Help Ensure a New Visitor Center for Vicksburg

It isn’t often that I write to American Battlefield Trust supporters urging them to support legislation that would decrease the size of a national battlefield park, but the Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act is a very special case. By transferring 11 targeted acres to the State of Mississippi, it will enable the construction of a brand new, and much needed, visitor center for the battlefield and surrounding historic community.

Vicksburg National Military Park is the most visited cultural site in Mississippi, welcoming more than 400,000 visitors in 2024. But its cramped 1960s-era visitor center is no longer up to the task of interpreting and orienting so many people to one of the Civil War’s most important campaigns.  

That’s because when the Park was first created in the 1890s, it focused only on the 47-day siege; but thanks to more recent legislation, the park’s preservation and interpretation footprint has expanded to encompass the full campaign, including critical battlefields like Champion Hill, Chickasaw Bayou, Port Gibson and Raymond. Vicksburg National Military Park deserves a state-of-the-art facility with the space, technology and infrastructure to tell the full story of the Vicksburg Campaign.  

Thanks to a collaborative effort spearheaded by the state of Mississippi and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, with further assistance from Vicksburg National Military Park and Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign – all fully supported by the American Battlefield Trust – a new Vicksburg Civil War Visitor Center is scheduled to open its doors in 2028.

This will do far more than showcase the park. It will serve as a gateway to the region’s rich history, guiding visitors through stories beyond the siege, encouraging them to explore further and connecting them with information about all that the area has to offer – battlefields, museums and solid southern hospitality. With around 200,000 visitors expected to explore the new facility each year, the economic benefits will everberate across the area.  

Please take a moment and sign our letter to your United States Senators and Members of Congress, urging them to support the Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act (S. 1016 and H.R. 4467,

Sincerely,

Jim Campi
Chief Policy and Communications Officer
American Battlefield Trust

Harriet Tubman’s Civil War Legacy Comes to Life in Free Gettysburg Program on Sept 12

Sept. 12, 2025

 GETTYSBURG, Pa.—Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation are pleased to co-host a free public event spotlighting Harriet Tubman’s extraordinary role as a Union military leader and freedom fighter during the Civil War. On Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, acclaimed historian and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black will present a program centered on her acclaimed book COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War. Complimentary tickets are required and may be reserved at GettysburgFoundation.org.

 

While Harriet Tubman is widely known for her escape from slavery and courageous work on the Underground Railroad, COMBEE sheds light on her overlooked service as a spy for the U.S. Army. Fields-Black’s groundbreaking research brings to life the 1863 Combahee River Raid in South Carolina, an audacious mission that liberated more than 700 enslaved people. The book received the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in History and the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize.

 

A direct descendant of a soldier who fought in the Combahee River Raid, Fields-Black reveals how Tubman led a network of spies, pilots and informants—many of them freedom seekers themselves—to orchestrate the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history. The 1863 raid freed 756 enslaved people from seven rice plantations along South Carolina’s Combahee River. Drawing from newly examined records, Fields-Black brings to life the individuals who carried out the mission and those who emerged from it, illuminating the resilience of a community and the enduring power of Tubman’s leadership. Learn more about Fields-Black and her works.

 

COMBEE will be available to purchase, with a signing to follow the program. Admission is free with a reserved ticket. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited. For reservations and event details, visit GettysburgFoundation.org.

 

 

Opportunities are available for the public to become involved in supporting the Gettysburg Foundation’s mission of preservation and education in partnership with the National Parks at Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Foundation invites the public to join the Friends of Gettysburg, its membership arm of the organization offering member benefits, including exclusive programming for First Corps level members throughout the year.

 

Friends of Gettysburg’s First Corps Weekend Event: Stories of Courage and Freedom

The Friday evening program with Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black also kicks off the Friends of Gettysburg’s First Corps Weekend Event, with special programming September 12-13. While the Friday evening talk is open to the public, Saturday’s exclusive program focuses on the untold history of Black life, resistance and resilience in and around Gettysburg and requires active First Corps membership and reservations. First Corps Weekend Event reservations include the Friday program.

 

More information about the Friends of Gettysburg and membership benefits is available at GettysburgFoundation.org/Friends.

Free Family Day Events at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital Aug. 30 and Oct. 11, 2025

Gettysburg Foundation Hosts Free Family Day Events

at the Historic George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital

Aug. 30 and Oct. 11, 2025 

Gettysburg, Pa. (Aug. 19, 2025)—The Gettysburg Foundation invites the community and visitors to journey back in time this late summer and early fall with free Family Day events at the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, a key historic site from the Battle of Gettysburg. On Saturdays, Aug. 30 and Oct. 11, 2025, families can explore the 80-acre farm, engage with living historians and enjoy a variety of educational and fun activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, with limited parking available onsite at 488 Blacksmith Shop Road, Gettysburg.

