Fort Ticonderoga overlooking Lake Champlain in upstate New York, a northern bulwark against British Canada during the American Revolution/Courtesy Carl Heilman II, Fort Ticonderoga, via NPS

The National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program has awarded $917,173 in Battlefield Interpretation Grants to preservation partners across the country. This new grant program funds projects that use technology to bring the stories of sites of armed conflict alive for modern audiences, from tactile maps that expand accessibility, to smartphone apps with augmented reality, to engaging videos and more.

“Now more than ever, we know how modern technology can bring people together. Harnessing powerful stories at these battlefields and sites of armed conflict can open our eyes to the lessons from the past and lead us to greater understanding of our shared history. The National Park Service is proud to support local communities as they improve universal access, engage new audiences, and broaden our perspectives around these important places,” said NPS Deputy Director Shawn Benge.

Coming out of years of historic and archaeological research, the Fort Ticonderoga Association will use these funds to roll out a new interpretive plan, increasing access to an area of the National Historic Landmark known as “Liberty Hill.” During the Revolutionary War, the fort served as a strategic northern passageway between the American colonies and British-controlled Canada. This site was occupied and reoccupied by Continental, British, Native American and German troops throughout the war. The project team will leverage long-standing relationships with universities and descendent communities to co-create inclusive and accessible experiences for visitors. The Association will initiate conversations with tribal communities to ensure that Native perspectives of the fort’s history are front and center. New York University’s Ability Project also joins the project team to develop universally designed trails and interpretive signs for all visitors. 

You can find the full list of grants here.

NPS ABPP’s Battlefield Interpretation Grants empower preservation partners nationwide to modernize and enhance battlefield interpretation – to inspire wonder, understanding and empathy at the places that witnessed some of our nation’s most challenging events. In addition, the program administers three other grants: Battlefield Land Acquisition, Preservation Planning, and the newly authorized Battlefield Restoration Grants. This financial assistance generates community-driven stewardship of historic resources at the state, tribal and local levels.