Civil War era Depot to get New Lease

The historic Gettysburg Railroad Station  where President Abraham Lincoln arrived to deliver his famous Gettysburg Address in 1863 may soon have a new tenant. The Gettysburg Borough Council has approved a lease agreement with the Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau to occupy the building, the Gettysburg Times reported.

The borough owns the station and raised $2.5 million to restore it to its Civil War era appearance. Over the past three years, the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission operated the complex as a tourist information center with several displays. But the commission’s state charter expired last year, leaving the station with no operator. Traditionally, the borough has budgeted up to $10,000 to maintain the station, but no funding is budgeted this year.

President Abraham Lincoln, of course, arrived and left town via train at the station in 1863, when he delivered the Gettysburg Address. So the Park Service would be an appropriate owner of the building, which has been beautifully restored to its Civil War era appearance.

The borough is trying to sell the station to the National Park Service, but it cannot move forward until the station is included within the boundary of the Gettysburg National Military Park. A federal bill that would have added the station to the park’s boundary died in the recent lame duck session of Congress, and must be reintroduced.

The  Pioneer Scenic Railway operates the Gettysburg Express and offers several scenic train rides including a Murder Mystery Dinner Train.  A three hour scenic train ride runs through the beautiful countryside of Adams County.