The Gettysburg National Tower - A Walk to the Top in 1994

[JRFF1404]

sad!!!!!! :'(

[Iol4422]

Very glad the Tower is now gone, and the park continues to be returned to a more historically accurate state. This isn't the Great Smokey Mtns, where one tower can't overwhelm the vista. This was the overwhleming symbol of tackiness in Gettysburg, something that the NPS and Civil War Trust are slowly doing away with on the core batlefield lands. Keep that in the town or by the Interstate please. It's not an amusement park.

[epaddon]

@Iol4422 This obsessive kick with being "historically accurate" is also leading to some questionable manners of conduct, especially in how the NPS broke the law in regards to the Cyclorama Theater (which a Judge has now saved from destruction at the behest of the Recent History Preservationists, a group that needs to have its voice heard more). Also, it seems to me those who want it be like 1863 in order to be consistent should call for the removal of EVERY monument put up on the battlefield.

[JamJells]

Well if they were thinking; They would allow limited times, and days to have Hot Air Balloons go up for a grant view. But only in season. For everyone, and way their is a solution. Nice photo of Tower appears in Vol. 156. 1 July 1979 National Geographic Magazine. RIP Tower

[hovanti]

I walked all the way up one day; I recall the fee was the same, whether you took the elevator or stairs. It was a good workout, and nice view from up there. You put some really nice music to this, spear913.

[rugbyotto]

Thanks for sharing your walk up the Tower. I just posted the 60 minutes segment about the Tower on You Tube. I walked up and down those stairs to many times to count. Thanks again for the Great memories.

[TheSwabbie]

The men who fought and died there deserve better than that monstrosity looming over. I'm GLAD its gone.

[Cymermanski]

where was this??

[spear913]

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania . Don't remember the exact location in town.

[Cymermanski]

Lol yeah i got to Gettysburg like 3 times a year i love it there

[krazydude93]

@spear913

Wasn't it out on Rt. 94 (Baltimore Pike)

Its a shame they imploded it. I never had the chance to go up it.

[FireWoman1967]

I used to go to Gettysburg all the time as a kid, but only went up on it once...I loved it. Even being afraid of hights I still went up. Hated to see it come down....great views...there was nothing wrong with that tower being there....have they gotten rid of the other two also???

[spear913]

I agree with you. I believe the small ones are still there.

[JRFF1404]

@spear913 they are just climbed the longstreet one monday the may 16th of 2011!!!

[yark72]

nice footage

[spear913]

Thank you very much for the compliment. There was much more, but it was taken a long time ago on a full size VHS camcorder. Much was edited out - shaky camera and filming of useless stuff.

[doxylamine]

When they demolished the tower, the town lost my school's field-trip business, and we'd classically spend thousands every year. Now we go to Antietam instead - it's closer and now there's point going farther, without the tower trip as a reward for the kids. The tower was a big draw to the park, and they couldn't see it.  I hope they're happy though with their empty park. and their retarded egos.

[spear913]

I agree. It really was a very interesting place in itself in addition to the views it gave. Seems like nothing good lasts. Thanks.

[rob9641]

Sorry to disagree, but the tower was awful. Maybe you could see everywhere from there, but you could see IT from everywhere, too. It was just inappropriate to look at when you are on other parts of the field, or when you just live around here. When they made the film Gettysburg several miles away, they had a devil of a time masking out the tower. It's really nice to look up and NOT see that tower now.

[spear913]

I do see it from both points of view. I personally found it interesting in itself and really enjoyed it, but I do understand that not everyone did. I appreciate your comments, I like to hear from both sides. You do make some good points. Thanks!

[doxylamine]

I'm sure it's nice NOT to see school buses full of kids spending money, too. We haven't been back on a field trip since the tower closed, and never will again. I wonder how many places have gone out of business since then.

[rob9641]

There are plenty of buses, school and otherwise, in Gettysburg. I'm sorry the tower was more important to you than the battlefield itself seems to have been. But I'm glad you come to Antietam. The lack of commercialism makes it a place that inspires more genuine awe than Gettysburg does, IMO. I'd just as soon kids learn the emotional truth of what happened as much as who attacked whom and where. Many, many men and boys suffered and died in making us who we are now.

[supersaver87]

As a young kid, I really, REALLY wanted to go to that tower. It looked so awesome, and I wanted to see how Gettysburg looked from there.

I never got the chance to go inside it, but I was there in person to see it fall in 2000.

9 years later, and now I finally see how beautiful the view was from there. Thank you for the video.

[spear913]

You're very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!!!

[bkhair11]

Thank you for posting such a moving tribut to the old tower. I have many fond memories of coming to the tower in the 1970's and early 80's with my grandparents. It was the best attraction in Gettysburg. They wanted to preserve the battlefield, but then built that ugly new visitors center. Why not tear down McDonalds or KFC that stand near Pickett's charge? The tower is saldly missed. I'm glad to see others feel the same way I do! I have old videos of the tower, I'm motivated to post them!

[spear913]

You are absolutely right. It was the best attraction in Gettysburg. I haven't seen the new visitors ctr yet but heard it's an eyesore anyway. Typical. Please post your videos. I'd love to see more of her.

[MattCockburn]

that tower was wrongfully confiscated by the government and its owner's family has yet to be paid for it... so they say. also, right next to where that was the NPS built a new visitor center that is not free and way over priced. great video, by the way. what a view. i wish i had been able to see it with my own eyes.

[spear913]

Thank you. It's such a shame. It really was the most interesting part of a Gettysburg trip to me. Every summer I wish I could take my kids up it now, but thanks to crybabies that'll never happen.

[ay973]

You are fortunate to have experienced this in such a historical place. It must have been awesome! What a commanding view of the battlefield. I wish I had been there when the tower was still standing, \n\nIMHO, Gettysburg is one of the most important historical sites in America - the experience should reflect that. \nWhen I was there (2007), I left with a sense that America doesn't care for it or value it. Maybe there's been more funding since - Its important that people know what happened there.

[spear913]

I totally agree. I haven't been there since the late 90's. I was disgusted when they destroyed the tower. Someday I'll probably go back. There are some much smaller towers, but better than nothing.Thanks for commenting.