Gettysburg 150th commemoration hailed a success
Photo by witf/Matt Paul
(Gettysburg) — Organizers are still working to determine the number visitors and economic impact of the 10 day commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. But they’re already hailing its success.
Days after the conclusion of the official commemoration events, Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Bob Kirby is still on a high. He credits the entire community for pulling together to make last week’s events a success.
Official visitor statistics won’t be available until next week, but Kirby told witf‘s Radio Smart Talk 111,000 people attended the park’s 287 interpretive programs.
“In each of those programs we had the opportunity to discuss the sacrifice and what happened here,” Kirby says, “and what the meaning of the Battle of Gettysburg was in the context of the Civil War — and what the Civil War was, and is, in the context of American history.”
Kirby says letters and emails are now pouring in from around the world, as visitors reflect on their experiences.
Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau President Norris Flowers says early expectations called for more than 200,000 visitors over the course of the 10 days. He’s confident those numbers will be met or exceeded.
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