NOTICE!

DISSOLUTION OF GETTYSBURG EQUESTRIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

On February 28, 2026, at the final meeting of the Gettysburg Equestrian Historical Society, the following motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously:

Resolved, that Gettysburg Equestrian Historical Society (GEHS) cease operations effective March 1, 2026;

that the financial assets of GEHS be transferred to the Gettysburg Foundation for the purposes of horse trail maintenance, in accordance with the October 7, 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between GEHS and the Foundation;

that the President of GEHS shall take the steps necessary to liquidate all other assets of GEHS, and

that the President of GEHS shall confer further with the other officers to determine the disposition of GEHS records, photographs, and other memorabilia.

Although the announcement of this decision may come as a surprise to some, it has been in the works for the past two years. In summary, GEHS is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. By definition, without volunteers, it cannot function. Over the past several years, our corps of volunteers has slowly but surely grown smaller and older, until the same few people were doing almost everything, every year.

GEHS was founded in 1994 with the singular purpose of assisting the National Park Service in the maintenance and improvements of the equestrian trails at Gettysburg National Military Park. That is all GEHS has ever done, and it has been a job well done. For that, all past and current members should be proud. But it appears that the time for GEHS – a small but efficient volunteer nonprofit organization – has come and gone.

The Gettysburg Equestrian Historical Society was founded in 1994 as a non-profit volunteer organization with the sole purpose of assisting the National Park Service in preserving and maintaining the equestrian trail system at Gettysburg National Military Park.

The horse trails at Gettysburg are a splendid and unique way to experience the history and landscapes of the most dramatic land battle in American history. The trails offer riders the opportunity to ride the same battlefield where over 165,000 soldiers (and 72,000 horses and mules) struggled for three long, bloody days to determine whether we would be one nation or two – to ride across the landscape where “A New Birth of Freedom” was made possible.

The use of the equestrian trails at Gettysburg NMP is a privilege that requires the support of all those who use and enjoy these trails and their historical significance. Even in the best of times, the NPS never has sufficient funds to maintain the landscapes, monuments and memorials of the battlefield and to care for the millions who visit each year.

The Gettysburg Equestrian Historical Society, through its volunteer services and fund-raising efforts, has pledged to assist Gettysburg NMP in preserving and maintaining this incomparable equestrian experience.

You can help maintain the wonderful opportunity to ride the Gettysburg Battlefield by becoming a member, and by attending and supporting our fund-raising activities.