Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites

Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites
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Name	Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites
Formation	1988
Type	Nonprofit preservation organization
Headquarters	United States
Region served	United States

Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites is a nonprofit preservation organization focused on identifying, conserving, and interpreting battlefields and related sites from the American Civil War. The association engaged with federal and state agencies, local historical societies, and national preservation groups to protect properties connected to the Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Shiloh, and other major engagements. It worked alongside entities such as the National Park Service, American Battlefield Trust, Civil War Trust, and state historic preservation offices to advance land acquisition, easement agreements, and archaeological documentation.

History

The association was established in 1988 amid growing concern about development pressures on sites tied to the American Civil War. Early initiatives connected the organization with landmark preservation efforts at Antietam National Battlefield, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, and Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. During the 1990s and 2000s it collaborated with preservation advocates from the Gettysburg Foundation, Parks Canada (in comparative dialogue), and scholars from institutions such as Harvard University, University of Virginia, and William & Mary to develop standards for battlefield integrity. Key cooperative successes included campaigns that influenced Congressional action involving the National Historic Preservation Act and consultations with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Mission and Objectives

The association’s mission emphasized protection of landscapes associated with the American Civil War, accurate interpretation of Abraham Lincoln-era events, and stewardship of material culture. Objectives included land acquisition for sites linked to the Siege of Vicksburg, Battle of Fort Sumter, Battle of Cold Harbor, and lesser-known engagements like New Market Heights and Honey Hill. It prioritized advocacy to federal actors such as the United States Department of the Interior, collaboration with regional groups including the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and Tennessee Historical Commission, and fostering academic research with partners like the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress.

Preservation Activities and Projects

Preservation activities ranged from purchasing critical tracts near Petersburg National Battlefield to negotiating conservation easements adjacent to Monocacy National Battlefield and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. The association conducted or supported archaeological surveys with teams from Smithsonian Institution affiliates, artifact curation projects for museums like the Museum of the Confederacy and the National Civil War Museum, and landscape restoration aligning with guidelines from the National Park Service. Notable projects included preservation of terrain associated with the Battle of Nashville, documentation of earthworks at Fort Donelson, and stabilization efforts at the Battle of Bentonville site. The association also participated in litigation and advocacy concerning development proposals near Manassas National Battlefield and environmental review processes under statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act when applicable.

Education and Public Outreach

The association produced interpretive materials, walking tour guides, and public programming in partnership with organizations like the American Battlefield Protection Program, Smithsonian Institution, and regional museums. Outreach included lectures featuring historians from Gettysburg College, West Point, Princeton University, and Drew Gilpin Faust-era scholarship networks, school curriculum resources aligned with state education standards in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, and collaborative events with battlefield friends groups such as the Friends of Antietam National Battlefield. It supported reenactment consultations involving associations like the Association of Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums and contributed to documentary projects with producers linked to PBS, Ken Burns, and university press publications.

Organizational Structure and Governance

The association operated with a board of directors drawn from historians, preservation professionals, and land conservation specialists, often including members affiliated with American Battlefield Trust, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and university history departments at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or University of Georgia. Staff positions encompassed preservation planners, archaeologists, and outreach coordinators who liaised with state historic preservation offices, county planning commissions, and municipal governments in locales such as Gettysburg, Sharpsburg, and Richmond, Virginia. Governance followed nonprofit regulations under federal tax law and reporting practices typical of 501(c)(3) organizations, and the board used strategic plans comparable to those developed by the Civil War Preservation Trust.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources combined private donations from individuals and foundations, grants from entities such as the National Endowment for the Humanities, and project-specific support from state historic preservation offices and local philanthropic organizations like the Commonwealth Foundation in some states. The association forged partnerships with the American Battlefield Trust, National Park Service, and regional land trusts including the Open Space Institute to leverage matching funds, conservation easements, and technical assistance. Collaborative grant proposals often involved academic partners from Johns Hopkins University, Rutgers University, and Louisiana State University to secure funding for research, interpretation, and archeological work.

Category:Historic preservation organizations based in the United States Category:American Civil War veterans and history organizations