About the Gettysburg Heritage CenterThe Gettysburg Heritage Center is one of the newest attractions to Gettysburg.
In August of 2013, FutureStake, Inc. purchased the former American Civil War Wax Museum. Shortly thereafter, plans began to create a new experience for visitors. The focus of the new facility would be that of the town, and the civilians that lived in Gettysburg during the battle. To tell the story, the Heritage Center partnered with several groups and individuals including, The Adams County Historical Society, The Center for Civil War Photography, The Civil War Trust, Licensed Battlefield Guide Tim Smith, Licensed Town Guide Joanne Lewis, and Historian and Designer Steven Stanley, just to name a few. In January 2014, renovations and construction began on the facility. Throughout the winter months, focus was on completing the gift store, and preparing to auction off the contents of the Wax Museum on March 15, 2014. The auction received national and international coverage, largely due to the distinctiveness of the event. Overall, the auction was a huge success, and opened the door to beginning the next phase of the renovation process. Work on the new exhibit space began, just as the gift store was completed and opened to the public. Throughout the remainder of 2014, work continued on the new exhibit until its completion. In May 2015, the Gettysburg Heritage Center Museum officially opened. The new facility welcomes guests to actively learn about the town of Gettysburg, and the civilians utilizing 3-D programming, authentic displays, and artifacts. The tour concludes with the award-winning Civil War Trust production, Gettysburg: An Animated Map. Realizing that everyone learns differently, the new exhibit space employs many different educational tools in an effort to reach each guest. The Heritage Center will continue to change and grow, offering special exhibits and programming. The Gettysburg Heritage Center will continue to offer complimentary Living History camps most weekends April – November. The camps are open to the public and demonstrate what life was like for the Civil War soldiers. Camp programming varies depending on the contracted group. The Gettysburg Heritage Center is active in the Gettysburg community, and participates in several events held in or around the town. In addition, the Heritage Center financially supports several non-profit groups, including: The American Chestnut Foundation, Land Conservancy of Adams County, Civil War Trust, and Patriots Place. Over the next several years, the Gettysburg Heritage Center will continue to grow and evolve, creating unique opportunities for guests. |
Living History on our Campus
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