DHR Announces 2021 Virginia Battlefield Preservation Grants to Protect 441 Acres
–General Assembly allotted $1 million for battlefield preservation in 2021–
–Targeted tracts are in the counties of Augusta, Henrico, Shenandoah, and Spotsylvania–
Todd’s Tavern
RICHMOND – The Department of Historic Resources has awarded grants from this year’s Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund that will protect more than 441 acres associated with Civil War battlefields, including tracts affiliated with the actions of United States Colored Troops. The acreage targeted for preservation is located in Augusta, Henrico, Shenandoah, and Spotsylvania counties.
Based on the Department of Historic Resources’ recommendations, the Commonwealth will award Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund (VBPF) grants to two organizations, the American Battlefield Trust and the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. These two nonprofits will use the VBPF grants to leverage private matching donations to preserve land tracts associated with four Civil War battlefields—Fisher’s Hill (Shenandoah Co.), Piedmont (Augusta Co.), Second Deep Bottom (Henrico Co.), and Spotsylvania Court House (Spotsylvania Co.).
The General Assembly established the VBPF in 2010, and authorized DHR to administer the fund by evaluating and disbursing grant awards to eligible recipients. After receiving more grant applications than the 2021 fund of $1 million can support, DHR determined this year’s selection, as it has in the past, through a rigorous evaluation process.
In accordance with VBPF stipulations, organizations that receive battlefield grants must donate an easement to the Virginia Board of Historic Resources on any acreage acquired with the state grants. The easements restrict or forbid development of the acreage, allowing for perpetual protection of the land.
In selecting the awards, DHR considered each battlefield’s significance and ranking in Congress’s mandated “Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields,” issued in 1993 and subsequently updated. Additionally, DHR weighed factors in the grant applications such as the proximity of a battlefield parcel to already protected lands; the threat of encroaching development that could transform a parcel’s historic look and feel at the time of a battle; and the potential for education, recreation, research, or heritage tourism in connection with a battlefield tract.
Using these criteria, DHR will disburse to the—
American Battlefield Trust three grants with combined totals of $565,000 to purchase 188.6 acres affiliated with two battles, as follows:
$500,000 toward the purchase of 136.6 acres in Spotsylvania County connected to the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House;
$49,500 toward the purchase of 49.7 acres, and $15,500 toward the purchase of 2.3 acres, all in Henrico County and associated with the Battle of Second Deep Bottom (among other battles).
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation two grants totaling $435,000 to purchase easements on 252 acres associated with two battles:
$235,000 toward a preservation easement on 106 acres in Shenandoah County associated with the Battle of Fisher’s Hill;
$200,000 toward an easement on 146 acres in Augusta County tied to the Piedmont Battlefield, which is located along the Middle River.
“The preservation of historic battlefield properties contributes to Virginia’s significant and growing heritage tourism. Moreover, preserving these lands also supports low-impact recreational areas near to expanding urban centers, while in many cases also preserving targeted lands for agricultural uses under private ownership,” said Julie V. Langan, DHR director.
For descriptions of each grant - click this link for the original release