John Latschar - Superintendent, Gettysburg National Military Park

“My personal reflection, when I first saw it in the 1990s, was that it was boring - I thought it took far longer than what it should have to tell the story that it was trying to tell, and it was telling that story in a fairly antiquated means,” said Dr. Latschar. “But there’s also another aspect to my opinion: I’m red-green-brown color blind…so I have a hard time distinguishing the lights. It’s something that people weren’t thinking about in the 1930s.”

"...one hundred percent antiquated."

Comments from the NPS...

"It does have a nickname: the Electric Nap."

"The Electric Map was good in its day, but the light bulb concept just doesn't cut it anymore"

"From an architectural standpoint, it takes up an immense amount of space."

"The electric map concept, which is to orient people to the movement of troops on the battlefield, will be done much better in the new museum."