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American Battlefield Trust | HearLore
— Ch. 1 · Origins And Evolution —
American Battlefield Trust.
~7 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
In 1987, a group of history enthusiasts formed the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites to save land from the American Civil War. This organization acquired thousands of acres while offering educational tours and seminars with prominent historians. A second nonprofit called the Civil War Trust emerged in 1991 to help preserve battlefields over eight years. The two groups merged on the 19th of November 1999, creating the Civil War Preservation Trust. That merger streamlined efforts to protect America's most endangered parcels of Civil War history through direct acquisition of battlefield lands. On the 11th of January 2011, the group shortened its name to the Civil War Trust and adopted a new logo. Veterans Day marked another turning point when the Trust partnered with the Society of the Cincinnati to launch Campaign 1776. This subsidiary project aimed to protect endangered battlefields from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 by acquiring land. Federal matching grants for this program were enacted by Congress in December 2014. On the 8th of May 2018, the organization announced it was becoming the American Battlefield Trust. This change reflected an expanded mission to include land preservation not only of Civil War battlefields but also those of the American Revolution and the War of 1812.
Methods And Funding
The American Battlefield Trust operates as a membership-driven organization that uses donated funds to protect battlefield land from three major conflicts. Land is acquired from private sector parties at fair market value or by donation. Once land is secured, the Trust handles stewardship and interpretation often with assistance from local governments and other preservation groups. In cases where a landowner wants to retain ownership, the Trust can arrange a conservation easement to protect their property. Conservation easements prohibit development of property while conserving it in its present state. The primary source of federal support for Civil War battlefield preservation comes through the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program. This program is administered by the American Battlefield Protection Program, an office of the National Park Service. CWBPP promotes preservation of significant Civil War battlefields by offering competitive matching grants for qualifying opportunities. Other federal sources include the Transportation Enhancement program and the Farm and Ranch Protection Program. The Trust has leveraged funds made available by state and local governments throughout its history. Since 1987, the group and its partners have preserved land in 25 states at more than 160 battlefields. More than acres were acquired and preserved from 2014 to 2018 alone.
Major Acquisitions
The campaign to preserve Slaughter Pen Farm stands as the most expensive private battlefield preservation effort in American history. The Trust worked with Tricord Inc., SunTrust Bank, and the Central Virginia Battlefield Trust to purchase the property for $12 million in 2006. To support these efforts, the Department of the Interior awarded a $2 million grant based on the significance of the land. Slaughter Pen Farm was the largest remaining unprotected part of the Fredericksburg Battlefield. It remains the only place where visitors can follow the Union assault from beginning to end. In October 2010, the Trust announced a new campaign to acquire land at The Wilderness Battlefield in Orange County, Virginia. This Middlebrook Tract includes the eastern edge of Saunders Field and land associated with the 6th of May 1864 flank attack by Confederate forces under John B. Gordon. After reaching its $1,085,000 fundraising goal in under three months, the Trust acted as steward until May 2014 when it transferred the land to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. In July 2014, the group launched one of its most ambitious projects: a $5.5 million national fundraising campaign to acquire a site that witnessed some of the heaviest fighting of the 1st of July 1863. That location included the Mary Thompson house where General Robert E. Lee made his headquarters during the battle.
Development Battles
In May 2018, the American Battlefield Trust purchased 14.85 acres of Maxwell's Field on the Princeton Battlefield for $4 million. The Institute for Advanced Study owned the land and planned to develop it with 15 single-family homes and townhomes. To fight this proposed development, the Trust created the Save Princeton Coalition. This coalition included the American Association for State and Local History and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The parcel constitutes about two-thirds of Maxwell's Field adjacent to the current state park. Although heavy equipment began removing trees, negotiations preserved most of Washington's charge while allowing construction of 16 townhomes elsewhere. On the 20th of December 2006, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board voted to reject a casino proposal less than a mile from Gettysburg. A second application filed in 2010 faced similar opposition. Nearly 300 prominent historians wrote to the board urging rejection of the new application. Emmy award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns and Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough appeared in a video declaring their opposition. On the 14th of April 2011, the board rejected this second proposal to bring casino gambling to Gettysburg. In May 2002, a regional developer announced plans to build 2,300 houses and commercial space on Mullins Farm at Chancellorsville. The Civil War Trust formed the Coalition to Save Chancellorsville to wage a vocal campaign against the development. Public opinion polling found that more than two-thirds of local residents opposed the project. By March 2003, the Spotsylvania County Board denied the rezoning application.
