The Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse is perhaps one of the most famous and recognizable buildings on the Gettysburg battlefield. Located officially at 799 Baltimore Pike, the Italianate style gatehouse was constructed in 1855. (The cemetery opened shortly before in 1853-1854). It was designed by a Philadelphia architect, Stephen Decatur Button. The gatehouse served as the cemetery’s office, and as the residence of its caretaker. In the battle’s aftermath, Elizabeth Thorn, wife of the caretaker Peter (who had enlisted with the 138th Pennsylvania), buried approximately one hundred fallen soldiers in the vicinity, despite being six months pregnant at the time.
In 1885, a lodge was added to the back of the original gatehouse for the gatekeeper and his family.
Evergreen Cemetery is the final resting place of many of the farmers who owned land on the battlefield as well as famous citizens such as Jennie Wade (the only civilian killed during the battle), John Burns, and David Wills (the principal figure in the establishment of the National Cemetery). It also the burial place of Hall of Fame baseball player Eddie Plank.
