Civil War Sites Preservation Fund

Applications for next year’s grant cycle will run from August 11, 2025 to October 31, 2025.

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 2025. 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 $20 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 historic places, 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 Historical Commission Director Patrick McIntyre.

2025 Fiscal Year Grant Funds

Grant funds totaling $1,935,250.00 were awarded to six applicants during the 2025 fiscal year, saving approximately 81.4 acres of battlefield lands:

1. American Battlefield Trust, receives an additional $125,250.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 30.7-acre Charton Tract at the Wauhatchie Battlefield (Hamilton County) for a total of $469,500.00.
2. American Battlefield Trust, receives $22,500.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 0.46-acre Essary Tract at the Chattanooga Battlefield, (Hamilton County)
3. Franklin’s Charge, Inc., receives $1,000,000.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 13.89-acre Hillhaven Tract on Ropers Knob at the Franklin Battlefield (Williamson County)
4. American Battlefield Trust, receives $187,500.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 23.75-acre Johnson Tract at the Shiloh Battlefield (Hardin County) 
5. Battle of Nashville Trust, Inc., receives $505,000.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 1.03-acre Shy’s Hill Tract at the Nashville Battlefield (Davidson County)
6. Battle of Franklin’s Trust, Inc., receives $95,000.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 11.57-acre Smith/McKee Tract at the Spring Hill Battlefield (Maury 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.