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Letter from James V. Hansen, Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, to John Berry, Assistant Secretary, Policy, Management & Budget, U.S. Department of the Interior, supporting review of the Cyclorama Building as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park System Advisory Board

May 16, 2000

The Honorable John Berry
Assistant Secretary
Policy, Management & Budget
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW #6117
Washington, D.C. 20240

Dear Assistant Secretary Berry:

An issue of great importance has come to my attention that I would like you to consider. This issue deals with the Cyclorama Building at Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania and its designation as a National Historic Landmark.

On December 13, 1999 the National Park System Advisory Board Landmarks Committee voted on and recommended to list the Cyclorama Building as a National Historic Landmark because of its national and extraordinary architectural significance. This recommendation was forwarded to the National Park System Advisory Board who rejected the recommendation of their own committee and voted not to forward the recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior. The Advisory Board rarely, if ever, rejects a committee's approval. This decision has not set well with the Landmarks Committee, the Society of Architectural Historians, nor the Commission on Fine Arts.

Therefore, I am strongly urging that the National Park System Advisory Board be directed to review anew the listing of the Cyclorama Building as a National Historical Landmark. I would also ask that the Advisory Board make their determination, if reconsidered, based on the merits of national significance of this building and strongly weigh the recommendation of the Landmarks Committee.

Sincerely,
/s/
James V. Hansen, Chairman
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands

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