Education And Engagement
The American Battlefield Trust conducts programs designed to inform the public about events and consequences of three major wars. Its website provides comprehensive educational information including scores of battle maps and hundreds of primary sources. Hallowed Ground serves as the Trust's quarterly magazine featuring articles on history and preservation techniques. Video programs include animated battle maps and four-minute summaries of history topics available on YouTube and Facebook. The Trust maintains a two-week curriculum for use in classrooms called Traveling Trunks. More than 20 GPS-enabled battlefield touring applications exist for smartphones and mobile devices. Park Day represents an annual volunteer clean-up day at battlefield sites throughout the United States. Since 2019, the group has annually chosen 15 high school members from around the nation to participate in preservation initiatives. These youth leaders learn about lobbying, social media, and communication skills to aid their hometowns. The organization also sponsors professional development events featuring teacher workshops and battlefield tours. Volunteers help clean up sites like Sackets Harbor during these community outreach efforts. The Trust works to interpret many saved battlefields with wayside exhibits and walking trails.
Leadership And Growth
David N. Duncan became president of the American Battlefield Trust effective the 1st of October 2020 upon retirement of O. James Lighthizer. Duncan served as chief fundraiser after his hiring in March 2000 and helped raise more than $240 million during two decades in that position. A native of Virginia, Duncan graduated from James Madison University before joining the Trust. Lighthizer had led the non-profit since November 1999 following merger of predecessor organizations. He previously served as Maryland Secretary of Transportation from 1991 to 1995 where he pioneered using Transportation Enhancement highway funds. On the 13th of January 2021, Lighthizer received the National Humanities Medal from President Donald J. Trump for his work. When Lighthizer became president at CWPT in 1999, the fledgling organization had 22,000 members. During his tenure, the group added more than acres of protected land and grew to 200,000 members nationwide. Robert C. Daum serves as chairman of the board of trustees. He is a retired investment banker who also serves on executive committees of several major institutions.
Recognition And Awards
The American Battlefield Trust has received 11 consecutive 4-Star awards from Charity Navigator covering years 2007 through 2019. This award recognizes charitable organizations exhibiting strong results and financial discipline. The Trust stands among only four Arts, Culture, Humanities institutions with 11 or more consecutive 4-star ratings. In 2020, video productions created by the Trust earned Silver Medal honors in major international competitions. These videos were produced in association with Wide Awake Films and showcased innovative means to bring history alive. The Trust received accreditation from the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance in 2012. It was awarded the Partner in Conservation Award by the United States Department of the Interior in 2010. The membership magazine Hallowed Ground has been honored in APEX Awards for Publication Excellence each year since 2009. The Gettysburg Animated Map received a 2014 Silver Telly Award in the Online/Historical Programs category. By April 2014, the organization had met its initial $40 million fundraising goal of Campaign 150 more than a year early. The group chose to raise its goal to an unprecedented $50 million before concluding the Civil War sesquicentennial.
When was the American Battlefield Trust founded and what organizations merged to create it?
The American Battlefield Trust was formed on the 19th of November 1999 when the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites and the Civil War Trust merged. The organization shortened its name from the Civil War Trust to the American Battlefield Trust on the 8th of May 2018.
What specific battlefields has the American Battlefield Trust preserved since 1987?
Since 1987, the group and its partners have preserved land in 25 states at more than 160 battlefields including Slaughter Pen Farm and Maxwell's Field. The Trust also acquired land at The Wilderness Battlefield in Orange County Virginia during a campaign launched in October 2010.
How does the American Battlefield Trust fund battlefield preservation efforts through federal grants?
Federal matching grants for this program were enacted by Congress in December 2014 to support Campaign 1776 which protects Revolutionary War and War of 1812 sites. The primary source of federal support comes through the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program administered by the National Park Service office known as the American Battlefield Protection Program.
Who leads the American Battlefield Trust and what are their qualifications?
David N. Duncan became president of the American Battlefield Trust effective the 1st of October 2020 after serving as chief fundraiser since March 2000. Robert C. Daum serves as chairman of the board of trustees and is a retired investment banker who sits on executive committees of several major institutions.
What awards has the American Battlefield Trust received for its work between 2007 and 2019?
The American Battlefield Trust has received 11 consecutive 4-Star awards from Charity Navigator covering years 2007 through 2019. The organization also earned Silver Medal honors in international video competitions in 2020 and received accreditation from the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance in 2012.