American Battlefield Trust — May 2020

Originally published May 2020 · p. 27

Given the unprecedented impact of the Coronavirus, the American Battlefield Trust made the decision to postpone and reschedule its public events through the end of May 15, 2020. “The American Battlefield Trust, along with countless other cultural institutions, is disappointed we won’t have the opportunity to proceed with our public events in the near term,” said Trust President Jim Lighthizer. “However, we recognize that public health considerations are paramount at this time, and are committed to protecting the health and well-being of our members, staff and friends. “We look forward to interacting with our members on the battlefield as soon as it is advisable to do so. And we urge those who live in proximity to battlefields and other similar sources of outdoor recreation to enjoy them individually—and safely—in the interim.” This postponement impacts the Trust-hosted “Generations” events at Yorktown and Gettysburg, as well as Pop-Up tours for eligible members, which will be moved into the summer and autumn at dates to be determined. Also included was the 24th Annual Park Day clean up event. The nearly 130 sites that had signed up to participate are encouraged to reschedule at their own discretion. Decisions regarding future Trust events, notably the Annual Conference and National Teacher Institute, will be made in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and the advice of public health officials. Those who have already registered for these events will receive updates directly to keep them abreast of any changes to their status. Information about these and other forthcoming gatherings will be posted at www.battlefields.org/events. Despite the situation, the Trust continues to operate, working remotely to lay the groundwork for future preservation success and generate outstanding history content. “In lieu of the public events we have had to postpone, we encourage history lovers to join our vibrant social media community and take advantage of our numerous digital offerings,” Lighthizer said. “In particular, our catalog of educational videos covering a huge range of topics in American history may be of interest to those unable to travel this spring or those who are looking to supplement distance learning environments.” Among the digital assets currently available through the Trust website are: Lesson Plans and Curricula: Our downloadable Civil War Curriculum covering that conflict and the antebellum period is available in multiple grade levels. A new, inquiry-based curriculum will launch in the coming weeks, and we are preparing similar offerings for the Revolutionary War and Early Republic/War of 1812. Our website boasts thousands of articles on historic events and figures, hundreds of acclaimed maps and even quizzes to test your knowledge. Battle App™ guides and Virtual Tours: While GPSenabled to help lead you around in person, our free Battle App™ guides for iOS and Android devices can be accessed from anywhere in the world to bring you “onto the field” with leading historians. Our 20 Virtual Tours utilize stunning 360-degree photography to place you at the heart of key battlefields and highlight key landmarks, from Antietam to Yorktown. Social Media Channels: The history conversation continues on the Trust’s vibrant digital communities including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. Together, these platforms embrace more than 500,000 followers with daily content updates. But he most versatile tool in the Trust’s education arsenal is our suite of high-quality video series. These include: Animated Maps: Whether you want to cover the entire American Revolution or Civil War in a single sitting, or dive into campaign-level learning (like The Overland Campaign), these mini-documentaries are ideal viewing. Battlefield U: Have a burning question about American history and need a succinct—but authoritative—answer? This rapidly growing series tackles commonly asked questions with lightning-strike responses suitable for all audiences. In4 Minutes: Short and compelling treatments of subjects ranging from famous battles and personalities to equipment, weapons and tactics, these serve as introductions and whet the appetite for more learning.

Virtual Reality: Experience Civil War combat, as never before, with an immersive storytelling approach that will transport put you back in time as you navigate how it may have looked, felt and sounded to be soldier. Your State in the Civil War: Want to make a local connection to national history? Soldiers came from across the nation, and many communities far from the front lines were sites for hospitals, prisons or cemeteries. As you take advantage of these learning resources, the Trust staff will continue its efforts to save critical hallowed ground. We are thrilled to declare “victory” on the 128-acre parcel at Perryville that we announced our work on last summer and know that many other successes will soon follow. At present, we have more than two dozen acquisitions in the pipeline at various stages of completion—from ongoing negotiations to awaiting final dispersal of government grant funds. Among them are our recently announced fundraising efforts at two key Western Theater battlefields—a 51-acre Perryville parcel that puts us even closer to fully “completing” that battlefield, and a six-acre tract at Stones River adjacent to land we worked to save last year. You can learn about these and other projects that still need your support at www.battlefields.org/ save-battlefields.