The National Park Service has committed nearly $1 million in grants to help preserve more than 760 acres of land at seven of America’s threatened Civil War battlefields.
The grants will be used to help preserve hallowed ground at South Mountain in Maryland, Brice’s Crossroads in Mississippi, Carthage in Missouri, Bentonville in North Carolina, and Peebles’ Farm, First Rappahannock Station, and Second Rappahannock Station, all in Virginia.
“America’s Civil War battlefields are places where we can learn about democracy, sacrifice, heroism and hope in the very places where those concepts shaped our history,” said Park Service Director Jon Jarvis in a prepared statement. “These grants will help preserve the sacred places where America’s highest ideals are enshrined so that this and future generations can better understand the struggles that define us as a nation.”
The grants are from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program, one of more than a dozen programs administered by the National Park Service that provide technical assistance, recognition, and funding to help states and local communities preserve their own history and create close-to-home recreation opportunities.
Applications for funds are evaluated on the significance of the property as defined by the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the nation’s Civil War battlefields, on the property’s location within defined core and/or study areas, the threat to the battlefield land to be acquired, and the availability of required non-federal dollar-for-dollar matching funds.
Grants are awarded to units of state and local governments for the fee simple acquisition of land, or for the acquisition of permanent, protective interests in land (easements). Private non-profit groups may apply in partnership with state or local government sponsors.
Complete guidelines for grant eligibility and application forms are available online.
Support Essential Coverage of Essential Places
