Secretary Bernhardt Announces Grants for Protecting American Battlefields in 11 States

Date: Friday, May 15, 2020
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON - During a visit to Gettysburg National Military Park today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt highlighted the Trump Administration’s support for protecting and enhancing our nation’s historic sites and announced $3 million in American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) grants. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission was awarded more than $573,000 to acquire two tracts of land adjacent to the iconic battlefield with their non-profit partner the American Battlefield Trust.

“Battlefields such as Gettysburg are sacred sites where Americans gave the last full measure of devotion,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “These grants enable us to partner with communities and organizations to preserve these places and connect visitors with their historical importance.”

“ABPP grants create partnerships among state and local governments and nonprofit organizations to act quickly and proactively to preserve and protect nationally significant battlefields, such as Gettysburg,” said National Park Service Deputy Director David Vela, exercising the authority of the director.

Since 2017, the Trump Administration has provided $47.8 million in grants through the ABPP, helping states and local communities acquire, preserve and share the history of our nation’s battlefields. Federal oil and gas revenues from the Outer Continental Shelf provide the lion’s share of deposits into the Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which is the largest source of funding for ABPP grants.

LWCF also supports tens of thousands of other state and local projects, including the protection of important water sources, expansion of access for hunting and fishing and the preservation of recreational areas. President Trump has taken a historic step in calling on Congress to permanently fund LWCF and address the multi-billion dollar deferred maintenance backlog at national parks. Permanent funding would provide long-term support for projects such as today’s battlefield protection announcement.

Other ABPP grant recipients by state include:

Connecticut

• $96,679 to the Fairfield Historical Society for the preservation of the Battle of Pequot Swamp, 1637.
• $50,150 to the Ridgefield Historical Society for education and stewardship of the Battle of Ridgefield, 1777.

Florida

• $206,890 to Florida State University for research of a site associated with the Apalachee Revolt of 1647.
• $60,672 to the University of Florida Board of Trustees for research of battlefields associated with the 1614 Spanish Campaign against the Calusas.

Georgia

• $116,247 to the Georgia Southern University Research & Service Foundation for research on two 1864 American Civil War skirmishes in Jenkins and Burke Counties.

Illinois

• $93,220 to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University for research on Fort Henry, which was attacked by the Union Army in 1862.

Maryland

• $67,100 to the Society for the Preservation of Maryland Antiquities for research on the battle of St. George Island, 1776.
• $78,000 to the Society for the Preservation of Maryland Antiquities for development of the South Mountain Battlefield, 1862.

New Jersey

• $104,410 to the Palisades Parks Conservancy planning on the Revolutionary War Fort Lee Historic Park.

Ohio

• $99,286 to Ball State University for research on the battle of Pechuwe, 1780.

Tennessee

• $137,775 to the City of Parkers Crossroads to protect a 0.55-acre tract of Parker's Cross Roads Battlefield in Henderson County, 1862.
• $259,446 to the City of Chattanooga to protect a 9.09-acre portion of the Wauhatchie Battlefield in Hamilton County, 1863.

Virginia

• $1,053,650 to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation to fund the acquisition of a 76.11-acre portion of Bristoe Station Battlefield in Prince William County, 1862-1863.
• $32,274 to the Palisades Parks Conservancy for the development of the Port Republic Battlefields, 1862.
• $39,427 to the Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission for research of the Battle of Berryville, 1862.
• $86,740 to the Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield for research on Racoon Ford, Morton’s Ford, and Sommerville Ford Battlefields, 1863-1864.

Vermont

• $66,873 to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum at Basin Harbor, Inc. for research of the Arnold’s Bay Battlefield, 1776.

In 2019, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission received an ABPP grant of more than $400,000 to preserve 7.6 acres of the historic Gettysburg battlefield at the United Lutheran Seminary.

Learn more about these grants and the American Battlefield Protection Program here.