The Tennessee Wars Commission, the Tennessee Historical Commission division responsible for preserving the state’s significant military history, has announced the Civil War Sites Preservation Fund (CWSPF) grant recipients for Fiscal Year 2025. This fund, which was established in 2013, is provided by legislation to the Tennessee Historical Commission, who approves and awards CWSPF grants. The Tennessee Wars Commission administers the application and grant processes.
With this round of grants the Civil War Sites Preservation Fund has now allocated $20,312,188.32 in matching funds for the acquisition and preservation of over 1,100 acres associated with the 38 most significant Civil War sites in Tennessee. Grants can also 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. “In addition to saving irreplaceable historic places, this valuable program has helped create parks and preserve open space and wildlife habitat, including in urban areas where there is significant development pressure,” said Tennessee Historical Commission Director Patrick McIntyre.
Grant funds totaling $1,935,250.00 were awarded to six applicants during the 2025 fiscal year, saving approximately 81.4 acres of battlefield lands:
• American Battlefield Trust, receives an additional $125,250.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 30.7-acre Charton Tract at the Wauhatchie Battlefield (Hamilton County) for a total of $469,500.00.
• American Battlefield Trust, receives $22,500.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 0.46-acre Essary Tract at the Chattanooga Battlefield, (Hamilton County)
• Franklin’s Charge, Inc., receives $1,000,000.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 13.89-acre Hillhaven Tract on Ropers Knob at the Franklin Battlefield (Williamson County)
• American Battlefield Trust, receives $187,500.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 23.75-acre Johnson Tract at the Shiloh Battlefield (Hardin County)
• Battle of Nashville Trust, Inc., receives $505,000.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 1.03-acre Shy’s Hill Tract at the Nashville Battlefield (Davidson County)
• Battle of Franklin’s Charge, Inc., receives $95,000.00 for the acquisition of the +/- 11.57- acre Smith/McKee Tract at the Spring Hill Battlefield (Maury County)
Applications for next year’s grant cycle will run from Aug. 11 to Oct. 31.
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. More information is available on the Tennessee Historical Commission website.