 

The George Spangler Farm served a critical role during and after the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, transforming from a family farm into a bustling Union Army field hospital that cared for more than 1,900 wounded soldiers from both sides. Beyond its medical role, the site was also an artillery and ammunition reserve, provost and temporary cemetery. Today, the Gettysburg Foundation has carefully preserved the farm’s original buildings and grounds, allowing visitors to connect with this powerful piece of history.

 

“The George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital offers a window into the human side of the 1863 battle through the narrative and accounts of both the soldiers and the civilians,” said Jackie Spainhour, President and CEO of the Gettysburg Foundation. “We are thrilled to welcome local and visiting families to experience firsthand the stories of courage, care and community that have shaped this site over the years.”

 

Family Day at Spangler

The Aug. 30 Family Day event coincides with Labor Day weekend and features living history presentations by the Officers & Ladies for the Union, period games and doll-making with Colonel Roberts and demonstrations of Victorian hair jewelry by Lucy Cadwallader.

 

Fall Family Day at Spangler

On Oct. 11, during the Columbus Day weekend, visitors can delve into Civil War medicine with the Blue & Gray Hospital Association, interact with the Detachment US Engineers and the Officers & Ladies for the Union, and enjoy period games and doll-making with Colonel Roberts.

 

Both events also include cannon demonstrations (without firing), a Civil War Wheeling (Rosecrans) ambulance on display, barn preservation talks by Historic Gettysburg Adams County (HGAC) and treats from Mr. G’s Old-fashioned Ice Cream.

 

These Family Day events offer unique and engaging opportunities for all ages to learn about an important chapter in American history in a welcoming and interactive environment.

 

Military Heritage Weekend - Aug 30/31

Military Heritage Weekend

"A Salute to Veterans and thier Machines"

August 30 & 31, 2025

GOLDEN AGE AIR MUSEUM
Grimes Airfield
371 Airport Road
Bethel, PA 19507

  • Living history encampments, Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, to modern military.

  • Vintage aircraft flights, Weapons demonstrations, Period vehicles, Militaria vendors, Historical displays.

  • Admission: see the 2025 event pricing guide.  

  • Free admission for Fly-In Aircraft, Miltary re-enactors, and Military vehicles.Biplane Rides Click here for more information.

  • Gates open at 10am.Refreshments & food services available.

  • Overnight camping encouraged. $45 non-members, $30 members, per campsite per weekend.

  • Bring your Vintage & Military aircraft and Vintage Military vehicles.

  • Free admission for Military vehicles and fly ins.

  • Download event flyer: Download Herritage Flyer

Volunteers can help maintain the Gettysburg battlefields on Sept 27 | ABC27

GETTYSBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Visitors will get the chance to help preserve Civil War History.

On Sept. 27, Gettysburg National Military Park will participate in National Public Lands Day. Volunteers will remove overgrown brush, dead vegetation and any invasive species to maintain an the landscape and protect biological diversity on the battlefield.

Those interested can apply here.

Park staff will supply tools. Participants are encouraged to wear long-sleeved pants and shirts, closed toe shoes, bug spray and sunscreen.

Cleanup will focus on the Triangular Field and Devil’s Den. During the battle, Confederate forces marched through the Triangular Field on July 2, 1863, and pushed Union defenders back through Devil’s Den.

Gettysburg’s geology played an important role in the battle. The rocky landscape of Devil’s Den, which dates back to 180 million years ago, provided cover and defense positions for soldiers. It was a scene of heavy fighting during the battle.

Anyone with questions about the event should contact GETT_volunteers@nps.gov or 717-338-4465

Construction Prompts Closures At Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP

From National Parks Traveler
Compiled from NPS releases

July 27, 2025

Two important sites at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia are closing for several months for construction, renovations, and maintenance upgrades.

The Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center and Chatham will both shut down Aug. 4. The visitor center is expected to be closed for six to seven months. Work at Chatham, a former slave plantation that was occupied by the U.S. Army in the Civil War, is expected to take about a year. 

The grounds of both locations will remain open sunrise to sunset, and the park store near the visitor center will continue to be open daily. Park staff will be present for educational programming and orientation.

Work at the visitor center includes the installation of a fire suppression system as well as waterline and electrical system upgrades. Chatham will undergo an interior rehabilitation project that includes lead paint encapsulation, new carpet, and plaster repair. The site has only been partially open this summer due to other ongoing construction. 

As part of the project, employees will move and store historic artifacts from each building. 

The Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center and other park sites remain open. Visitors should check the park's website for the latest updates.

