Civil War Sites Preservation Fund

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Wars Commission, the Tennessee Historical Commission program devoted to preserving the state’s significant military history has announced that they will begin accepting grant applications on August 14, 2023, for the Civil War Sites Preservation Fund (TCWSPF).

 The Civil War Sites Preservation Fund, begun in 2013, is a key source for matching funds for the acquisition and preservation of properties associated with the 38 most significant Civil War sites in Tennessee. Additionally, grants can assist in funding the acquisition and protection of Underground Railroad sites eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, or eligible for designation as a National Historic Landmark.

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit.  Only projects associated with the 38 most significant Civil War battlefields in the state - as defined by the National Park Service report - or Underground Railroad sites are eligible. This grant will pay a one-to-one, 50 percent match where the grantee provides the match from a non-state source. After review, the applications will be scored, rated, and ranked by staff members of the Tennessee Historical Commission and the Tennessee Wars Commission. The full Historical Commission will then have final voting approval of eligible grant projects.

“Since its debut in 2013, approximately $11 million in grant funds from this program have helped save almost one thousand acres in our state,” said Tennessee Historical Commission Executive Director Patrick McIntyre. “This year, over $5,000,000.00 in TCWSPF grants will be used to preserve battlefield properties associated with the battles of Stones River, and Franklin” notes Tennessee Wars Commission Director of Programs, Nina Scall.

The deadline for submissions is November 3, 2023.  The grant application process is digital.  Create an account and complete the application at https://tdec.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp.

For more information please visit the Tennessee Wars Commission website or contact Program Director, Nina Scall, at 615.770.1095 or Nina.Scall@tn.gov.