The Tennessee Historical Commission and Tennessee Wars Commission are requesting applications for projects to protect Civil War and Underground Railroad sites in Tennessee.
The grants are funded through the Tennessee Civil War Sites Preservation Act, established in 2013.
“This is a valuable source of funding to help conserve time-honored battlefield properties,” Tennessee Historical Commission Director and State Historic Preservation Officer Patrick McIntyre notes.
“Additionally, the program can also fund places that sheltered slaves on the path to freedom.”
Specifically the program helps fund the acquisition of the properties – or of protective interests in properties such as conservation easements – for land associated with the 38 most significant Civil War sites in Tennessee. In addition, the grants will assist in funding underground railroad sites eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or for being designated a national historic landmark.
Previous grants from the fund have helped protect nearly 50 acres associated with the Battle of Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga. The amount of funds available for grants in Tennessee this year is expected to be $250,000. After review, applications will be rated and ranked. The grants will pay a 50 percent match. The grant recipient must provide the remaining 50 percent of the costs as matching funds.
Completed applications must be submitted by October 1, 2015.
Applications for grants are available from Fred Prouty at the Tennessee Wars Commission, 2941 Lebanon Road, Nashville, TN 37243. He may be reached via email at fred.prouty@tn.gov
For more information about the Tennessee Historical Commission and Tennessee Wars Commission, please visit http://tn.gov/environment/section/tennessee-historical-commission or call (615) 532-1550.