CONTACT: KATIE LAWHON

717 334-1124 X452

"We are extremely pleased to be able to make this announcement," said Stanton. "I want to stress that this decision is only the next step in a long process during which we will continue to seek public involvement through the park's General Management Plan (GMP). Public meetings and public review periods will continue so that we can gather consensus before negotiations are completed and agreements are signed."

Issues related to the Visitor Center and Museum project will now be folded into the park's GMP, which is currently underway.

"Our purpose in pursuing these negotiations is to form a cooperative arrangement which will provide protection for our priceless collection of Civil War artifacts and archives, conserve the Cyclorama Painting, restore a significant portion of the hallowed ground of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and provide our visitors with a first-class educational experience in the new museum. Our interest is in preserving and protecting these significant historic resources for the benefit of future generations," added Stanton. "We look forward to entering into negotiations as soon as possible."

The decision is based on a recommendation by a team of NPS specialists in park partnerships who reviewed six proposals. The chairman of that panel, Michael Adlerstein, Associate Regional Director, NPS Northeast Region, said the panel made "a thorough, independent evaluation of the proposals."

"We were extremely impressed with the time and effort that went into all the proposals, and the high quality firms and individuals involved. We found that the Kinsley proposal best fits the park's management goals," said Adierstein.

The site proposed for development of the new facilities lies within a 45-acre tract of privately owned land within the park boundary, at the intersection of Hunt and Baltimore Avenues. The Kinsley proposal includes a new National Park Service visitor center, museum, Cyclorama gallery, an Eastern National bookstore, as well as an orientation theater, a large format cinema, a National Geographic store, a tour center, park offices and archives, and other visitor amenities -- all housed in one building. The film to be shown in the large format theater will be produced by National Geographic.

The new facilities would be owned by a non-profit corporation until the development debt is retired, at which time title to the land and buildings will be donated to the National Park Service.

The concept of a public/private cooperative arrangement to build a new museum at Gettysburg NMP was first announced in April 1995. In the fall of 1995 the NPS initiated a public scoping process to carefully determine park needs. That process included questionnaires, public meetings, public review, and resulted in a draft development concept plan (DCP) for Collections Storage, Visitor & Museum Facilities, published in April 1996. The DCP was the subject of additional public meetings and was opened for public review. The Request for Proposals was issued in December 1996.

In all, the NPS conducted seven public meetings to discuss the plans and gather comment. Three separate public review periods were established, totaling more than four and a half months for public comment. Following today's announcement, there will be additional opportunities for public comment and review.

To participate in the public review or for more information about the planned project, contact

Gettysburg National Military Park,
97 Taneytown Road,
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325,
telephone (717) 334-1124, ext. 452.
Park plans will be posted on the world-wide web at www.nps.gov/gett/.

-NPS-

Prepared 11/7/97