Main Street Gettysburg has announced that construction of the Gettysburg Welcome Center will officially begin in March, with a grand opening planned for August 2026.
Main Street Gettysburg will host a public groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., marking the official start of construction on the long-planned downtown visitor facility.
The ceremony will take place at the project site, 340 Baltimore Street. Community members, elected officials, project partners, donors, and members of the public are invited to attend. Guests include Council President Matthew Moon; Borough Manager Charles Gable; Borough Engineer Chad Clabaugh; Architect Connor Phiel; Destination Gettysburg Vice President Carl Whitehill; Main Street Gettysburg Chair Timbrel Wallace; Main Street Gettysburg President Jill Sellers; and Congressman John Joyce, M.D., who was instrumental in securing a $1.27 million Congressional Appropriation to fund construction.
The Gettysburg Welcome Center will serve as a centralized hub for visitors entering downtown from the Baltimore Street corridor. The facility will provide orientation services, visitor information, and ADA-accessible public restrooms—an essential amenity long identified by businesses, residents, and tourism partners. Positioned between Lincoln Square and Steinwehr Avenue, the center will strengthen pedestrian flow and enhance the overall visitor experience within the Borough’s historic district.
“This project reflects years of planning and partnership,” said Jill Sellers, President of Main Street Gettysburg. “The Welcome Center is more than a building—it is critical infrastructure that supports our tourism industry and downtown businesses.”
The project is made possible through a combination of public funding, private investment, and local support. Main Street Gettysburg has worked in coordination with the Borough of Gettysburg, Adams County partners, tourism stakeholders, and federal and state representatives to advance the initiative.
“With construction funded and underway, now we must secure its future,” Sellers added. “As Gettysburg prepares to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, Main Street Gettysburg invites residents, businesses, and visitors to invest in the Welcome Center’s endowment fund. This investment will ensure that Gettysburg remains ready to welcome the world for generations to come.”
Our thanks to Schmuck Lumber Company for providing the ceremonial shovels!
For more information about the Gettysburg Welcome Center project or to donate to its endowment fund, visit: https://www.mainstreetgettysburg.org/gwc-2025
For additional information, contact Main Street Gettysburg at 717-337-3491.