Richard Neutra's Cyclorama Building

Richard Neutra's Cyclorama Building is a concrete and glass structure erected by the National Park Service on the grounds of the historic Gettysburg Battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is located in Ziegler's Grove, at the northern end of Cemetery Ridge, not far from the site of Pickett's Charge.

The Cyclorama Building was designed in 1961 by Viennese born architect Richard Neutra (1892-1970) as a place to view the 1883 Paul Philippoteaux cyclorama painting of the Battle of Gettysburg. Located just outside of Gettysburg on a part of the actual battlefield, it showcases the modernist style of clean lines and simple, yet striking form in the landscape. Build as part of "Mission66," the building became a well known landmark for the battlefield visitor. However, interior design flaws had led to the deterioration of the painting and, in the 1990s, the National Park Service commissioned a study to build a new facility. In 1998, the building's historic elegibility was confirmed by the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places as it possesses "exceptional historic and architectural significance." [http://www.mission66.com/cyclorama/ "Cyclorama Richard Neutra's 1961 Lincoln Memorial at Gettysburg."] "reCyclorama" June 7, 2007.] However, at the apparent urging of the National Parks Service, the building was not added to the National Register of Historic Places. [http://www.mission66.com/cyclorama/docs/section106.html#4.0 "Section 106 Case Report, Cyclorama Building, Gettysburg National Military Park"] Reprint at "reCyclorama" January 1999.]

The new Visitors' Center, located on government land that was not a significant troop position during the battle, opened to the public in the spring of 2008 and now houses the restored Cyclorama. Neutra's building is slated to be demolished and the ground and adjacent parking lots partially restored to their 1863 appearance, although legal proceedings are underway to save the structure.

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