2016 Grant Awards

In 2016, the National Parks Service has budgeted to award 21 assistance grants through the American Battlefield Protection Program. [1]  Often times it's easy to get caught up in the history of these events and forget about what's happening right now. These are the current events, influenced by the past but defining the future for communities across the United States.

Here are the grant winners for 2016. If you want to learn more about the specifics of each grant beyond the information that we've included there are links for each organization after their descriptions. Please support these organizations and congratulate them on these awesome projects! We love encouraging great organizations to continue their efforts at preservation.

These projects are not the only preservation projects going on, but they are significant. At the bottom of this post there is a seperate list of other organizations that also have projects going on this year.

In all, the National Parks Service through the American Battlefield Protection Program has awarded $1,198,000 for projects that are currently under way!

Grant Winners

Oahu, Hawaii - Barbers Point Riding Club - $63,000

The Barbers Point Riding Club operates the Historic Barbers Point Stables. The Stables are located on the former Naval Air Station Barbers Point as well as the Ewa Field Revetment District.  Revetments were used as shelter for fighter planes during WWII. The Barbers Point Riding Club uses the revetments as horse stables which are used by their members. Membership is prioritized for members of the military and their families. What a great organization! http://barberspointridingclub.webs.com/membership

Multiple States - Civil War Trust - $162,900

This project is compiling data to create an interactive map and index of battlefields of American conflicts beyond the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and the War of 1812. The finished product will be used as a searchable database for historians, land developers, land owners and future preservation projects. This is a critical piece of the preservation puzzle that has been missing up to this point. Now developers and land owners can have the resources at their finger tips to pursue growth in context-sensitive ways. The Civil War Trust is doing some of the most interesting and important work in terms of battlefield preservation! Civilwar.0rg

Kentucky - Kentucky Civil War Sites Association - $35,100

These funds will be used to gather data at 15 Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields across Kentucky. The result of this data collection will be an economic impact study that the grant awardees will use to gain support for battlefield preservation. http://www.kycivilwarsites.org/

Photo by Eric Yuen

Hawaii - The Kohala Center, Inc. - $75,000

These funds will be used to create a Cultural Resources Management Plan for the Kuamo'o Battlefield and Burial Ground. Fought in 1819, This is the place of one of the most significant battles in Hawaii history. The battle was a revolt against creating a unified Hawaii kingdom. 

The Kohala Center is an incredible organization that takes all aspects of community development and nurtures the community to keep everyone informed and engaged. If only all communities could have a resource as dedicated as The Kohala Center.  http://kohalacenter.org/

Click on The Kohala Center logo to get more information on this great organization.`

 

Lake George, New York - Town of Lake George - $50,000

These funds will be used to inventory sites and features associated with Fort George. This was the site of several battles during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. https://lakegeorgetown.org/

Montague, Massachusetts - Town of Montague - $81,000 

This grant money will be used to conduct archaeological work at the site of the Battle of Great Falls. This was the site of a battle fought in May of 1676 as part of King Phillips War. The primary reason for the work will be to locate significant battlefield actions in order to create a preservation plan and assess the site's eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.  http://www.montague.net/Pages/index

Montague is a great place to visit, click on the image to get more information

New Castle, Delaware - New Castle Historical Society - $75,000

This project will delineate the boundaries of the Fort Casimir Battlefield as well as determine the extent of subsurface remains of both the fort and the related sites in the surrounding area. This was the site of a decisive battle between the Dutch and English in 1664. 

This project will evaluate the needs and assets of six key northern New York battle sites from the Revolutionary War (Valcour Bay) and War of 1812 (Crab Island, Plattsburgh Bay, Fort Brown, Fort Moreau, Fort Scott). The Battle of Valcour Bay, fought in October 1776, is considered one of the first naval battles of the Revolutionary War.  http://www.newcastlehistory.org/

Plattsburgh, New York - City of Plattsburgh - $54,000

This project will evaluate the needs and assets of six key northern New York battle sites from the Revolutionary War (Valcour Bay) and War of 1812 (Crab Island, Plattsburgh Bay, Fort Brown, Fort Moreau, Fort Scott). The Battle of Valcour Bay, fought in October 1776, is considered one of the first naval battles of the Revolutionary War.  http://www.cityofplattsburgh.com/

Image Courtesy of the Battle of Plattsburgh Association. This image is from a reenactment of the Battle of Plattsburgh. http://www.battleofplattsburgh.org/

 

Fort Ann, NY - Raymond W. Harbey American Legion Post 703 - $80,000

"This project will conduct an archeological study to determine the integrity of the Battle of Fort Anne's defining features. In July 1777, early during the Saratoga Campaign of the Revolutionary War, a larger British army defeated a Continental force that was retreating from a loss at Fort Ticonderoga days earlier. Through an archeological study and development of an overall preservation plan, the project will engage the public and present a history of the battle for future visitors and researchers."  http://www.nylegion.com/2013/08/post-703-gets-grant-to-survey-battle.html

Newport, RI - Salve Regina University -  $39,000

"This project will conduct site documentation for the Sadkeche Fight and its associated sites. In April 1715, at the beginning of the Yamasee War (1715-1717), an outnumbered South Carolina militia defeated a Yamasee Indian force which was advancing towards Charleston. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) software with light and survey radar (LIDAR) data, the project will also conduct a military terrain analysis to produce a map of the battlefield. A research design for future archeological testing and a phased preservation plan will help educate the community about the Yamasee War and the importance of battlefield preservation."  http://www.salve.edu/

