Architectural History Battles

One hundred and fifty years ago America was locked in its third year of a great conflict known as the American Civil War. Following a major victory against the Union forces in May of 1863 in Chancellorsville, VA, General Robert E Lee marched his Confederate Army north from Virginia up into Pennsylvania. This chance meeting on July 1st 1863 touched off the bloodiest 3 day battle in American history. Casualties were high on both sides, numbering 28,063 Confederates, and 23,053 Union soldiers.

Neutra's Cyclorama

Another type of battle has been raging in Gettysburg over the past fourteen years, finally culminating this past March. The Gettysburg Cyclorama Building, which was a concrete and glass modernist building, located on the battlefield, and owned by the National Park Service, was demolished in March of this year. The Cyclorama Building was designed to house the Cyclorama painting, administrative offices, an observation deck and a visitor center.

 

This building was designed by modernist architect Richard Neutra in 1958 to house the Cyclorama painting. The painting is a 360 degree cylindrical depiction of Pickett’s Charge which is the climatic Confederate attack on the Union defenses on July 3rd, 1863. It was designed to create the impression of being in the midst of the battle. The painting was created in 1883 by Paul Philippoteaux, and displayed in several locations prior to coming to Gettysburg.

Over the years this building saw many people walk though it's doors from foreign dignitaries to school field trips. In 1993 and 1996 funding requests in the tune of $2.7 million dollars to cover roof replacement, asbestos removal, patching cracks, and treating the masonry were denied. In 2005, the Cyclorama center closed when the painting was removed and relocated to its new home about a mile away in the new Gettysburg Battlefield Visitors Center. The painting was restored and is now open for viewing.

 

Battlefield field preservationists, along with the National Park Service, wanted to demolish the Neutra building in their campaign to restore the property to the 1893 landscape. Richard Neutra's son, Dion, led a global campaign to save the building. In 2012, the court ordered study concluded that the best course of action was to demolish the building, which occurred in March of 2013.

If you get a chance to visit this year, I highly suggest it. Many events will be happening in this beautiful region of Pennsylvania, including a reenactment of the battle from June 27th through the 30th. The town of Gettysburg is amazing with many structures dating back to the Civil War days. Many buildings have been restored and are open for tours. If interested in learning more about Gettysburg, here is a website to get you started, http://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm, or feel free to contact me!

-Martin Summers