View from the Gettysburg National Tower, a 393 foot steel observation tower built on private land next to the battlefield. Widely criticized by historians and preservationists as an eyesore, it was demolished by explosives on July 3, 2000, the 137th anniversary of Pickett’s Charge. 1977. #gettysburg #gettysburgbattlefield #civilwar #civilwarhistory #daytrip #pennsylvania #pennsylvaniadestinations #vacation #fantasyland #battlefield #pickettscharge #pickett #lincoln #eyesore #eyesores