Civil War Sites Preservation Fund

Applications for next year’s grant cycle will run from August 10, 2026, to October 31, 2026.

The Tennessee Wars Commission, the Tennessee Historical Commission division responsible for preserving the state’s significant military history, has announced the Civil War Sites Preservation Fund (CWSPF) grant recipients for Fiscal Year 2026. This fund, which was established in 2013, is a key source for matching funds for the acquisition and preservation of hallowed ground.

With this round of grants, the Civil War Sites Preservation Fund has now allocated over $22 million in matching funds for the acquisition and preservation of approximately 1100 acres associated with the 38 most significant Civil War sites in Tennessee. Grants can also 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.

“In addition to saving irreplaceable battlefield lands, this valuable program has helped create parks and preserve open space and wildlife habitat, including in urban areas where there is significant development pressure,” said Tennessee Wars Commission Program Director Nina Scall.

2026 FY Grant Awards

Grant funds totaling $2,602,273.82 were awarded to six applicants during the 2026-2027 grant cycle, saving approximately 22.387 acres of battlefield lands:

• Franklin’s Charge Inc., receives $1,250,000.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 1.247-acre Bernander Tract at the Franklin Battlefield (Williamson County)
• American Battlefield Trust, receives $543,245.26 for the acquisition of the +/- 11.15-acre Henderson Tracts II and III at the Stones River Battlefield (Rutherford County)
• American Battlefield Trust, receives $199,273.82 for the acquisition of the +/- 5.09-acre Henderson IV Tract at the Stones River Battlefield (Rutherford County)
• American Battlefield Trust, receives $33,000.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 2.0-acre Johnson Tract II at the Shiloh Battlefield (Hardin County)
• Battle of Nashville Trust, Inc., receives $500,000.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 1.21-acre Kay Tract on Shy’s Hill at the Nashville Battlefield (Davidson County)
• American Battlefield Trust., receives $115,000.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 1.69-acre Spears Tract at the Hoovers Gap Battlefield (Coffee County)

Requirements

This grant requires a 1:1 match, where the recipient provides a 50 percent match from another non-state source. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3). Eligible sites must be associated with the 38 most significant Civil War battlefields as defined by the National Park Service, be an Underground Railroad site eligible for designation on the National Register, or eligible for National Historic Landmark status.

For questions regarding the grant process or application procedure, contact Nina Scall, Program Director of the Tennessee Wars Commission via email at Nina.Scall@tn.gov. More information is available on the Tennessee Historical Commission website.