The Civil War Sesquicentennial at Civil War Trust is one of the great ways you can observe the 150-year anniversary of the Civil War. One of my favorite sites is the the Civil War Trust, a non-profit that works to save endangered Civil War battlefields. Lots of people besides genealogists are paying attention to this period in history because of the anniversary, so let’s see how they’re commemorating.
More about The Civil War Trust:
The Civil War Trust is the largest and most effective nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation of America’s hallowed battlegrounds. Although primarily focused on the protection of Civil War battlefields, the Trust also seeks to save the battlefields connected to the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. Through educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives, the Trust seeks to inform the public about the vital role these battlefields played in determining the course of our nation’s history.
The Civil War Trust is a membership-driven organization that uses donated funds to protect Civil War battlefield land. Land is acquired by the Civil War Trust from private sector parties at fair market value or by donation. Once land is acquired, the Civil War Trust is responsible for land stewardship and interpretation, often with assistance from local governments and other preservation groups.
In cases where a landowner wants to retain ownership the Civil War Trust can arrange a conservation easement to protect their property. Conservation easements ensure that the property remains free of development in future years.
In its effort to preserve Civil War battlefields, the Civil War Trust attempts to leverage federal and state programs designed to foster preservation of historic and natural resources. The primary source of federal support for the preservation of Civil War battlefields is the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program (CWBPP), administered by the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP), an office of the National Park Service. CWBPP is designed to promote the preservation of significant Civil War battlefields by offering competitive matching grants for qualifying preservation opportunities.[6] Other federal sources include the Transportation Enhancement program and the Farm and Ranch Protection Program. The Civil War Trust has also leveraged funds made available by state and local governments.
That’s a worthy goal all on its own, but I think genealogists should also pay a visit because they offer excellent maps of Civil War battlefields to help your genealogy research. And because this is the 21st-century, they also have an iPhone app that informs your visits in person.
So if you’re doing Civil War research, visit the Civil War Trust and also consider giving a few bucks to support their mission. The Civil War Sesquicentennial at Civil War Trust is a great resource.
Lisa, I’m delighted to hear that you found it helpful. I need to do some work on my husband’s Civil War ancestors and soon.
Thank you for this post. I was able to visit the battle sites where my ancestors lost their lives. I had not idea about this site but will visit again.