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| Founded | 1987 (1987) |
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| 54-1426643 | |
| Focus | Saving American battlefields of theAmerican Revolutionary War, theWar of 1812, and theAmerican Civil War. |
| Location |
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Area served | United States |
| Method | Land preservation |
| Members | 55,000[2] |
Key people | David N. Duncan (President) |
| Revenue | $31,187,669 (FYE 03/2024)[1] |
| Website | www |
TheAmerican Battlefield Trust is a charitable organization (501(c)(3)) whose primary focus is in the preservation of battlefields of theRevolutionary War, theWar of 1812, and theAmerican Civil War, through the acquisition of battlefield land.[3] The American Battlefield Trust was formerly known as theCivil War Trust. On May 8, 2018, the organization announced the creation of the American Battlefield Trust as the umbrella organization for two divisions, the Civil War Trust and the Revolutionary War Trust, which was formerly known as "Campaign 1776".
The American Battlefield Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public about these three conflicts and their significance in American history. On May 31, 2018, the Trust announced that with the acquisition of 13 acres (5.3 ha) at theCedar Creek battlefield in theShenandoah Valley ofVirginia, it had reached the milestone of 50,000 acres (200 km2) of battlefield land acquired and preserved. Since 1987, the Trust and its federal, state, and local partners have preserved land in 25 states at more than 160 battlefields of the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War. More than 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) were acquired and preserved from 2014 to 2018.[4] As of July 2025,[update] the total land saved exceeded 60,000 acres (240 km2).[5]
The organization was originally founded in 1987 as theAssociation for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS), to saveCivil War battlefield land.[6] APCWS acquired thousands of acres of battlefield land as well as offering educational tours and seminars with prominent historians.
The original Civil War Trust, a second non-profit focused on preserving Civil War battlefields, was formed in 1991. The Civil War Trust helped acquire and preserve 6,700 acres (27 km2) of land in the eight years of its existence and conducted education and heritage tourism programs to educate the public about the significance of the war and of battlefield preservation.[6]
The current organization was created on November 19, 1999, through the merger of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS) and the Civil War Trust. The merged organization was originally named theCivil War Preservation Trust. The merger, unanimously approved by the boards of both predecessor groups, streamlined efforts to protect America's most endangered parcels of Civil War history by acquisition of battlefield lands. On January 11, 2011, the Civil War Preservation Trust shortened its name to the Civil War Trust, and added a new logo.[7]
On November 11, 2014 (Veterans Day), the Trust partnered with theSociety of the Cincinnati to launch "Campaign 1776", a subsidiary project designed to protect endangered battlefields from theAmerican Revolutionary War and theWar of 1812 by acquiring battlefield lands. Federal matching grants for this program were enacted byCongress in December 2014.[8] On May 8, 2018, the organization's name was changed to the American Battlefield Trust to reflect its expanded mission to include land preservation not only of Civil War battlefields, but also the battlefields of the American Revolution and the War of 1812.[9]
The president of the American Battlefield Trust is David N. Duncan, the organization's longtime former Chief Development Officer, who was appointed to the top position by the Board of Trustees effective October 1, 2020, upon the retirement ofO. James Lighthizer. Duncan became the Trust's chief fundraiser after his hiring in March 2000 and helped raise more than $240 million during his two decades in that position. A native of Virginia, Duncan is a graduate of James Madison University and was a political fund raiser for a direct mail company before joining the Trust.[10] Lighthizer served as president of the Trust for more than 20 years, taking charge upon the merger of the two predecessor organizations in November 1999. A former member of theMaryland General Assembly and former county executive of Anne Arundel County,Maryland, Lighthizer also served as Maryland Secretary of Transportation from 1991 to 1995, where he pioneered the concept of using Transportation Enhancement highway funds to protect thousands of acres of Civil War battlefield land in Maryland through acquisitions or easements.[11] On January 13, 2021, Lighthizer was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Donald J. Trump in a ceremony at the White House for his work in battlefield preservation.[12]
Since its formation, the Trust has grown to nearly 200,000 members and supporters and has permanently preserved more than 60,000 acres of American battlefield land from the Civil War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.[13]
The American Battlefield Trust is a membership-driven organization that uses donated funds to protect battlefield land from the Civil War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Land is acquired by the American Battlefield Trust from private sector parties at fair market value or by donation. Once land is acquired, the Trust is responsible for land stewardship and interpretation, often with assistance from local governments and other preservation groups.
In cases where a landowner wants to retain ownership the Trust can arrange aconservation easement to protect their property. Conservation easements prohibit development of property, conserving it in its present state.
In its effort to protect American battlefields, the American Battlefield Trust attempts to leverage federal and state programs designed to foster preservation of historic and natural resources. The primary source of federal support for the preservation of Civil War battlefields is theCivil War Battlefield Preservation Program (CWBPP), administered by theAmerican Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP), an office of theNational Park Service. CWBPP is designed to promote the preservation of significant Civil War battlefields by offering competitive matching grants for qualifying preservation opportunities.[14] Other federal sources include the Transportation Enhancement program and the Farm and Ranch Protection Program. The American Battlefield Trust has also leveraged funds made available by state and local governments.
The American Battlefield Trust has preserved more than 60,000 acres (240 km2) of battlefield land from the Civil War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 at more than 160 battlefields in 25 states within the United States.[15]
Key battlefield preservation initiatives and acquisitions include:
As of mid-2021, the American Battlefield Trust has preserved over 53,000 acres (210 km2) at more than 145 battlefields in 24 states at the following sites:[13]
To further its aim of preserving American Civil War battlefields, the Trust has engaged in grassroots and community outreach efforts and had conducted campaigns against development projects that have threatened battlefields.
In May 2018, the American Battlefield Trust purchased 14.85 acres of "Maxwell's Field" on the Princeton Battlefield, where George Washington personally led a counterattack against British troops on the morning of January 3, 1777. The $4 million acquisition was made with theInstitute for Advanced Study (IAS), which owned the land and had planned to develop the property with a mix of 15 single-family homes and town homes to increase faculty housing. To fight the proposed development, the Trust created the Save Princeton Coalition, which included the Trust's "Campaign 1776" division, the American Association for State and Local History, the American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati, the National Coalition for History, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Princeton Battlefield Society, the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club, and the National Parks Conservation Association.
The 14.85-acre parcel, which is adjacent to the current Princeton Battlefield State Park, constitutes about of two-thirds of Maxwell's Field. Although the IAS brought in heavy equipment and began to remove trees, it participated in negotiations with the coalition and in December 2016 reached a breakthrough agreement that preserved most of the site of Washington's charge while clearing the way for the IAS to build 16 town homes on its remaining acreage. The Trust and the IAS have further committed to restore the battlefield site, which will ultimately be conveyed to the State of New Jersey and added to the contiguous state park. Washington's victory at Princeton ended a 10-day campaign that began with the Crossing of the Delaware and the surprise attack on the Hessian troops at Trenton, N.J. It was a turning point in the Revolutionary War.[23]
The Gettysburg Battlefield has faced two separate threats from proposed casinos.
In 2005 a proposal was put forward to build a casino with 3,000 slot machines less than a mile from the Gettysburg Battlefield. Soon after the proposal was announced, the Civil War Trust joined forces with a local concerned citizens group calledNo Casino Gettysburg to advocate against the proposal. Later, the Trust formed theStop the Slots Coalition, a collection of national and local groups opposed to the casino.
On December 20, 2006, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board voted to reject the Gettysburg casino proposal.[24]
In 2010, a new Gettysburg Casino application was filed and the Trust, with a broad coalition of partners, undertook a successful campaign to prevent approval of this new application. Nearly 300 prominent historians wrote to the Pennsylvania Gaming Board, urging the rejection of the application. Susan Eisenhower, Emmy award-winning filmmakerKen Burns, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning authorDavid McCullough, Medal of Honor recipientPaul William Bucha, composerJohn Williams, and actorsMatthew Broderick,Stephen Lang (actor), andSam Waterston were all featured in a Jeff Griffiths produced video declaring their opposition to the proposed Gettysburg casino.[25]
On April 14, 2011, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board voted to reject this second proposal to bring casino gambling to the doorstep of Gettysburg National Military Park.[26]
In May 2002, a regional developer announced a plan to build 2,300 houses and 2,000,000 square feet (190,000 m2) of commercial space on the 790-acre (3.2 km2) Mullins Farm, site of the first day of fighting at theBattle of Chancellorsville. Soon thereafter, the Civil War Trust formed theCoalition to Save Chancellorsville, a network of national and local preservation groups, that waged a vocal campaign against the development.
For nearly a year, the Coalition mobilized local citizens, held candlelight vigils and hearings, and encouraged residents to become more involved in preservation. Public opinion polling conducted by the Coalition found that more than two-thirds of local residents opposed the development. The survey also found that 90 percent of local residents believed their county has a responsibility to protect Chancellorsville and other historic resources.[citation needed]
As a result of these efforts, in March 2003 the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors denied the rezoning application that would have allowed for the development of the site.[27] Immediately following the vote, the Civil War Trust and other Coalition members began working to acquire the battlefield. By working with county officials and developers, the Civil War Trust acquired 140 acres (0.57 km2) in 2004 and another 74 acres (0.30 km2) in 2006.[21]
With the help of the Civil War Trust, theMorris Island Coalition was formed in early 2004 to oppose development on historic Morris Island outsideCharleston, South Carolina. Morris Island was the scene of the charge of the54th Massachusetts Infantry onFort Wagner, famously depicted in the filmGlory.
