Gettysburg Foundation Plans to Renovate the Rupp House

By Elle Lamboy · Originally published April 2020 · p. 25

Gettysburg Foundation As the American Civil War creeps further into the corners of our history, there is an increasing concern that its significance will, in turn, fade from our country’s collective consciousness. Studies have revealed that only one in three Americans could pass a U.S. citizenship test. Some participants even thought Dwight D. Eisenhower led troops in the Civil War. Each year, fewer students choose to major in history, and many teachers have stated that the American Civil War doesn’t get much airtime in the classroom. Here at the Gettysburg Foundation, we’re trying to kickstart an early interest in the significance of what happened in Gettysburg by meeting our young learners at the Rupp House History Center. During the Battle of Gettysburg, what is now the Rupp House History Center (451 Baltimore Street) was the family home of John and Caroline Rupp and their six children. When fighting began on July 1, the Rupp family went across the street to Soloman Welty’s house, one of John’s best friends, and hid in his cellar. The Rupp’s returned to their home later that same night; when fighting started again on July 2, they hid in their own cellar. That night, John’s father, Henry, arrived and took Caroline and the children to his residence, about eight blocks away. John remained in the cellar to the soundtrack of gunfire shooting through his home. In a letter he wrote days after the Battle of Gettysburg to his sister-in-law, John recounts the horrifying experience stating (spelling and punctuation are as written by John Rupp) “…Now Ann, I will tell you about my warm and uncomfortable situation I was placed in after Caroline and the children had gone to fathers. The Rebs occupied the whol of town out as far as the back end of my house….Our men occupied My porch, and the Rebels the rear of the house, and I the cellar…..I could hear the Rebs load their guns, and fire. Thair was one of our men killed under my big oak tree in the lot, and one in Snyders meadow close to our house…” His home, as you could imagine, was also “well roddled with Minie Balls” and the damage from the Battle of Gettysburg would eventually cause the Rupp family to perform extensive renovations on the family home. It is now our turn to do some renovating. The Rupp House currently offers a free, interactive museum experience that tells the story of John Rupp, his family, and the perils of Gettysburg’s civilians. These exhibits are 15 years old and are more than ready for a concept and construction upgrade. The plan to renovate the Rupp House was developed to engage the next generation by designing it for families with young children. The exhibit will invite these young learners to follow The Children of 1863, people just like them, who lived through the Battle of Gettysburg. The children of Gettysburg tell their story in their own words and directly connect us to July 1863 and to the search for meaning that followed and continues today. Guided by learning objectives designed by professional educators, our creative concept has six areas for families to explore together through an inclusive, interactive journey of informed imagination. Visitors will be faced with the same questions children faced in July 1863 like, “Would you stay or go?”; “If you left, what things would you take with you?” More complex thoughts will be introduced including, “How did freedom mean different things for different people?” and “Why is Gettysburg still relevant today? To bring this new vision to reality, the Gettysburg Foundation is partnering with the PRD Group. Located in Chantilly, Va., PRD is highly regarded in the field and has worked on exhibits at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Seminary Ridge Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and several Presidential Libraries, among others. We anticipate opening The Children of 1863 exhibit in 2021. For more information and ways to support the project, visit our website gettysburgfoundation.org. The Rupp House at night.