National Park Service Marks 110 Years with Free Access to Gettysburg Battlefield

Tuesday marked the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service, prompting the agency to waive entry fees at Gettysburg National Military Park as part of National Park Week. Jason Martz, a public affairs specialist for the park and the Eisenhower National Historic Site, described the celebration as a layered reflection of American history, connecting the park’s preservation of the 1863 battle to the nation’s 250-year story.

He emphasized the battlefield’s pivotal role in ending the Confederate invasion and its link to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The park spans more than 6,000 acres, featuring over 1,000 monuments, 368 cannons, and the Gettysburg National Cemetery, which honors Union soldiers. Martz framed the anniversary as part of an ongoing effort to safeguard democracy and the nation’s heritage.