Saving History at Pamplin Park

Mary Koik or Jim Campi (202) 367-1861, Option 3 or news@battlefields.org
Amanda Jones, AJones@pamplinpark.org   

July 16, 2025

(Petersburg, Va.) — The American Battlefield Trust is embarking on one of the largest preservation projects in its history, a national fundraising campaign that will result in an 857-acre protected swath of land associated with one of the Civil War’s most significant battlefields. The 417 acres currently owned by Pamplin Historical Park and Museum of the Civil War Soldier have been enjoyed and appreciated for decades by heritage tourists and countless school students, but until now has not been fully protected for future generations. 

The Trust has agreed to acquire the property for $11 million. Thanks to anticipated matching grant funding from the federal American Battlefield Protection Program, which has helped protect approximately 35,000 acres of hallowed ground across 20 states, and a major landowner donation, the Trust is seeking to raise $660,000 by year-end to complete the transaction. Learn more at www.battlefields.org/breakthrough.   

“There is no denying that this is an ambitious undertaking,” said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan, “We begin the endeavor with the conviction that our members will rise to the occasion and the certainty that future generations will be enriched by the permanent protection of this incredible landscape.”  

“This process will not only secure the battlefield for all time, but proceeds from the sale will create an investment fund that will finance the new Breakthrough Battlefield Foundation and enable Pamplin to continue operations in perpetuity,” said Colin Romanick, executive director of Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier.  

Following a nine-month siege, the Union Army of the Potomac launched a massive assault on the Southern defenses southwest of Petersburg, Va., on April 2, 1865, an attack remembered by history as “The Breakthrough” for breaking those lines clearing the road to the Confederate capital at Richmond. Within weeks, the Civil War was over. 

Through a series of transactions over the course of 30 years, the Trust has acquired 439 acres associated with the Union advance and gradually restored them to their wartime appearance by removing modern buildings and other intrusions. Meanwhile, the contiguous Pamplin campus occupies a significant section of the Confederate line and includes two miles of pristine earthworks. Acquisition by the Trust and establishment of a long-term agreement with the newly formed Breakthrough Battlefield Foundation will play to both entities’ strengths: historic landscape preservation and immersive educational experiences, respectively. It will also create improved interpretive and recreational opportunities by unifying trail systems.   

The campus was assembled in phases through purchases made by businessman and philanthropist Dr. Robert B. Pamplin, Jr., beginning in the early 1990s when the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, a predecessor of the American Battlefield Trust, alerted him of a development threat to land once owned by his family. Pamplin went on to acquire adjacent parcels, including Tudor Hall, the plantation home of his ancestors, and Banks House, Ulysses S. Grant’s headquarters on April 2-3, 1865. The 25,000 square-foot National Museum of the Civil War Soldier opened on Memorial Day 1999 and the park was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006.  

“I'm absolutely delighted that the Trust and Pamplin Historical Park have combined to ensure that this important educational facility will be preserved forever and continue to inspire tens of thousands of visitors each year,” said A. Wilson Greene, a founder of the Trust’s predecessor organization who went on to serve as the executive director of Pamplin Park from its opening until his retirement in 2017.

Captain Charles G. Gould of the 5th Vermont Veteran Volunteers leads his men into the earthworks defended by the 37th North Carolina at Petersburg on April 2, 1865. Don Troiani

Fighting at The Breakthrough was intense — sometimes hand-to-hand — and climactic, resulting in perhaps the greatest concentration of Medals of Honor ever awarded. Researchers at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society believe that 31 Medal citation actions occurred across the now-combined site, which also witnessed subsequent assaults on Fort Gregg and Fort Whitworth and further medals.  

“This battlefield is where courage met consequence,” said Congressional Medal of Honor Society President Britt Slabinski, who received the Medal during the Global War on Terrorism, Afghanistan. “The men who fought here embodied duty: in the dirt, under fire, when everything was on the line. This ground speaks plainly about what courage truly looks like. By preserving it, we give future generations the chance to stand where they stood, carry the weight they bore, and grasp the true cost of service. This is how we honor them — not just with words, but by protecting the very place where their legacy was forged.”  

To learn more about the fighting at the Breakthrough or make a gift to this remarkable opportunity to ensure this hallowed ground is protected forever, visit www.battlefields.org/breakthrough. 

Special Summer Evening Programs at the George Spangler Farm

Gettysburg, Pa. (July 10, 2025)—The Gettysburg Foundation presents a summer series of evening programs at the historic George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, offering visitors and area residents unique opportunities to explore the medical, military and civilian history of Gettysburg. These expert-led sessions will take place in the restored barn on the 80-acre site, beginning at 6 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

 

The series kicked off June 27, 2025, with "Bonded in Misery," presented by historians Doug and Wendy Shupinski. This moving program delved into the lives of eight young soldiers treated at the 11th Corps field hospital, sharing their stories from before the Civil War through the Battle of Gettysburg and beyond. Attendees also learned about the dedicated medical staff who cared for these men at the very site where they were treated and where history was made.

