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

This video is made from home video footage from a trip we took to Gettysburg in 1994. The tower was 393 feet high. The views were awesome. It was my favorite part of the whole trip. Six years later they demolished it because of ongoing controversy about it's presence on the historic battlefield horizon.

I can understand why it wasn't wanted, but it's a shame we lost the ability to see those panoramic views of the landscape. It was such a unique structure too.

Sorry for the shaky video. I recorded it a long time ago on a full size VHS camcorder and wasn't very good at filming. There is much more footage, but I used the best of it for this video.

All music from www.freeplaymusic.com

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[Cymermanski]

where was this??

[spear913]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[JRFF1404]

sad!!!!!! :'(

[JRFF1404]

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

[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.

[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

[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.

[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]

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