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A monument for Companies E and H of the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps sits outside of the Slyder House on the Gettysburg Battlefield (Jeremy Long - WITF)
A monument for Companies E and H of the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps sits outside of the Slyder House on the Gettysburg Battlefield (Jeremy Long - WITF)
A monument for Companies E and H of the 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps sits outside of the Slyder House on the Gettysburg Battlefield (Jeremy Long - WITF)
There is a new way to experience the historic Civil War site
The National Park Service recently announced it would make two homes on the Gettysburg Battlefield available for overnight stays, beginning May 24.
“Our visitors will now have an extraordinary opportunity to stay in two of the battlefield’s historic homes,” Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent, Kristina Heister, said in a news release. “The Bushman House served as a rental property prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic and visitor feedback was overwhelmingly positive.”
The overnight rental program is part of a three-year pilot program that will allow visitors to stay in homes on ground where Union and Confederate forces clashed.
The two homes – the Michael Bushman and John Slyder houses – were part of the fighting on n July 2, 1863.
The Bushman house served as headquarters for Confederate General John Bell Hood and the Slyder house was a defensive position for Union sharpshooters.
The homes were renovated and have modern accommodations.
The NPS had hoped to contract with a person or business to oversee the rentals.
“We couldn’t find a partner to manage the rentals,” said Jason Martz, Gettysburg National Military Park spokesman. “So, we reassessed our situation and decided it would be best for us to manage the operation.”
The agency has plans to eventually add two more homes to the rental list.
The Rose Farmhouse – surrounded by The Wheatfield, The Peach Orchard and Devil’s Den — is currently under rehabilitation.
The NPS also plans to rehabilitate the Althoff Farmhouse.
The homes:
How to make a reservation: Visit Recreation.gov to select the home where you would like to stay. The National Park Service staff will then contact you to sign a Short-Term Lease Agreement. Once this signed agreement is returned, visitors will receive further information about their stay. To view the homes in 3D and 360-degree video and photos of the homes.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
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