Gettysburg: Our Fight to Save 15 Acres Where the Battle Began

Learn more about this hallowed ground: www.battlefields.org/give/sav...
The American Battlefield Trust is launching a multi-year campaign to save this essential - and highly threatened - “First Blood at Willoughby’s Run” tract. These 15 acres of incredibly hallowed land saw some of the earliest and most dramatic opening moments of the Battle of Gettysburg.
After months of negotiations, the developer agreed to sell it to us for the price of $3 million. Fortunately, a generous donor who cares passionately about Gettysburg has stepped forward with an offer to give - over the next few years - fully half of that amount, or $1.5 million, as a match, if we can raise the other half!
The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

You can learn more about this hallowed ground on our website: www.battlefields.org/give/save-battlefields/preserve-15-acres-gettysburg-willoughbys-run

[@ranger053]

Extremely important to help.

[@chrisdavern9482]

Brilliant

[@SpartansAndHeroes]

Congrats! Well done!

[@verdant2215]

I absolutely despise developers. Always removing historical areas and putting up useless luxury appartments and cheaply made houses.

[@mikepalmer2219]

Don’t people live in those places?

[@JohnReedy07163]

I work for a developer. I walk that fine line between preserving historical land and making new places to live so we don't become over densely populated like Europe is. You can hate us if you want but many of us do indeed see the historical importance of like especially at places like Gettysburg.

[@marleneppaul]

Our farms and historic places grow houses not crops. The plan is for us to not grow our own food and rely on the government. The evil that think they run the world don’t want us having open spaces and eventually will put us in 15 minute/smart cities. I have respect for developers but the reason we need so much housing is because of the open border. I’m not getting political here but it’s the truth. They had studies that Americans were not having children yet we have extreme amounts of people in this country. Will the developers support 15 minutes cities for more money in their pockets? You will also be forced into those cities with the rest of us is that ok with you? I’m 54 and grew up in Baltimore City. Baltimore County had farms and within minutes we were in dairy farm country with delicious ice cream and fresh milk, cheese and cream. As a teenager all of it was gone and full of homes and shopping centers that never seem to make it. Folks would rather have conveniences instead of nature but not me. I applaud these gentleman and what they’re doing. I wish I had money because I’d donate but I can’t now.

[@mateobang6334]

​@@JohnReedy07163Go to the west and develop. Pennsylvania is already overpopulated

[@mateobang6334]

​@@JohnReedy07163Not only overpopulated but it'd be wiser to go develop better roadways and traffic light systems that way people aren't sitting at lights all the time or having to feel like they are in New York cause the overflow of people

[@scottcook9823]

Awesome! Unlike many others - the first day is my favorite. I start my tour at Herr's tavern (assuming I don't go out to Cashtown) I drive 250 miles every year to Gettysburg. Is there any plan to do anything with the ground before Barlows Knoll?

[@rebelscumspeedshop8677]

If I ever win the PowerBall I won't tell any friends but there will be hints..like American Battlefield and Trust suddenly buying up a lot of land.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Haha. We're looking forward to it!

[@blakebufford6239]

👍👍👍

[@danielpacker9603]

Love your videos keep up the good work. Something to consider.....Could you possibly consider using a larger, darker colored curser to make it easier to visualize.

[@K_Type]

Thanks!

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Thank you !!

[@TermiteUSA]

Great work you all are doing preserving these areas. When I hear those clowns whining about their bogus data centers I feel like saying "what data? And whose data are they stealing in the process".

[@susanalexander7921]

Amelia Harmon was a distant cousin of mine. I surely hope that this land can be saved. In honor of my cousin, I contributed what I can to the project. Thanks to the American Battlefield Trust.

[@dadsongs]

A couple years ago, I stayed in a rental property that was as close to this plot as you could get. I remember sitting on the patio with a drink and staring down the grade to woods that border Willoughby's run. I'm estatic that the neighboring property will soon become part of the park.

