The Hancock Avenue Gate along the Taneytown Road. The gate was erected as the intended entrance to Gettysburg National Military Park from the Taneytown Road. Notice the plaques stating “Gettysburg National Military Park.”This view was taken facing southwest circa 1923-1960.

Minus the eagles (which were lost or stolen; it’s unclear), the park had most of the gate in storage. You can see the depressions/spaces in the stone for the two plaques. What did the plaques look like when they were found in storage?This image was taken facing southwest at approximately 7:30 AM on Sunday, November 27, 2016.

Yeah…This image was taken circa the 2000s and is courtesy of The Barbara Adams Photo Collection.

But this is what you’d expect after seeing a piece of bronze laying in storage for decades. So it was up to the preservation team at the Cannon Shop to clean the signs.This image was taken facing south at approximately 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 28.

We’re spoiled by the consistent work that the preservation and maintenance teams have been able to do at Gettysburg National Military Park in the last two decades. Remember, this is what most cannon carriages looked like on the battlefield a few decades ago…This image was taken circa the 2000s and is courtesy of The Barbara Adams Photo Collection.

…until an effort was made to restore them.This image was taken circa the 2000s and is courtesy of The Barbara Adams Photo Collection.

Here is one of the signs after restoration by the Park’s cannon shop.This image was taken facing east at approximately 12:00 PM on Wednesday, April 19, 2017.

These signs will likely be returned to the gate, along with eagles/globes, this month.This image was taken facing east at approximately 12:00 PM on Wednesday, April 19, 2017.

A close-up showing the foundry that created the plaques almost 100 years ago: “BUREAU BROS / PHILA”This image was taken facing east at approximately 12:00 PM on Wednesday, April 19, 2017.