Main Street Gettysburg is excited to announce that the next phase is underway for the Gettysburg Welcome Center.
On June 4, 2025, the existing structure at 340 Baltimore Street will be demolished to prepare for new construction of the Gettysburg Welcome Center. The demolition will be carefully carried out by C.E. Williams, which is also preparing the site for construction.
The need for a downtown welcome center was first identified in 2018 through a series of public meetings with Main Street Gettysburg, the Borough of Gettysburg, C.S. Davidson (Borough Engineer), and more than 80 community members and organizations. These discussions highlighted the lack of accessible public restrooms and central tourism information in the historic district.
“This project has been carefully curated for over six years and is finally moving forward,” said Main Street President Jill Sellers. “It’s a bittersweet moment to witness the past making way for the future, but thanks to many generous donors and grant awards, this vital project will support our businesses, residents, and visitors for generations to come.”
The property was generously donated to the Borough of Gettysburg specifically for this purpose. The new Welcome Center will feature ADA-compliant restrooms and a central hub for tourist information, event listings, transportation resources, volunteer opportunities, and more. Located between Steinwehr Avenue and Lincoln Square, the center will improve accessibility and walkability in the heart of downtown Gettysburg.
Funding is fully secured thanks to a combination of local and federal support:
$153,000 raised by Main Street Gettysburg through local fundraising efforts
$300,000 committed by the Borough of Gettysburg
$1,272,436 awarded through a Congressional Appropriation
Final design plans, created by Connor Phiel of Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, will be submitted to the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) in July. Pending approval, the project will go out for contractor bids in August, with construction expected to begin in the fall of 2025.
“Our goal is to open the welcome center by summer 2026, just in time to host visitors for America’s 250th anniversary,” said Sellers. “We are incredibly grateful to our partners, donors, and the community for helping bring this vision to life.”
Contact Main Street Gettysburg for more information about the project or to donate to its endowment fund. 717-337-3491
ABOUT MAIN STREET GETTYSBURG, INC.
Main Street Gettysburg (MSG) was founded in 1984 as a non-profit organization to unite and lead the Gettysburg community in successful economic- and community-development projects to enhance the quality of life for Gettysburg and Adams County residents. The Main Street Gettysburg mission is to work with community partners for the historic preservation, economic revitalization, and overall enhancement of Gettysburg. The organization oversees ambitious initiatives and economic-development strategies. Major accomplishments include a 10-year interpretive plan for historic preservation in the Borough of Gettysburg; the $7.5 million Steinwehr Avenue Revitalization Project; over $480,000 in commercial investment under the Façade Improvement Program in 2023 and a new round in 2025; Wayside Marker Project in 2024; annual A Gettysburg Christmas Festival; Gettysburg Gateway Connectivity Project; and other initiatives to support the local economy, public infrastructure, and reduce the tax burden for public projects. www.mainstreetgettysburg.org
Source: Main Street Gettysburg