American Battlefield Trust

⭐ A crucial one and a half acres across two properties on the Franklin Battlefield have been saved forever! ⭐ In recent years, Franklin has evolved to be a major suburb of Nashville, driving up prices and making each acre saved even more precious. The two properties saved are adjacent to land already preserved by the Trust, adding to the nearly 200 acres saved by the Trust and its partners on the battlefield and telling a more complete story of the battle. As with other expensive Franklin projects, this work would not have been possible without the availability of matching grants from the federal American Battlefield Protection Program and the Tennessee Civil War Sites Preservation Fund (TCWSPF), administered by the Tennessee Wars Commission, a division of the Tennessee Historical Commission, State Historic Preservation Office, as well as support from local preservation groups and local government investment. Franklin was once considered to be among the most threatened Civil War battlefields in America, but incredible preservation efforts in recent decades have saved and restored a significant portion of the battlefield. Thanks to your support, this land will be acquired by Franklin’s Charge to be interpreted for generations to come.

The American Battlefield Trust is embarking on one of the largest preservation projects in its history, a national fundraising campaign that will result in an 857-acre protected swath of land associated with one of the Civil War’s most significant battlefields. The 417 acres currently owned by Pamplin Historical Park and Museum of the Civil War Soldier have been enjoyed and appreciated for decades by heritage tourists and countless school students, but until now has not been fully protected for future generations. The Trust has agreed to acquire the property for $11 million. Thanks to anticipated matching grant funding from the federal American Battlefield Protection Program, which has helped protect approximately 35,000 acres of hallowed ground across 20 states, and a major landowner donation, the Trust is seeking to raise $660,000 by year-end to complete the transaction. 📰 Read the full announcement here: https://bit.ly/4lqNwPq 💡 Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eJr_FMtb

We are grateful to the BBC News for making our fight against massive, inappropriate data center development on hallowed ground global news! Data centers, large industrial complexes that function as the backbone of the modern cloud-based internet, are an increasing threat to historic landscapes across Virginia. They require massive quantities of energy and water to function, and surrounding communities face significant issues related to their construction and operation. As of the end of 2024, the Trust is engaged with proposals for data centers on or adjacent to significant Virginia battlefields, including Brandy Station, Deep Bottom, Glendale, Manassas, North Anna, the Wilderness, and more. 📰 Read the BBC article here: https://lnkd.in/eyCYyDJM 💡 Learn more about our fight here: https://bit.ly/3IsDBu9

For the first time in decades, we have a transformative opportunity to not only preserve but restore Gettysburg. The American Battlefield Trust is launching a multi-year restoration campaign, beginning with the McKnight House and Farm on East Cemetery Hill. This first phase will open historic views long obscured by modern structures and help future generations observe the powerful legacy of this pivotal battlefield. With $212,000 already raised from three generous donors, we now seek $488,000 more to reach our Phase 1 goal of $700,000. Together, we can return Gettysburg to its 1863 appearance — and honor the stories of valor written into its soil. Learn more and donate today: https://bit.ly/4kkr09w

After meeting its critical, final fundraising deadline to secure more than 14 acres along Willoughby’s Run on the Gettysburg Battlefield, the American Battlefield Trust has crested a major milestone: 60,000 acres of Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War battlefield land saved across the country! The combined acreage, around twice the size of San Francisco, has created countless opportunities for people to experience the power of place throughout America’s irreplaceable historic landscape This incredible milestone was only made possible by the generosity of our members, paired with support from our partners and local, state, and federal grants. Thank you for your support! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/epTpqwHT

Please consider helping as you are able! Thank you.

Calling all history buffs: Are you ready to take on a new challenge this July? 🚶♀️🏃♀️ 🚴 Step up to protect history and honor the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg by taking on the 63-Mile Challenge with the American Battlefield Trust! This self-paced fitness challenge invites participants of all ages and abilities to walk, run, hike, or bike a total of 63 miles throughout the month of July. Whether you’re hitting your favorite trail, strolling through your neighborhood, or logging miles on a treadmill, every step helps make a difference. 📝 Register today for the challenge: https://lnkd.in/eHuR6tCy

Calling all history buffs: Are you ready to take on a new challenge this July? Step up to protect history and honor the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg by taking on the 63-Mile Challenge with the American Battlefield Trust! This self-paced fitness challenge invites participants of all ages and abilities to walk, run, hike, or bike a total of 63 miles throughout the month of July. Whether you’re hitting your favorite trail, strolling through your neighborhood, or logging miles on a treadmill, every step helps make a difference. Register today for the challenge: https://lnkd.in/eHuR6tCy

Exciting news! The finalists for the 2025 American Battlefield Trust Prize for History have been announced! This annual award seeks to showcase the vital nature of historic battlefields as primary sources in literary works and amplify the pressing need for preservation to readers interested in American history. Endowed by a generous donor to ensure no funds are diverted from the Trust’s primary mission, the award recognizes an outstanding published work focused on military history or a biography central to the nation’s formative conflicts: the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Listed alphabetically, the finalists include: ⭐ Alan Pell Crawford, "This Fierce People: The Untold Story of America's Revolutionary War in the South" (Alfred A. Knopf) ⭐ Erik Larson, "The Demon of Unrest" (Crown Publishing) ⭐ Patrick O'Donnell, "The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln’s Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby’s Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America’s Special Operations" (Grove/Atlantic, Inc./Atlantic Monthly Press) ⭐ Timothy Smith, "The Inland Campaign for Vicksburg: Five Battles in Seventeen Days, May 1-17, 1863" (University Press of Kansas) ⭐ Alan Taylor, "American Civil Wars: A Continental History" (W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.) ⭐ Andrew Waters, "Backcountry War: The Rise of Francis Marion, Banastre Tarleton and Thomas Sumter" (Westholme Publishing) Learn more about the finalists here: https://bit.ly/4legeTk All finalists, who were nominated by their respective publishing houses, have been invited to speak at a festival-style gathering of books and authors convened by the Trust in Gettysburg, Pa., November 13-15, the lead-up to Remembrance Day Weekend. Learn more about the event here: https://bit.ly/4n9Wkuo 📲 Share your impressions of the finalists on social media using the hashtag #BattlefieldBookPrize

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, we stand at a pivotal moment in history. At the American Battlefield Trust, we are seizing this opportunity to protect 218 irreplaceable acres of Revolutionary War battlefield land in New York and South Carolina — land that has remained largely untouched for nearly 250 years. But it’s not enough to protect the land. We must also tell the stories — through The Liberty Trail, a national initiative of interpretive signage and digital guides helping millions explore Revolutionary War history right where it happened. We’ve already secured most of the $1.5 million cost. Now, we need your help to raise the final $80,000 for this campaign — $30,000 to secure the land, and $50,000 to bring it to life with history-rich signage and mobile experiences. America’s 250th celebration is just around the corner. Let’s honor the Patriots who secured our freedom by protecting the places they fought.