American Battlefield Trust — August 2020

Originally published August 2020 · p. 25

Land Saved in Five States

Despite ongoing restrictions on visiting battlefield parks and other sites in many states, the American Battlefield Trust has continued to protect additional hallowed ground. Recent victory announcements included the protection of 31 acres from Revolutionary War battles in the Carolinas; 31 acres were added to the Liberty Trail at Hanging Rock, S.C., and a half-acre has already been transferred to the National Park Service at Guilford Court House National Military Park. We also completed the final, critical step in protecting 12.44 critical acres, part of a larger, 200-acre acquisition project, along the Rappahannock River. This step paved the way for recreational water access at a potential new state park currently being evaluated by the Commonwealth of Virginia. In placing conservation easements on the property through the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) and Department of Historic Resources (DHR), the Trust ensured that this pristine landscape is protected in perpetuity. Critical funding for the full $1.8 million project was provided by the federal American Battlefield Protection Program and Commonwealth matching grants, from the Virginia Land Conservation Fund, Virginia Outdoors Foundation, and Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund, as well as a landowner donation. Further, we were able to simultaneously declare victory on a number of efforts related to battles fought during 1862. All told, we saved 101 acres across five properties on four battlefields: Shiloh (61 acres for a total of 1,378 acres cumulatively saved by the Trust), Glendale (nine new acres for a total of 726), South Mountain (18 new acres for a total of 703), and Fredericksburg (11 new acres for a total of 248) through a combination of private contributions, state and federal grants, and landowner donations. All are significant properties.

New Format for Teacher Institute Amid ongoing access limitations at planned tour destinations,

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the American Battlefield Trust made the difficult decision to transition its popular National Teacher Institute to an online format in 2020. A series of webinars and interactive sessions were held July 7-10, 2020. While in-person events are anticipated to return in future years, this first of its kind Virtual Teacher Institute had the capacity to accommodate more than twice as many educators in sessions geared to sharing the latest techniques in history education. “As disappointing as it is not to be able to gather in person in Mobile, Ala., this summer, this was the best course of action, given the uncertainties we face during this time,” said Trust Chief Historian Garry Adelman. “The work our teachers do matters tremendously, and the Trust prides itself on holding outstanding events for them. So, as we heard that tour sites and restaurants we planned to visit might not be accessible, and that our great presenters were facing difficulties in traveling, it became clear that we had to postpone, but not cancel, our visit to the Azalea City. We are already looking forward to our rescheduled event there in 2022.” As always, registration was free of charge and those who attended four or more sessions were eligible to receive continuing education units, paid for by the Trust, through Virginia Tech. Refunds were issued for all registration deposits and recipients of scholarships to cover travel expenses will have that award applied to attendance at either the 2021 or 2022 events in Baltimore, Md., and Mobile, Ala., respectively.

Major Steps Made for Parkland Protection On June 17, the U.S. Senate passed the “Great American Outdoors Act,” landmark legislation to benefit maintenance needs at existing public lands and secure the protection of additional landscapes. The measure now proceeds to the House of Representatives. “The American Battlefield Trust wholeheartedly and enthusiastically supports the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act,” said Trust President Jim Lighthizer. “This vital, long-awaited legislation combines two priorities related to battlefield preservation. First, it fully and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which in turn funds the Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Program, a matching grant program that has successfully saved more than 32,000 acres of America’s hallowed Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefields. Second, it tackles the critical maintenance backlog within our National Park System, including millions of dollars’ worth of projects at dozens of battlefield parks.” The Great American Outdoors Act would authorize mandatory and full funding ($900 million) for LWCF in perpetuity by directing revenues to it from on-shore and off-shore energy development, both fossil and renewable energy operations, that are not already allocated by law to other programs. Further, the bill would allocate $9 billion over five years to address the deferred maintenance backlog experienced by federal agencies, including the National Park Service, the National Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Explore Revolutionary Yorktown with Confidence As visitors begin returning to historic sites this summer, travelers to the Yorktown Battlefield at Colonial National Historical Park have a new resource to explore that landscape at their own pace, on their own schedule. The new Yorktown Tour Guide app, developed by the Trust on behalf of the park, takes users on three distinct tours, the historic town, the battlefield, and the allied encampment, with audio interpretation at each of the 21 stops. While the app is GPS-enabled, providing integrated driving directions to individual sites within its map feature, images and historical content can be accessed from anywhere on the globe, bringing history to those not yet able to visit in person. The free app is now available for download via the App Store and Google Play, or online as a web app, available through any web browser. Visit www.battlefields. org/yorktownapp for all options. “We are thrilled to launch this new option for visitors to the Yorktown Battlefield and expand our array of interpretive resources,” said Kym Hall, superintendent of Colonial National Historical Park. “From ranger-led programs to physical pamphlets and now into the digital realm, the National Park Service strives to help each visitor find their preferred way to explore our historic resources. Working with likeminded partners, including the American Battlefield Trust helps us fulfill this mission.” American Battlefield Trust Chief Digital Officer Larry Swiader emphasized that the beauty of an approach like this app is that it can function for those on the battlefield, as well as those learning history from home. “With photos and audio content, as well as place-based functionality, the Yorktown Tour Guide can bring history to life whenever and wherever you are when you want a peak into the past. It really is like having a tour guide in your pocket,” he said. The Trust is no stranger to digital battlefield interpretation, having launched its first Battle App® guide in 2010. All 19 titles that have been introduced in that series feature Civil War battles and campaigns, reflecting the organization’s origins focused exclusively on that conflict. The Yorktown Tour Guide, the Trust’s first foray into the Revolutionary War using this medium, will certainly not be its last, particularly as the nation prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of its independence in 2026. Learn more about the entire suite of Trust mobile apps at www.battlefields.org/ mobileapps.

Yorktown app screen shots.