bringman has joined the staff of the Foundation as chief financial officer.
June 24, 2009
Renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns will be featured at this popular, annual Gettysburg anniversary lecture series.
June 23, 2009
Experience the Battle of Gettysburg in "Real Time" and on Anniversary Battle Walks with Park Rangers.
June 5, 2009
Park Rangers from Gettysburg National Military Park are inviting the public to explore the Gettysburg battlefield this summer with guided walks and programs, beginning on June 13.
June 4, 2009
Members of the Friends of Gettysburg will spend a day working on painting, fence building and other projects at Gettysburg National Military Park on Saturday, June 6.
April 22, 2009
Volunteer Senior Rangers are needed to perform activities at the Eisenhower National Historic Site on Thursday, May 7.
April 14, 2009
For National Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 25, the National Park Service is inviting young visitors to Gettysburg and Eisenhower National Parks for special activities.
April 14, 2009
In one year of operations, the new Museum and Visitor Center welcomed more than one million visitors to Gettysburg National Military Park.
April 8, 2009
Gettysburg National Military Park will replant historic orchards on the battlefield beginning this week.
April 8, 2009
Gettysburg Foundation receives a donation of 45 acres of land adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park and within the Battlefield Historic District.
April 6, 2009
Removal of the former National Park Service visitor center building is part of the battlefield rehabilitation project at Gettysburg National Military Park.
March 24, 2009
Gettysburg National Military Park law enforcement rangers are recipients of three donated bicycles for use in patrolling the Gettysburg battlefield and the Eisenhower National Historic Site.
February 17, 2009
A generous gift from the Robert H. Smith Family Foundation enables the Gettysburg Foundation to develop the David Bruce Smith Education Initiative, a 10-year effort focusing on Abraham Lincoln-related public programs, scholarship and distance-learning activities.
January 28, 2009
Dr. John Latschar will remain in his post as Superintendent at Gettysburg National Military Park.
January 7, 2009
Dr. John Latschar, superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site, received the 25th Annual National Parks Conservation Association's (NPCA) Stephen T. Mather Award for distinguished performance in the protection of one of America's national parks. The award was presented in December 2008 at the annual Association of National Park Rangers Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
