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| Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 12:54 am |
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1st Post |
Doc C
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Was up at GB today for my monthly guide test study trip. Had a chance to visit the new visitor center. Nice new digs but a couple of concerns: parking or lack thereof (this is only the first of may and finding a parking space was a bear); unlike the older vc which was adjacent to the cemetery, cemetery ridge both east/west the new one is no where near any of these thus mandating getting back in ones car and driving; Also, the prices for the LBG's have increased tremendously (still a great value for the information one gets and the chance to go one on one with one who has such a wealth of knowledge, I come away each time with pearls for my Dec. guide test). Instead of paying the guide directly as before, you pay the park service, who pockets a greater percentage than before. Just wanted to see other comments concernning the new vc. Also, this is the first time in my numerous battlefield visits that I haven't purchased any books. The vc store is under new management, don't know if that has anything to do with it but there appeared to be more sovenoirs associated with it than the old one (got to make a buck in some way or another I guess).
Doc C
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| Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 11:05 pm |
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2nd Post |
TimK
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Thanks, Doc C for starting this. I plan on going to Gettysburg at the end of September, when the Cyclorama painting will open up again. In the meantime, I would be very interested in what people are thinking of the new Visitor Center. Obviously, from the news stories Joe has posted and from other first hand accounts, there seems to be a problem with parking. I have also heard complaints about the distance from the VC to the town. These probably won't concern me too much, as I love to walk the battlefields, but I'm interested in what others think.
Also, I know that the store is now run by a company called Event Network. I believe this is the first "for profit" organization to run a NPS bookstore, as compared to the "non-profit associations" that run the others. That is probably why there is more souvenir type stuff.
In any case, as more people visit Gettysburg, and for that matter, any of the other NPS book stores, I would love to hear their opinions.
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| Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 01:52 am |
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3rd Post |
20th_Mass
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Just went to the new VC and I enjoyed it. The parking could be a problem when it gets busy but you got to remember most of the cars will be on the road touring and not parked in the parking lot all day.
One thing that caught my attention was the bad use of space. There was a lot of open space with nothing and the biggest room was actually the cafeteria.
Coly
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| Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 03:59 am |
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4th Post |
Doc C
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My thoughts also, too much waisted space in the entry to the vc and the museum/film area. My main criticism is the commercialism of the bookstore. Lack of titles compared to the old vc. However, have never spent much time in the vc.
Doc C
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| Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 07:28 pm |
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5th Post |
Bama46
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I am going the end of the month (May). I am concerned to hear that parking is such a problem. Of course we will tour quite a bit, but there will be 9 in our party and so multiple cars... just what we need...
Guides..How much? we [paid $40 + generous tip last time.. and thought that was a bargin for the iknowledge we got to tap into. I still remember much of the guide's talk.
Ed
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| Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 12:47 pm |
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6th Post |
Doc C
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$80 (and as Ed + a generous tip) for a 3 hour one on one tour/session. I believe I paid approx. $40 - 60 last fall when I had a guide. Still a great value and I highly recommend it. However, this a considerable price increase with the LBG's not receiving the entire increase.
Doc C
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| Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 12:51 pm |
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7th Post |
Doc C
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Even though all of the LBG's are great, I could provide the names of the individuals I've used in the past for anyone who would like them.
Doc C
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| Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 02:05 pm |
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| Posted: Sun May 18th, 2008 01:58 pm |
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9th Post |
Doc C
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Ed
I went to the GBLBG's website to find the correct spelling of 2 of the guides I've used in the past and found they are no longer present on the roster. Here's the names of the 2 others I've used and highly recommend either of them.
Doug Boden
George Newton (George recently published a book on GB artillery)
Doc C
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| Posted: Sun May 18th, 2008 04:06 pm |
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10th Post |
Bama46
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Doc Thanks
By the way, I was in Bay Minette Alabama last week and ate somewhere i n the neighborhood of 25 pounds or so of bugs..
ED
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| Posted: Sun May 18th, 2008 04:28 pm |
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11th Post |
Doc C
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Close to where I had a beach house in Gulf Shores, sadly no more since Ivan took it. Mud bugs are one of the main things I miss after moving to Maryland. Steamed crabs come close but just not the same. Awwww, pinch the tail, suck the head. Last crawfish boil I had for my nursing staff, we boiled 700 lbs.
Doc C
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| Posted: Sun May 18th, 2008 10:36 pm |
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12th Post |
calcav1
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I must say I was rather impressed with the new visitor center. My thoughts:
Parking - The lot quickly filled up but I went on the 2nd weekend it was open and the crowds were staggering. There were two nearby over-flow lots that still had ample parking spots available.
