The Tennessee Wars Commission, the Tennessee Historical Commission program devoted to preserving the state’s significant military history has announced that they will begin accepting grant applications on Aug. 17 for the Civil War Sites Preservation Fund. 

The Civil War Sites Preservation Fund, begun in 2013, is a key source for matching funds for the acquisition and preservation of properties associated with the 38 most significant Civil War sites in Tennessee. Additionally, grants can assist in funding the acquisition and protection of Underground Railroad sites eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, or eligible for designation as a National Historic Landmark.

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit.  Only projects associated with the 38 most significant Civil War battlefields in the state - as defined by the National Park Service report - or Underground Railroad sites are eligible. This grant will pay a one-to-one, 50 percent match where the grantee provides the match from a non-state source. After review, the applications will be scored, rated, and ranked by staff members of the Tennessee Historical Commission and the Tennessee Wars Commission. The full Historical Commission will then have final voting approval of eligible grant projects. 

“Since its debut in 2013, approximately $5 million in grant funds from this program have helped save almost one thousand acres in our state,” said Tennessee Historical Commission Director Patrick McIntyre.

“Last year, over $900,000.00 in TCWSPF grants were used to preserve approximately one hundred and eleven acres of battlefield properties. This year, all 111 acres are located directly in battlefield core areas associated with the battles of Shiloh, of Chattanooga and Wauhatchie, of Stones River, and Parkers Crossroads,” notes Tennessee Wars Commission Director of Programs Nina Scall.

The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31.  The grant application process is digital.  Create an account and complete the application at https://tdec.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp.

For questions regarding the grant process or application procedure, contact Nina Scall, program director of the Tennessee Wars Commission via email at Nina.Scall@tn.gov.