Patrick H. McGettigan, a Washington, D.C. software executive explains the serendipty series of events that led to his 8-by-10 foot mural of the Gettysburg Address being loaned to Gettysburg. The painting is on display at the Wills House on Lincoln Square. (Photo: Darryl Wheeler - Gettysburg Times)

What began a few years ago, as a mural of the Gettysburg Address for a software executive's in-home office, has found its way to Gettysburg and the historic home in which President Abraham Lincoln finished the immortal speech.

Patrick H. McGettigan of Washington, D.C. commissioned muralist Vicki Khuzami of New York to create the work in 1998 for use in his home in Georgetown. "I thought I might use the Preamble of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence or the Gettysburg Address," said McGettigan who admitted to loving the words, particularly the first and last sentence of the Lincoln's most famous speech. "The written word is beautiful. And we purposely did not try to imitate Lincoln's hand writing," said McGettigan.

When he finally saw the work earlier this year, McGettigan was thrilled with Khuzami's work, and the emotions it stirred within him. "It was much grander than I anticipated," said McGettigan. "I thought it deserved a public venue." And so began the journey that brought the mural to Gettysburg and the Wills House. "It's very mysterious for the painting to end up here, of all places," said McGettigan. "It's getting a little spooky." "I was searching for places to show the mural. Starting in D.C., I contacted the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institutes Museum of American History, even the (National) Archives," he explained. He went on-line and found the Lincoln Forum.

"They immediately suggested Gettysburg," said McGettigan. The Smithsonian also suggested Gettysburg and gave him a lead at the National Park Service. The process became complicated when the NPS website and e-mail were disrupted this winter. "I heard that they were unable to get a copy of the Gettysburg Address for the Wills House," said McGettigan. "And I thought that while it might not be the original, it's certainly the largest copy of the Gettysburg Address." He then contacted Congressman Todd Platts' office here in Gettysburg and Platts' aide, Robert Reilly, helped him get in touch with the Park Service and the Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum Foundation. "We tried to find a home for it and this is the perfect place," said McGettigan.

The 8-by-10 foot painting is located along a wall on the first floor of the Wills House, which now houses displays of local preservation efforts by the National Gettysburg Battlefield Museum Foundation, Main Street Gettysburg, the Adams County Historical Society, the Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation Association and the Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg.

The information center also includes a video program as well as two of the original fireplaces uncovered during the Historic Structures Report. Encased in plexiglass, the fireplaces offer a glimpse into the past as broken pieces of china dating back to the 1820's were placed in the fireplaces as fill before they were covered. The large painting is on loan at to Gettysburg until November. The 139th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. "I want the Lincoln Forum guys to see it. I've made quite a few friends through this," said McGettigan.

The display officially opened Friday in conjunction with History Meets the Arts. Visitors will be able to take in the painting and informative displays on weekends.