Entrance - This was probably the one part of the building that did not impress me. The foyer was massive and was indeed a waste of space. The first thing greeting a visitor was the entrance to the bookstore followed by the entrance to the museum and theatre. Just beyond was the ticket sales area which was roped off like a ride at Disneyland. This was for the Eisenhower NHS, LBG's and the movie. At the far end of the foyer, against the far wall adn almost as an afterthought, was the desk for the Park Rangers. Very few visitors were making it to the rangers desk. The information desk and the Rangers should have been located right inside the main door.
Book store/gift shop - A good (not great) selection of books on one end and gawd awful tourist junk at the other.
Exhibits - The museum was outstanding and the use of media and interactive exhibits was very well done. The monument locator maps particularly impressed me. It was a touch screen monitor that zoomed in on any requested monument or troop position. The films in the exhibit area are outstanding. I can't recall just how many there were but I believe there were at least nine.
Research room - There is a bank of computers in the research room with access to a few internet sites.
The new VC is well worth a trip by itself.
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connyankee
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Tom,
I think you are right on with your assessment of the new VC. I had a similar impression when wife and I stopped by last Wednesday. I, too, thought it a bit corny that the Ranger/Information desk was Parked at the far end. Seems to me that you were the first fella I ran into at Corinth VC, which I thought was laid out perfectly. However, on this day at Gettysburg, there were hundreds-no, thousands of school-age folk, all with pencil and paper in hand, quickly filling up a good part of the empty spaces mentioned.
This place will serve it's purpose for years to come. The museum is top notch in my opinion. The entry area sort of reminded me of a train station. It is, after all, a new facility and I think that through experience, self-assessment and feedback, the best use of the spaces (I hope) can perhaps be realized.
Regards,
connyankee
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12th, 2008 02:28 am |
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14th Post |
mannie 1952
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Hello Doc,
I went up to check it out last week and posted my impressions on my blog:
http://volunteersinparks.blogspot.com/2008/06/gettysburg-new-visitor-center.html
I got there early enough so parking wasn't and issue, nor were crowds, but by the time I got back from the cemetery walk/talk (about 10:30) all had changed.
Parking was a challenge and access to the galleries, which were packed with kids (and I'm glad that they were there!) was limited.
I look forward to going back in September when all the kids are still in classroom lockdown.
Mannie
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| Posted: Tue Jul 29th, 2008 03:10 am |
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15th Post |
Regina
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I just got home after a week in Gettysburg. I rented a farmhouse on Taneytown Rd. right behind Little Round Top. Anyway, my opinion of the new Visitor's Center is that I actually liked the old one better. I preferred the exhibits in the old one. The new museum includes too many things, from John Brown through the entire war--I thought it was just too much and preferred it when it was just on the Gettysburg battle. Also, the glass was hard to see through for some reason. I had a hard time seeing the exhibits because of a glare and to see some items I had to stoop down. ( I even found an error on something written about the 1st Minnesota). I absolutely agree that it is too spread out with too much wasted space, although I will admit that most "modern" buildings, and homes even, do not appeal to me at all
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| Posted: Wed Jul 30th, 2008 12:00 pm |
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16th Post |
gettysburgerrn
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I think one of the missions of the new visitor center was to place Gettysburg in the context of the entire war and the war in context of American history. That being said I agree I wish it was more Gettysburg specific myself...
ken
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28th, 2008 10:24 pm |
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17th Post |
gettysburgerrn
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Rumor has it the are going to increase certain fees (such as for the movie shown inside and museum portion) though the gift shop and food area will still be free to enter :-)
ken
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28th, 2008 10:31 pm |
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29th, 2008 12:48 am |
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19th Post |
pamc153PA
Member
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I guess when your visitor center is for profit you need to meet your bottom line. Sad but true. I can hardly imagine how you determine what price to charge on your country's history (North AND South), though. Until our government and many of our fellow countrymen see the value in the past that many of us CW fans do (as well as other historical events), this may be the way to keep history's story in good running order. . . at least at Gettysburg.
Pam
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29th, 2008 01:20 am |
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20th Post |
Doc C
Member
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Ran across this on one of my GB blogs regarding the GBVC
"On an annualized basis, the theaters are operating $1,784,780 short >of projections"
Only reason for me ever to go in there again is to visit with the LBG's, and only if it's not bonkers in the parking lot.
Doc C
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