 

On Friday, July 25, 2025, local historian Erin S. Pearce will present "Camp Letterman to Camp Colt: Military Medicine & Civilian Care in Gettysburg". This presentation highlights the vital roles of Camp Letterman and Camp Colt from the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg to World War I, including insights into the leadership of then Captain Dwight D. Eisenhower. Pearce will discuss how military medicine and civilian support shaped the experiences of the men and women who served in and utilized these hospitals and the impact they had on the local community. Ticket reservations are required and can be made now.

 

The final program will take place Thursday, July 31, 2025, featuring living historian Trevor Steinbach with “General Custer’s and the Almost Fatal Gettysburg Charge”. Guests will uncover the lesser-known and “real” story of the Battle of Hunterstown Road, where General Custer faced General Hampton Wade on July 2, 1863. The presentation reveals the true story behind this crucial cavalry engagement during this second battle at Gettysburg. Tickets are now available for this event.

 

“These programs bring the history of Gettysburg to life in a deeply personal way,” said Jackie Spainhour, President and CEO of the Gettysburg Foundation. “We are excited to offer visitors the chance to connect with the stories of individuals who played an important role in the historical events that took place here in Gettysburg.”

 

A successful family farm before and after the Battle of Gettysburg, George and Elizabeth Spangler’s home and farm served as the Union Army’s 11th Corps field hospital where more than 1,900 wounded soldiers received care. The site also served as an artillery reserve, an ammunition reserve, a provost and a temporary cemetery for Union and Confederate soldiers. Today, the 80-acre George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital is one of the best-preserved field hospitals from the Battle of Gettysburg. Its original buildings have been thoughtfully restored and renovated, providing a powerful place to learn, reflect and connect with the human cost of war.

 

Tickets for programs can be purchased online at GettysburgFoundation.org, by calling 877-874-2478 or 717-334-2436, or at the Ticket Counter inside the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. Guests with advance tickets for these programs may drive to the property and park on-site.

American Battlefield Trust acquires last Gettysburg Country Club parcel

From Gettysburg Connections
July 1, 2025 by Community Contributors

The American Battlefield Trust (ABT) has finalized the purchase of the remainder of the former Gettysburg Country Club, securing the parcel on the corner of Chambersburg St. and County Club Lane that includes a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a clubhouse building.

ABT spokesperson Jared Herr said the Trust has now raised all the funds necessary to acquire the property. “When we declare victory on a property, that means we’ve secured all the funding for all the costs,” he said. The purchase concludes a fundraising campaign that relied primarily on member donations.  Herr said ABT intends to launch a restoration campaign to remove non-historic structures from the property and return it to a landscape more representative of its 1863 appearance. “Our goal is to restore the land so visitors can understand what happened there,” he said.

The 14.5-acre property saw significant fighting on July 1, 1863. After the first shots of the battle were fired to the west, Union cavalry under General John Buford fell back in part over this tract. Confederate troops under General James Archer advanced over the property and were later driven back during a Union Iron Brigade counterattack. Additional Confederate brigades later moved across the same ground in a renewed assault. The property was littered with casualties, and a Confederate field hospital may have been established on the site. Confederate forces likely retreated over the tract on July 4 and 5.

The closure of the Gettysburg Country Club in 2007 opened a long and winding path to preservation. While the larger golf course joined Gettysburg National Military Park in 2010, the roadside frontage remained outside federal protection and became the subject of several development proposals, including plans for a large apartment complex. Local advocacy supported by the Trust helped prevent development and opened the door to this preservation solution.

The acquisition, which pushed ABT over 60,000 acres purchased nationwide, was marked with a ceremony attended by representatives from interested local organizations.

Herr emphasized that ABT aims to be a good neighbor in Gettysburg and stressed the organization’s commitment to working with the local community. “We’ve voluntarily remained a taxpayer in Adams County for 25 years,” he said, acknowledging concerns about the impact of federal land ownership on the local tax base. Properties transferred to the National Park Service typically cease to generate local tax revenue, but ABT retains ownership of several properties in Adams County — including Lee’s Headquarters and the site of the former Pickett’s Buffet—on which it continues to pay taxes.

ABT celebrated its 60,000th national acre acquired with a celebration at the Lincoln Headquarters property. Pictured left to right are Bob Iuliano (Gettysburg College), Kaleb Kusmierczyk and Codie Eash (Seminary Ridge Museum), Jill Sellers (Main Street Gettysburg), Judy Morley (Seminary Ridge Museum), Zach Bolitho (National Park Service), Gene Barr (Gettysburg Foundation), Randy Phiel (Adams County Commissioners), Andrew Dalton (Adams County Historical Society), Karl Pietrzak and Sandy Stewart (Destination Gettysburg), and Wendy Allen (Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania).