Building the Spotsylvania Exhibit Shelter: Mission 66 - A Then & Now Look

In preparation for the fiftieth anniversary of the National Park Service in 1966, the Department of the Interior implemented a ten-year program of enhancement projects designed to improve the visitor experience. The program was dubbed "Mission 66." Among these tasks were the construction of modern interpretive facilities, replacing the rustic Contact Stations of the CCC era. In the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, two new Visitor Centers and three Exhibit Shelters would be constructed to coincide with the anniversaries of the battles they'd interpret. The Chancellorsville Visitor Center was set to open on the first weekend in May, 1963. By July of that year, construction was underway for an exhibit shelter on the Grant Drive entrance to the Spotsylvania unit. By the end of April, 1964, the shelter was nearing completion, in plenty of time for the hundredth anniversary of the Spring Campaign of 1864.

This September 1963 photograph documents the pouring of the concrete floor and patio of the Spotsylvania Shelter. It was built on a substantial cinder block foundation with brick walls and a heavy steel framework that emulated residential architecture of the day. The roof had four skylights to provide additional ambient light to the open air design.

Approximate same view in February 2011.

 Prior to the installation of wire mesh to the open gable ends of the rafter

system, workers are seen here applying a clear sealer coating to the

natural wood ceiling planks inside the interpretive area.

Over time, the natural wood look was replaced by a heavy coating of

white paint, providing durability and easier maintainance. Note the

 skylight and wire mesh enclosed gable end.

                   On April 28, 1964, the interpretive display panels were being installed.

                       This approximate view of the same corner shows updated panels

and more engaging graphics installed around 2004. There is a continuing

 effort to enhance the visitor experience. Photo taken February 22, 2011.

                   In another April 28, 1964 photograph by NPS historian Ralph Happel,

Peder Kitti and Frank Philips of the Department of the Interior's Branch

of Museums, prepare hardware for the mounting of the interpretive panels.

They were assisted by Freddie Paytes of the F&SNMP maintenance department.

Note the accordian style, gate enclosure for the shelter, rarely if ever, used today.

Approximate same view, February 2011.

The one-hundredth anniversary of the National Park Service will be celebrated in 2016. 

Black and white photographs seen here are from the files of the F&SNMP.

Color photographs copyright 2011 by John F. Cummings III