NPS - National Park Service
07/23/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/23/2024 11:57
Delegates from Sekigahara Battlefield Visit Gettysburg National Military Park
News Release Date:
July 23, 2024
July 23, 2024
Contact:Jason Martz
Contact: Trini Nye, [email protected]
Gettysburg, Pa.(July 23, 2024)- On July 18 and 19, 2024, Gettysburg National Military Park and Gettysburg Foundation staff received a delegation from our Sister Park, the Sekigahara Battlefield, Sekigahara, Japan. Representatives from the Gifu Prefecture government, Sekigahara Battlefield and Japanese tourism associates were in attendance. Since the 2016 World Battlefields Summit Joint Declaration, this most recent visit continued the Sister Park relationship between the Gettysburg and Sekigahara battlefields. At the same time, the Borough of Gettysburg signed a Sister City agreement with the town of Sekigahara, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
Now preserved as a military park, Sekigahara Battlefield is remembered as one of the largest samurai battles in history, when 160,000 opposing eastern and western factions of samurai fought on and around a strategic mountain pass. On October 21, 1600, the Eastern Army of Tokugawa Ieyasu successfully defeated the Western Army of Ishida Mitsunari and so began more than 200 years of peace in Japan. Learn more about the Battle of Sekigahara on Gettysburg National Military Park's website.
On July 18, Sekigahara Battlefield delegates enjoyed a viewing of the film A New Birth of Freedom, experienced the light and sound show of the Gettysburg Cyclorama and explored the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. Following a tour of the Gettysburg battlefield, the delegates enjoyed time behind the scenes to view artifacts not currently on exhibit, preserved and cared for by Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation.
On July 19, the delegates had the opportunity to explore the Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad StationTM, owned and operated by Gettysburg Foundation, where they experienced Gettysburg through virtual reality technology in Ticket to the Past-Unforgettable Journeys. On September 5, 2016, this historic station hosted the signing ceremony to celebrate the new Sister Park relationship between Gettysburg National Military Park and the historic Sekigahara Battlefield along with the Sister City relationship between the Borough of Gettysburg and Sekigahara, Japan.
The Japanese delegation visit fosters cultural exchange and strengthens international ties with Gettysburg National Military Park, the Gettysburg Foundation and the Borough of Gettysburg. The delegation also visited the Gettysburg Borough Hall and other businesses in town and experienced a comprehensive understanding of Gettysburg's significance and impact on American history. Their visit is representative of the Gettysburg Foundation's efforts to reach new and international audiences through fostering collaboration and mutual promotion of historical and cultural attractions. Gettysburg National Military Park and the Gettysburg Foundation encourage visitors to learn the significance of such momentous historical events from different countries and cultures for a more holistic and informed view about our shared human heritage.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at http://www.nps.gov and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
ABOUT GETTYSBURG FOUNDATION
The Gettysburg Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit philanthropic, educational organization operating in partnership with the National Park Service to preserve Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site and educate the public about their significance. The Foundation operates the Museum & Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park, as well as the George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital, Children of Gettysburg 1863® and Ticket to the Past-Unforgettable Journeys. The Foundation offers customized professional leadership development on the Gettysburg battlefield through Higher Ground Leadership at Gettysburg programming. For information about visiting Gettysburg or how you can become a Friends of Gettysburg member or make a donation in support of the Foundation's preservation and education mission in partnership with the National Park Service at Gettysburg, visit GettysburgFoundation.org or call 877-874-2478. Proceeds from tickets and other purchases in the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center benefit Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site.