News Release
Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site
News Release Date: August 8, 2024
Contact: NewsMedia@nps.gov
WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) today awarded $456,934.78 in Battlefield Restoration Grants through the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP). The two grant recipients will help enhance the restoration of Civil War battlefields in North Carolina and South Carolina, with each applying the funds to analyze, stabilize, and restore key features of the landscapes to reestablish the battlefield’s historic features for generations to come.
“Today’s grants help to create connections to the landscapes that carry our nation’s history,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “By supporting these local restoration efforts, all Americans will gain the opportunity to learn about history from more than just books, understand the foundation and growth of this country, and enjoy more protected open green space.”
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources will use $100,000.00 in grant funds to produce a Cultural Landscape Report to guide the restoration of key portions of the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site in Johnston County, N.C. A series of Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants, another grant opportunity available through the ABPP, have helped acquire and protect over 2,000 acres of land for the historic site. The Cultural Landscape Report will provide an understanding of changes over time, present a plan for potential work to restore this historic landscape, and will involve feedback from landowners, tenant farmers, Tribal entities, preservation specialists, and the local community.
The College of Charleston will use $356,934.78 in grant funds to restore and stabilize a powder magazine and two cisterns, some of the last remaining features of Fort Johnson in Charleston County, S.C. which was originally constructed around 1708. During the Civil War, the site served as part of the defensive network protecting Charleston Harbor from Union Army naval and land attacks. The magazine and adjoining freshwater cisterns are the few surviving structures from the Civil War era. Restoration of these historic structures will be coordinated with a master plan for enhancing education and recreation opportunities in green spaces around the Charleston Harbor.
The American Battlefield Protection Program’s Battlefield Restoration grants allow the National Park Service to promote a broad and inclusive stewardship of battlefields and sites of armed conflict on American soil. The program administers three other grant programs: Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants, Preservation Planning Grants, and Battlefield Interpretation grants. This financial assistance generates community-driven stewardship of historic resources at the state, tribal and local levels.
Funding for these grants is provided through 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.
Preservation Planning Grants are available on an annual basis. To learn more about how to apply, head to NPS ABPP’s website. For questions about NPS ABPP’s grants, contact the program at email us.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430 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 8, 2024