Demolition crews demolished a historic house at 340 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg today to make room for a new $1.3 million welcome center in the heart of the tourist district.
The two-story brick structure, known locally as the “Brown House” for its dark exterior, has stood since 1885 on a street rich in Civil War history. But after years of vacancy and structural decline, officials and preservationists agreed the building was no longer viable for modern public use. The home’s original framing, narrow stairways, and outdated utilities made compliance with modern building codes impossible.
The demolition is the first major step toward constructing the Gettysburg Welcome Center, a long-planned downtown hub for visitors. The new center is expected to open in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
The center will feature a red-brick façade, traditional rooflines, and architectural details appropriate to the Victorian streetscape. The building will include ADA-compliant restrooms, accessible entryways, and informational and educational displays. Salvageable materials, including bricks and wood, may be repurposed.
The site was once home to the Winebrenner Tannery, a Civil War-era business that contributed to Gettysburg’s industrial landscape during and after the 1863 battle. Main Street Gettysburg, which is leading the project, plans to incorporate the tannery’s story into exhibits and signage at the new facility, ensuring that the deeper layers of the site’s history are preserved and interpreted for visitors.
The welcome center will serve as a central point of orientation for the millions of tourists who visit Gettysburg each year. While the National Park Service operates a visitor center at the battlefield, the town itself has never had an official downtown information facility.
The property was donated to the borough in 2019 by Gettysburg local Tim Shields, with the goal of creating a civic space for public use.
In 2023, the project received a major boost when it was awarded a $1.27 million Congressional Appropriation Grant, secured with the help of federal legislators. This funding brought the total budget for the building and site development to approximately $1.5 million. The grant helps ensure that construction can proceed without significant local tax contributions.
Main Street Gettysburg has also launched a $1 million endowment campaign. The effort received early momentum from a $100,000 donation from Destination Gettysburg and a successful $100,000 challenge grant from the J. William Warehime Foundation. As of this spring, the endowment has surpassed $300,000.
Tourism officials expect the facility to play a key role in boosting downtown commerce by directing more foot traffic toward businesses, museums, and lesser-known historic sites in Gettysburg. The welcome center is seen as a way to extend visits and keep more visitor spending within the borough.
The Brown House was a familiar fixture but not an individually designated landmark. Its demolition was reviewed by the Gettysburg Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB), which found the new building’s design to be compatible with the surrounding architecture.
Tim Shields “donated” the property after he was denied permission to demolish the structure. Mr. Shields was going to construct and staff a visitors center at his own expense. Gettysburg borough government strikes again.
That was my family’s home for decades. When I left there in 1984, the foundation had been weakened by a series of floods and the back end of the house had literally sunken to the point that when I was a kid, I could put my Matchbox cars on the floor and they’d roll to the other side of the kitchen. Yeah, it’s kind of sad to see it go with all the memories, but it was time. It was beyond repair.
Very sad you destroy history for a welcome center Very disappointing
We moved to Gettysburg in 2013 and I’ve been following the story of this brown house off and on since then in local newspapers. My (perhaps fuzzy) recollection is that it was purchased by a man (I suppose that would be Tim Shields, the named donor in the article) who requested approval from HARB to renovate the building. I seem to recall that he wanted to turn it into a for-profit enterprise with bathrooms, etc. for tourists to use. However, HARB turned down his request to renovate, even though the floors were supposedly so uneven that a ball could roll… Read more »
You, in my personal opinion of living here my entire life. You, are absolutely right, governing in Gettysburg smh.
This comment contains some truth, but also contains significant errors that have often been repeated. Mr. Shields did own the property. He had purchased 340 Baltimore Street from the Shultz family of the Farnsworth House. Loring had considered ideas, but was unable to make a viable use of the property. 340 Baltimore Street was in poor condition by 2018. Mr. Shields did apply to demolish and replace the building. The presented concept was essentially what will be built now–a non-profit visitor center for that area of town. Mr. Shields is often generous, and presented a vision of preparing this property… Read more »
Thank you. Good to have accurate information from a knowledgeable source. Special thanks for pointing out Mayor Frealing’s important contribution.
Wesley, I greatly appreciate your clarification on the entire recent history of the “brown house” from Mr. Shield’s purchase to its final iteration as the new Gettysburg Welcome Center. When I read those newspaper stories (about 7 years ago, apparently), it wasn’t clear what had led to Tim Shield’s decision to donate the property. I also wasn’t aware (until now) of your support for his initial proposal for the property and that the time lag of HARB approval was the decisive factor in his decision, rather than an outright denial. Thanks so much for the detailed explanation. I believe I… Read more »
The battle was in1863.The house was built 1885 so nothing to do with the battle era town. It was in poor condition
Hope the visitor center built looks decent
I’m sorry Walter, but that’s like saying anything in Gettysburg that was built after 1865 has no real historical value.
This is a shame, Gettysburg officials made the store at the corner of Steinware and Baltimore streets close because the building didn’t fit in with the historical look and surroundings. Then they put another of the same in the same spot. Go anywhere near the battlefield and pick up a rock, you’ll be arrested if it in your possession, yet so easy to tear down a historical structure in the name of greed!
Why couldn’t a “welcome center” be incorporated into that big Gettysburg museum – I actually thought that’s what that building was. Very ironic to tear down a historic home when we’re trying to learn about “History”
The house was built 20 plus years after CW???
So?
Sad to see any historic homes being demolished. Hopefully the new building will blend in beautifully with surrounding buildings. Will their be any parking?
I would disagree with the word “impossible”, used in the article to declare that the house could never have been restored to a practical use. More accurately, preservation lost to pressure from the welcome center advocates. Good or bad, I do not know, but the reporting here is inaccurate as utilities and stairs can be addressed.
I think this is a shame. Seems a little more widespread fundraising could have repaired and restored such a treasure. I descend from Rupp name. Please don’t demolish anymore. I will help raise the money. Thank you and glad you’re there and care about our precious history. .
Are there no vacant storefronts around the Square that could serve as a Welcome Center? Couldn’t that money have been spent rehabbing a historic building? A town that makes its money on history, tearing down history seems sad and inexplicable.
Did anyone take photos inside of the house before destroying it.
Yes, the property was fully documented, including photographs, metal detecting, soil samples, asbestos testing, and more. Photo of the basement is attached as an example. Please contact me if you have other questions about the project. 717-337-3491
Were any artifacts discovered?
Ridiculous there are vacant rest buildings could’ve used