Fees Go Up For The Park’s
The new rates are: adult $10.50, seniors and military $9.50, youth (ages 6-18) $6.50. The previous fees, which went into effect last Oct. 2, were $7.50, $6.50 and $5.50 for the respective categories. The admission covers museum exhibits, the film “A New Birth of Freedom” and the Cyclorama painting. The visitor center, battlefield, national cemetery, parking, ranger programs and research facilities are free. Discounts of 15-20 percent are given on tickets booked online at www.gettysburgfoundation.org. An annual pass, which includes membership in the Gettysburg Friends, offers savings with individual membership of $20 and $60 for families. Gettysburg Foundation spokeswoman Dru Neil said, “All proceeds from ticket sales and other purchases in the museum go to help the Gettysburg Foundation with its preservation and education mission.” An $8 movie admission had been charged since the April 2008 museum and visitor center opening. However, projected annual revenues were $1.8 million below expectations. Visitors thought the charge was too high as was the combined movie and Cyclorama $12 ticket that was supposed to start with the official opening in late September. At that time the museum was free. Supt. John A. Latschar reported in April that overall park visitation in 2008 was down 11 percent, “caused, no doubt, by the steep spike in energy costs during the height of the summer visitor season.” However, more people went to the new visitor center (1,117,000 visitors) than the old one and they stayed longer, an average of four hours. |
