Statement from Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Regarding Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s Decision Not to Approve a Casino Near Gettysburg Battlefield

Posted April 14, 2011 | Contact pr@savingplaces.org or 202-588-6141

Washington, D.C. (April 14, 2011) —The following statement was issued by Stephanie Meeks, the president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, after the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board awarded the available Category 3 gaming license to Nemacolin Woodlands in Fayette County rather than to a proposed casino near the Gettysburg Battlefield in Adams County.

“This is the right decision for the people of Adams County, and for the millions of Americans who believe in protecting the sacred sites that tell us who we are as a nation,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “When President Lincoln dedicated the Gettysburg Battlefield in 1863, he ensured that this ground would remain sacred soil, a place for the entire nation to visit and remember the sacrifices made on the battlefield. For decades, people from across the country and around the globe have flocked to Gettysburg to experience the battlefield and enjoy the authentic town of Gettysburg. We hope today’s decision lays to rest, once and for all, the idea of placing a casino so close to this important historic site. We are proud to share in this victory with our many partners.”