"Gettysburg Electric Map Up For Auction?" Topic

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I live about an hour or so away from the Gettysburg battlefield and go there often. I see that they are finally going to do something with the old Electric Map. I do hope it can be saved and used again. It is almost as much an iconic feature of the battle as some of the original material. It would be a shame to let such a piece be destroyed or even remain in somebody's storage unused and unseen.

News stories have shown problems with park leadership in the past. One story of a Supt. illegaly in posession of sections of the destroyed private observation tower. Another was of use of a computer for criminal purposes. Hopefully there is a better set of leadership in place that can and will make wise decisions as the park moves forward.

Besides all that, It would make a great gametable top to refight the battle on. Anybody out there with a few bucks to spare?

All I know is that the Electric Map and it's presentation was the single best overview of the 3 day's action that I have ever seen. Even the young kids watching could easily grasp what happened through the battle.

I do hope it can be saved and put back on display.

I have to be honest. Though it may have been a decent representation of the movements of troops to Gettysburg and during the battle, I was never that impressed with it. I think it is a piece of nostalgia to a lot of people. I'm not saying it was bad, at all. But I have seen maps that show the same thing, and there is so much more information available now than there ever was! I honestly don't care about it anymore than the old cyclorama center.

We visited in 1995 and loved the electric map presentation. There's something to be said for good old-fashioned analog presentations – the lessons are somehow more durable and memorable than yet another fancy, overwrought film show. I'm all for economy and progress but I hope the electric map finds a good end, fitting for its 70 years of distinguished service.

Saw in May of 2006 and it was "okay" but I can't get on the band wagon to rescue it. However, now I have another reason to try and make it back next year for the sesquicentennial: see the new museum. I spent a solid four hours there before doing the 3 hour tour – in 8 1/2 hours (only stopped because the sun went down.)

Don't fret too much about the new museum. Other than the restored cyclorama, it really isn't very good. The museum is filled with more bright, glow in the dark graphics than real artifacts. It is more geared to caffeine filled modern children who don't even know the Civil happened (or care) than to anyone with any sense of history.

TK and I must be very old school. I think it was a superb teaching tool. I studied Gettysburg since I was 8 years, a long time ago, and the electric map and Dr Pfanz are the two events that have given me, a retired soldier, the best understanding of the battle.

I agree a visit to the electronic map is one of the most memorable history moments for people my age (50s).

Bill

Yes, I picked up a theme in some of your posts. I too feel the old electric map was a great way to really orient yourself on much of the important terrain and movements. It was awsome for novices and newcomers to the battlefield. Although I am no scholar on it I am pretty familiar with how things unfolded and enjoyed it and often made it a first stop when visiting.

It may be a generational thing but I too find the new Visitor Center and the National Museum in Harrisburg a little lacking in substance. While nice and pretty, they seem to be lacking in real grit and umph (that's a technical term!) Maybe for a younger TV and Video generation it may be fine. I get more out of the private shops, museums and displays than I do the new center.

Years ago when they first planned to take down the old electric map, I was hoping someone locally would snatch it up and freshen it a bit for a new generation and put it back on display. Now that it may be going on the block, I am once again hoping something positive come of it. The sentimental side of me would hate to see it trashed.

First time I saw it was as a kid. Always thought it was cool.

I agree that the new museum is, at best, superficial. It's new and slick, but doesn't have the appeal of the older version. There is also to much political correctness in some of the presentations. The food is bad too!

The contents of the new museum are part of the National Park Service's plan for ALL of their museums. Several years ago (forget exactly what the date was) the direction changed to give a ‘better' overall story and provide the visitors with an overall context instead of a particular specific focused view. The idea was to provide a well-rounded story for visitors that are unfamiliar with what they are looking at. So for example, in the past if a family shows up at Gettysburg and knows nothing about the battle it was claimed they would NOT know anything that happened before or after the battle in the Civil War and its importance. The theory is NOW that the museum has it all there for visitors unfamiliar with this period in history. Needless to say visitors interested and well read about the Civil War get stuff we already know about the whole time period and less about the battle itself than ever before. It is really a disservice to CW buffs. Top this off that there is actually fewer artifacts on display then previously! The old museum had about 11% of the Gettysburg artifact collection on display and now it is estimated being closer to 7%. Yeah… it stinks.

The electric map seems like an excellent source for folks wanting an overview of the basics of what happened. Seems in line with the ideas that the park service currently has regarding providing historical information.

Anyone have an idea on the status of the electric map currently?