Preservation Victory at Gettysburg Helps American Battlefield Trust Exceed 60,000 Acre Milestone

(Gettysburg, Pa.) — After meeting its critical, final fundraising deadline to preserve more than 14 acres along Willoughby’s Run on the Gettysburg Battlefield, the American Battlefield Trust has crested a major milestone: 60,000 acres of Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War battlefield land saved across the country. The combined acreage, around twice the size of the City of San Francisco, has created countless opportunities for people to experience the power of place throughout America’s irreplaceable historic battlegrounds. 

“From our first acre saved on the Port Republic Battlefield in 1988, to our 60,000th acre in Gettysburg — from Antietam to Yorktown, Lexington to Appomattox — each of these sites saw soldiers exhibit unimaginable bravery in conflicts that defined our nation,” said Trust President David Duncan. “I could not be more thankful for the generous members, visionary partners and supportive officials at local, state and federal levels who have made this incredible milestone possible.” 

For decades, the 14.5 acres now protected were part of the Gettysburg Country Club, and that institution's closure in 2007 set off a long and circuitous path to preservation. The larger golf course was added to Gettysburg National Military Park in 2010, but the portion fronting the Country Club Lane was not included and drew developers’ eyes. After a number of development proposals fell through, it was slated to become a large apartment complex until Trust-supported local advocacy opened the door to this preservation solution. 

Situated along the Chambersburg Pike and beside the banks of Willoughby’s Run, the most recent parcel of land saved by the Trust figured into several actions on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. After the first shots of the battle were fired two miles to the west, General John Buford’s Union cavalry troopers fell back in part over this tract. The Confederate advanced brigade, made up of Tennessee troops led by General James Archer, moved over and then retreated on and over this tract under the weight of a Union Iron Brigade counterattack on the morning of July 1. A few hours later, the Confederates renewed their attack with two new brigades of Virginia and North Carolina troops, the former and part of the latter moving over the tract. After a stubborn fight, the outnumbered Union forces retreated to the ridges beyond the town. 

Today, the tract is host to a large modern building from the former Gettysburg Country Club. While Cumberland Township’s municipal building is undergoing renovations, the Trust has welcomed the township’s use of the building as temporary offices. In addition, the popular Gettysburg Day Spa operates in a historic building that would have been familiar to President Eisenhower, when he was a member of the country club. 

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War across 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org. 

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