Gettysburg is a ‘piece of an American puzzle’: NPS celebrates 110th birthday
The Washington Examiner celebrated the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service, highlighting its founding on August 25, 1916, and its meaning in preserving key past sites like Gettysburg. The celebration coincided with the start of National Park Week,during which entry fees were waived at parks with admission charges. Gettysburg national Military Park, known for the pivotal Civil War battle of Gettysburg in 1863, was a focal point, with visitors commemorating the battle and the broader themes of American history and democracy. The park covers over 6,000 acres and features more than 1,000 monuments, cannons, and carriages.Historians like Jason Martz emphasized the layered history of the site, connecting it to America’s 250th anniversary and ongoing national stories. The Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point in the Civil War, saw intense fighting at sites such as Little Round Top, leading to a Confederate retreat and subsequent Union victory.President Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address was delivered nearby,reaffirming American ideals. the event underscores the importance of preserving and reflecting on the nation’s history thru its national parks, which serve as living encyclopedias of American resilience and democracy.
The National Park Service celebrated its 110th birthday on Tuesday as guests came in to visit the memorials and tour the historic battlegrounds at Gettysburg National Military Park.
The Department of the Interior announced the beginning of National Park Week on X Saturday. Parks that require entry fees are free for the agency’s birthday.
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The National Park Service was founded on Aug. 25, 1916, marking 110 years since the U.S. Congress created the agency.
Nearly 53 years before then, the historic 1863 Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War took place.
“This is certainly a unique time to be working for the National Park Service, and to be an American,” Jason Martz, public affairs specialist for Gettysburg National Military Park and the Eisenhower National Historic site, told the Washington Examiner.
“It’s almost as if it’s a layered cake, or something along those lines,” Martz said.
Martz described the importance of NPS’s birthday, along with the 250th birthday of the United States, as seen in the Battle of Gettysburg and the “continued saving of American democracy” in World War II.
“We have the 19th century, we have the 20th century, and all of these extra layers when we’re talking about the birthday of the National Park Service,” Martz said. “We have those two layers, and the additional layers associated with America 250, so it’s a really amazing single piece of American history right here in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.”
The Battle of Gettysburg is largely seen as one of the most important battles of the American Civil War. It marked a turning point, ending the Confederate army’s invasion of the North, according to the National Park Service.
Intense battles happened at places such as Little Round Top. It served as a high point on a hill for the Union Army. They charged downhill with bayonets and were able to attack the Confederates, maintaining their position on the hill.
The Confederates then retreated to Virginia after suffering many losses caused by the Union Army during the three-day battle.
Just a few months later, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address, honoring those who died and reaffirming America’s commitment to liberty.
“When you compare and layer on the amazing history of being a United States citizen, what it means to be an American, over the course of 250 years, you take all of those layers of history and it really is an amazing piece of an American puzzle,” Martz said.
The national park covers more than 6,000 acres and includes more than 1,000 monuments, 368 cannons, and carriages.
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The Gettysburg National Cemetery, which lies on the park grounds, was established for Union soldiers who died at Gettysburg. It was at the dedication for the cemetery that Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.
“This is a book, this is a volume, this is an encyclopedia that continues to be written,” Martz said.
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