News Release
Sarah Fritz/Anacostia Trails Heritage Area
News Release Date: August 31, 2022
Contact: NewsMedia@nps.gov
WASHINGTON - The National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program (NPS ABPP) today awarded $489,200 in Battlefield Interpretation Grants to six projects that will enhance visitor experiences at more than two dozen battlefields from Massachusetts to Georgia. This grant program funds projects at eligible American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefields and associated sites that use technology to engage audiences, expand accessibility, and promote understanding of our collective history. The awards are made possible by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which reinvests revenue from offshore oil and natural gas leasing to help strengthen conservation and recreation opportunities across the nation.
“Harnessing the history of our nation’s sites of armed conflict through dynamic interpretation can lead to greater understanding of our shared past. The National Park Service is proud to support public partnerships which support inclusive community engagement that honors and preserves the past to realize our shared ideals,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams.
Building on a decade of collaborative local partnerships, the grant to Anacostia Trails Heritage Area will create an interpretive plan for the War of 1812’s Battle of Bladensburg. Just five miles north of Washington D.C., the American defeat at Bladensburg allowed British forces to march into the capital, setting fire to the newly formed nation’s public symbols of democracy. Today, a riverside trail winds its way through a dynamic, urban landscape home to diverse communities. The project will design a strategy to unify the visitor experience of the historical and contemporary landscape with multilingual content and enhanced accessibility. The project will also consider augmented reality technologies to enable visitors to explore the waterfront at the time of the battle. By making the history of the Battle of Bladensburg engaging and accessible, Anacostia Trails Heritage Area’s project invites communities along the trail to link their lives to the stories of the past, to protect our shared heritage, and to enjoy these special places for years to come.
NPS ABPP’s Battlefield Interpretation Grants empower preservation partners nationwide to modernize and enhance battlefield interpretation – to inspire wonder, understanding and empathy at the places that witnessed some of our nation’s most challenging events. In addition, the ABPP administers three other grants: Battlefield Land Acquisition, Preservation Planning, and Battlefield Restoration Grants. This financial assistance generates community-driven stewardship of historic resources at the state, Tribal and local levels.
The next opportunity to apply for a Battlefield Interpretation Grant will be in early 2023. To learn more about how to apply, head to NPS ABPP’s website. For questions about NPS ABPP’s other grants, contact the program at e-mail us.
|
State |
Recipient + Project |
Amount |
|
FL, GA, MA, NC, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA |
“American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit” |
$200,000.00 |
|
MD |
“Undaunted: Scoping a Modern Battle of Bladensburg Interpretation Plan” |
$15,200.00 |
|
NY |
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum “The Revolutionary War in the Champlain Valley” |
$30,000.00 |
|
NY |
“The Turning Point at 250” |
$20,000.00 |
|
VA |
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation “Long Road to Freedom Heritage Trial Project” |
$74,000.00 |
|
VA |
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation “One Story a Thousand Voices Museum Exhibit” |
$150,000.00 |
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Last updated: August 31, 2022