Civil War buffs couldn't see history for the trees

[flashl]

National parks clear trees from original battlefield 'sight lines,' delighting (and appalling) students of history.

GETTYSBURG, PA. - Even though he spends his time guiding tourists through the nooks and crannies of a Civil War-era house, retired librarian Harry Conay believes that nature can trump history.

He's watched in horror as the National Park Service has tried to make the Gettysburg National Military Park look more like it did on three July days in 1863. Officials are nearly a third of the way through cutting down 576 acres of trees that didn't exist back then.

Another 275 acres will be replanted with trees and orchards that disappeared over the past 15 decades. But it's not enough to please Mr. Conay, who says the battlefield's history is partly told through the healing of the earth. After all, the trees managed to thrive on land ravaged by a deadly struggle between two immense armies.

...

But the trees continue to fall, despite a flurry of protests amid preparations for this month's opening of a $103 million visitors center and museum. And as the 150th anniversary of the Civil War approaches, at least one other battlefield is poised to restore history by chopping down countless trees.

CSM

[madokie]

1. I'm sure my Grandfather would be appalled if he were alive today

After all he was a Union Soldier back then :-)

[Kolesar]

2. Blithely stupid in the context of carbon sequestration

National Park Service employees must be screaming about this. Nothing at Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility yet: http://www.peer.org/news/index.php

[Dogtown]

3. Catering to menchildren again

Just like the ATVs in Yellowstone.

All that timber & habitat gone so that hobbyists can play war.

From those I'vee seen on History Channel, these reenactors would be more historically accurate if they didn't meet @ IHOP for their meetings.

They need to average a 50# drop in weight to be in character.

[XemaSab]

4. I don't have that big a problem with this

These are history parks, and not "nature" parks. If they're there to educate people about history, preserving some of the original appearance of the park could be good. Also, grasslands are habitat too. ;)