Lake george, ny - Seneca Nation of Indians Tribal Historic Preservation office New york - $46,000

"This project will document the location and boundaries of the Battle of Bucktooth, believed to be the northernmost skirmish between American General Daniel Brodhead and the Seneca Tribe during the Western Campaign of the Revolutionary War. Fought between August and September 1779, knowledge of the battle is based on Seneca oral histories. Through archeological survey, the Office aims to verify those histories and set aside the battle site as a historical landmark. The site can then be preserved and interpreted for the Tribe and surrounding communities."  https://sni.org/departments/tribal-historic-preservation/

Virginia - shenandoah Valley Network (piedmont environmental council) - $20,000

"This project will help improve local land use planning and increase private land conservation in Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties to preserve the rural character, agricultural base, and natural and historic resources for six nationally-significant Civil War battlefields. The Network will work with local conservation and preservation partners, providing strategic public outreach materials and interpretive maps to take advantage of immediate planning and outreach opportunities to protect the integrity of these battlefields."   http://www.svnva.org/

mariana islands - Ships of Exploration & discovery research, inc. - $64,600

A Japanese plane goes down in the distance during Operation Forager. Image courtesy of cmchant.com

"This project will both expand the regional understanding of the World War II “Operation Forager” in the Mariana Islands and monitor the Saipan Underwater Maritime Heritage Trail. The Operation, conducted between June and November 1944, was punctuated by American victories at the Battle of Saipan and the Battle of Tinian. The project will conduct baseline identification of maritime heritage in the area, and assess photogrammetric data to identify long-term impacts at the sites related to climate change. Public meetings and a robust media presence will help educate the communities about these historic resources."  http://shipsofdiscovery.org/v1/

North and South Carolina - South carolina battleground preservation trust - $72,800

"This project will verify and adjust battlefield maps for 21 high priority Revolutionary War battles in North Carolina and South Carolina. Input and evaluation will be sought from public and private organizations, state agencies, and the National Park Service. These maps will serve as the foundation for preservation efforts now underway led by the Civil War Trust in their “Campaign 1776” initiative."  http://scbattlegroundtrust.org/

NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA - SOUTH CAROLINA BATTLEGROUND PRESERVATION TRUST - $76,000

"This project will create a master database of 16 Revolutionary War battlefields and associated sites in Beaufort and Colleton Counties in South Carolina. These counties are located along the coast and were a main thoroughfare for British troops moving between Savannah and Charles Town. The Trust will map the visible sites using aerial light and radar (LIDAR) survey, conduct military terrain analysis, and record property information for each site. The Trust will coordinate with the State to nominate qualifying sites for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The project will seek input from the public and hold several meetings to educate the communities about the battles." http://scbattlegroundtrust.org/

Ashland, or - Southern oregon university - $92,600

"This project will produce multiple property nominations to the National Register of Historic Places for sites related to the Rogue River War (1855-1856) in southern Oregon. Increased white settlement in the area caused ire among the Native Rogue River people, leading to several conflicts. The project will conduct historical research, an archeological survey, and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to determine conflict boundaries. It is part of a long-term commitment by regional partners to interpret the Rogue River War in a holistic way for the public and interested scholars." http://www2.sou.edu/

cowpens national battlefield -Spartanburg area conservancy, inc. - $32,000

"This project will facilitate the formation of a preservation committee with a new “Friends of the Southern Campaign” group headquartered at Cowpens National Battlefield in South Carolina. The Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War was where the British focused their efforts after their Saratoga Campaign failed in the North. Several decisive battles, such as Cowpens, Kings Mountain, and Yorktown, contributed to the end of the British fight. The project will develop and implement a preservation outreach strategy for landowners whose property is adjacent to battlefields, and develop a communications plan to promote battlefield preservation and public outreach."  http://www.spartanburgconservation.org/

buffalo, ny - suny buffalo research foundation - $23,200

"This project will conduct an archeological survey to assess and preserve the site of the Battle of Scajaquada Bridge, fought in August 1814 during the War of 1812. An outnumbered American force defended Buffalo against a British force trying to destroy provisions and supplies stored in the city. The project will work with government agencies in planning for the ecological restoration and redevelopment of Scajaquada Creek and surrounding properties, and raise community awareness of the battle."   https://www.rfsuny.org/

Vermont - Vermont department of housing & community affairs - $24,000

Image courtesy of historicsites.vermont.gov

"This project will create a comprehensive geospatial map of the southern portion of Mount Independence, which represents one of the largest defenses built by the Americans during the Revolutionary War. Completed in 1777, Mount Independence was a critical site in the naval defense of Lake Champlain and points south. The project will map all landward features using Geographic Information System (GIS) software, and the data will be compared to historic maps and archives to assess the engagements along the defenses. The resulting product will be crucial for the proper stewardship of these resources and will provide an important platform for future site interpretation and public education."  http://accd.vermont.gov/strong_communities/

All information courtesy of: https://www.nps.gov/abpp/grants/battlefieldgrants/2016grantawards.html

[1]https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/upload/FY-2016-Greenbook.pdf