"This is holy ground: A history of the Gettysburg Battlefield" by Barabara L. Platt was a very interesting book to read while on our trip to Gettysburg! This is one of the rarer books about the town that DOES NOT really involve the actual battle.I had been looking for a book more about the development of the National Park, and the preservation of the area for some time, and I just happened upon this nice little read at a Half Price Books!
Anyway, the book gets into the details of the Battlefield right after the famous conflict. A lot happens early on with the very quick establishment of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Associations pop up concerning preserving the area. There is some forward thought about the significance of the properties.
Platt covers a lot of very local issues concerning the land. Of course, there are parties that really want to keep everything pristine, and VERY 1863ish. There are others, mainly local business owners, who aren't as excited about keeping things that way. Many people express concerns on both sides, including a favorite of this blogger, William Frassanito!
The book mentions several attractions placed on the land, that eventually go away (or are demolished) including a scrap yard, and observation towers.
I did not know about some of the controversy surrounding a tower that came down in 2000, or the concerns relating to the earlier building housing the Cyclorama.
Platt's book is an interesting study in the history and preservation of one of the most important battlefields on American soil. All sorts of issues come up.
It did come out in the early 00s though.... So I would be interested in reading an updated version, as a decade or so has passed by........
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