Topographic maps of the area, drawn to scale, were used to lay out the map area. This first map was in service from 1938 to 1963 when a new map was put into operation in the spring of the year. The original map was viewed by over 4 million people including many notable people. In the early 1940s Field Marshal Rommel viewed the map with members of his staff.

Also military classes from the academies, President Eisenhower, Field Marshall Montgomery, movie personalities, and many others of note have viewed the map presentation over the years.

The new map was constructed in 1962-63 in a large auditorium specially built for its use. It measures about 30 feet square. The scale is approximately three feet to one mile. Months of work were required to position metal pins to designate the various elevations.

Metal conduits were placed strategically for the location of lights to designate troop positions, each light representing a brigade. At this point the plaster was molded to within ¼" of the desired elevation and finally the finish coat of textured material was applied.

Following this came the tedious work of connecting miles of wire from the 250 switches to more than 625 lights. Roads, avenues, streets and streams were painted on the surface and finally the border and trim were put into place. The lights, representing the Union and Confederate troops, are so situated to approximate the location of various brigade positions.

The late Joseph L. Rosensteel wrote the narrative for the original map and this same basic form of narrative is still in use today. It is delivered at a tempo that permits the visitor to comprehend and follow the battle movements and make the experience more meaningful.

The National Park Service acquired the Electric Map in 1971 and Eastern National Park and Monument Association began operation of the map in October of 1973. The Rosensteel family donated the unique Civil War artifact collection to the government and the building housing the collection and Electric Map became the Park's Visitor Center. Since Eastern National's operation of the map over 2.3 million visitors have seen the Electric Map orientation program.