Volunteers to come together to restore historic Civil War field hospital in Gettysburg, Pa.
Tourism Cares brings together travel leaders together to restore historic sites
(Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - 4/1/2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE �
CONTACT:
Jessica Ahern
(781) 821-5990, ext. 212
Bruce Beckham
(781) 821-5990, ext. 209
Tourism Cares, a non-profit in the travel industry dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations, will bring volunteers together April 16-18 to restore the historic George Spangler Farm on the Gettysburg battlefield.
The project, now in its seventh year, brings travel and tourism industry leaders together to restore historic sites in need of care and rejuvenation by getting their hands dirty to make a difference in the community and restore an important piece of American history.
The George Spangler Farm was recently purchased by the Gettysburg Foundation to protect the historically significant site from private development. The 80-acre farm is located at what was the logistical center of the Union battlefield during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. During and after the battle, Spangler Farm served as a field hospital for both Confederate and Union soldiers. It was here that Confederate General Lewis Armistead, who led the climatic Pickett�s Charge, died of the wounds he suffered on the last day of the battle.
Until last year, the site was privately owned and is in need of considerable restoration. Many of the fields, buildings and boundary lines associated with the property are still intact but in poor condition. Volunteers will work to bring back the authenticity of the farm, restoring original buildings, demolishing modern structures, landscaping, trail building, painting, cleaning and much more. The restoration of the property will further the Gettysburg Foundation�s campaign to preserve Gettysburg to give visitors a sense of how the town actually appeared in 1863.
Since 2003, Tourism Cares has helped restore sites across the United States through the Tourism Cares for America Project. Beginning with Ellis Island, the project has also brought hundreds of volunteers to New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina, George Washington�s Mount Vernon, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and the tiny mining town of Virginia City, Nevada.
Local residents interested in participating in the Tourism Cares project in Gettysburg can call (781) 821-5990 or by emailing [email protected].
Tourism Cares is a 501c(3) non-profit public charity that benefits society by preserving the travel experience for future generations by awarding grants to natural, cultural and historic sites worldwide; by presenting academic and service-learning scholarships to students of hospitality and tourism; and by organizing volunteer efforts to restore tourism-related sites in need of care and rejuvenation. For additional information about Tourism Cares, visit
VisitPA.com