[@Webedunn]

Like my sister says, “the only thing Pennsylvania farms grow now is houses and minimarts!”

[@dennismatthews7060]

This tract of land is as much part of the battlefield as the field of Pickett’s charge and deserves to be preserved. But has the location of guy standing on the rock ever been positively identified? I think I remember Tim Smith saying he and Gary looked for that location but couldn’t find it. The location of the picture is irrelevant to the need to protect the land around Willoughby’s Run.

[@erichoopes7643]

In time, it will be difficult to save the land due to the build-up of the park roads to accommodate more tourists. As of right now, there's a gas station & a McDonald's in Pickett's charge. There's also an Rv park situated near the area the Union used as an armory for munitions. Disconcerting

[@LoyaltyOfDogsDotCom]

The number of modern structures that have been removed from the Battlefield since we arrived in 1974 is substantial. This acquisition is a key part of that on-going process. The Battlefield today is closer to its 1863 appearance than it has been in generations.

[@mateobang6334]

Pennsylvania is so awesome isn't it

[@mateobang6334]

Welcome to the new world

[@erichoopes7643]

@LoyaltyOfDogsDotCom The last time I visited, Devils Den & Round top/little was under construction to accommodate more foot traffic. With more people comes more bathrooms, food, and other amenities. Again, I hope it can be preserved. Good luck

[@johnswigler6512]

Big Stone River and the Franklin Tennessee battlefields have development all around them. Sad Franklin has acquired some property around it

[@Webedunn]

How soon before ROFO tears down the Jenny Wade house?

[@marleneppaul]

I love Gettysburg, I love farms, I love open spaces with untouched land. There are some that prefer cities and that’s great but most of us don’t. We don’t want 15 minute cities or companies that like to “Pave the World”. I know developers need to work just like the rest of us but if most of us became farmers which is a dream of mine even at age 54, we could barter, spend more time in nature, get to know our fellow man in person not on a phone or computer. If I had money I’d donate in a heartbeat but I’m getting ready to file bankruptcy. All I can do is pray or help in other ways. We need to keep places like Gettysburg preserved for the young children being brought into this crazy world. I know war is not something we’d like to remember but the place itself is so awesome and deserves protection.

[@frankj.artino2203]

Excellent. We'll stick with you till the end. ☆☆☆☆

[@terryeustice5399]

I pray the money is raised for this purchase. Loved Gary Adelman’s explanation of the days first battle. God Bless and happy Thanksgiving 🦃

[@mwdjr3158]

Fantastic!

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍

[@31stvirginia]

Nice

[@DonnaJohnson-ue7ex]

First of all this is history between the two states it’s hollow ground our students need to know about what took place here my great great grandfather fought here he fought for the south all these developer see is money and don’t care about history long live the south the south will rise again y’all take care now you hear

[@bigoldavey]

Save it...... for what? So no one can ever walk on it or use it? I'm all about the battlefield but the federal govt owns to much land that no one can use and they threaten to throw you in jail if you even step on it.

[@JohnReedy07163]

That's not what they do with land at battlefields

[@leebird3270]

For our veterans

[@davidallison2112]

The Gettysburg park is very open to folks walking the ground. My buddy and I were there in mid September '23 and walked Pickett's Charge. The park service even keeps the route open and mowed through the soybean fields. When we inquired with rangers at the visitors center if this was allowed, they told us yes enthusiastically. I've contributed to this wonderful effort by ABT and will contribute more as soon as possible.

[@tomgreen1721]

Seems like some of this land could be used for Amusement rides or an zoo, something that actually attracts people there , instead of just a cleared empty piece of land of something that happen 100 years ago. I went to Gettysburg when I was younger and all i got was a fruity looking hat in either blue or drab gray or green or something

[@joshua-gk4tz]

Was that a kid sitting on the top of the hotel photo? It looks like someone is sitting on the corner of the roof