The Coalition, led by local resident Blake Hallman, generated local government support for preservation of Morris Island.[28] Press reaction was favorable as well, and public opinion polls found that an overwhelming number of Charleston residents wanted to see the barrier island remain undeveloped. Hallman earned the Civil War Trust's "Preservationist of the Year" award for his efforts to save Morris Island.[29]
At one time, development plans called for a 20-unit luxury house development on Cummings Point (the site of Fort Wagner). In early 2005, the landowner tried unsuccessfully to sell the property oneBay. At the end of 2005, a preservation-friendly developer acquired the property. He later agreed to sell it to the Trust for Public Land (TPL) for preservation purposes a few months later.
In 2008, the Trust engaged in fundraising efforts in support of theState of South Carolina,City of Charleston, and the Trust for Public Land's $3m effort that would preserve an additional 117 acres (0.47 km2) of Morris Island.
Together with the Friends of Wilderness Battlefield, theNational Trust for Historic Preservation, thePiedmont Environmental Council, theNational Parks Conservation Association,Preservation Virginia and a group of concerned local residents, the Civil War Trust opposed the construction of aWalmart Supercenter on theWilderness Battlefield inOrange County, Virginia. Following a nationwide outcry from preservationists and historians alike,Walmart Stores, Inc. announced in January 2011 that it had "decided to preserve" rather than develop the historic site where local officials had given the company permission to construct its newest superstore in 2009. Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian James McPherson had identified the site as part of "the nerve center of the Union Army during the Battle of the Wilderness."[citation needed]
Trust President Jim Lighthizer praised Walmart's decision, stating that founderSam Walton, a veteran of theSecond World War, would have been "proud" of his company's move to preserve the hallowed ground. "We stand ready to work with Walmart to put this controversy behind us and protect the battlefield from further encroachment," Lighthizer stated. "We firmly believe that preservation and progress need not be mutually exclusive, and welcome Walmart as a thoughtful partner in efforts to protect the Wilderness Battlefield."[30] In November 2013, Walmart donated the historic site comprising more than 50 acres (0.20 km2) to the Commonwealth of Virginia.[31]
In addition to preserving Civil War battlefield land, the American Battlefield Trust conducts programs designed to inform the public about the events and consequences of the Civil War, the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, create a personal connection to the past and foster an understanding of the need for preservation and how it benefits society.
The American Battlefield Trust is located in Washington, D.C.
The president of the American Battlefield Trust is David N. Duncan, formerly the Trust's Chief Development Officer, who served as the organization's chief fund raiser from March 2000 until taking over as president in October 2020 upon the retirement ofO. James Lighthizer, who had led the non-profit since November 1999.[33] In December 1999, Lighthizer accepted the presidency of Civil War Preservation Trust, a new organization created by the merger of two other national battlefield preservation groups, the Civil War Trust and the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites. Lighthizer had previously served as a member of the Civil War Trust's Board of Trustees.
When Lighthizer became president at CWPT in 1999, the fledgling organization had 22,000 members and its predecessor organizations had protected 7,500 acres (30 km2) in the previous 13 years. During Lighthizer's tenure as president of the CWPT and the Civil War Trust, the group has added more than 32,500 acres (132 km2) of protected land, and has 200,000 members and supporters nationwide.[34] Lighthizer was also the architect of the 2006 purchase of the 208-acre Slaughter Pen Farm on the Fredericksburg Battlefield. The $12 million acquisition was the most expensive private battlefield preservation effort in American history.
Robert C. Daum is the chairman of the board of trustees of the American Battlefield Trust. A retired investment banker and financial executive, Daum also serves on executive committee and board of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Sheltering Arms (a New York-based social services agency), the Royal Oak Foundation (the US affiliate of the UK National Trust), and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. He is the former chair of Out2Play, which built over 100 playgrounds for New York City public schools.[35]
To commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, in 2011 the Trust began a significant fundraising initiative. By April 2014, the organization had met the initial $40 million fundraising goal of Campaign 150: Our Time, Our Legacy more than a year early, and chose to raise its goal to an unprecedented $50 million. In June 2015, as the Civil War sesquicentennial concluded, the Trust announced that it had met its revised goal and raised a total of $52.5 million during the four-year effort.[36][37]
The American Battlefield Trust, formerly The Civil War Trust, has received 11 consecutive 4-Star awards fromCharity Navigator and 12 in all covering the years 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. This award is presented to those charitable organizations that exhibit strong results and financial discipline.[38] The Trust is one of only four Arts, Culture, Humanities institutions in the entire country with 11 or more consecutive 4-star ratings. The others are theNew York Public Library, theGeorgia Historical Society and theYerba Buena Center for the Arts.[39]
In 2020, video productions created by the Trust in association with Wide Awake Films earned Silver Medal honors in major international competitions from the Society of Publication Designers and the Telly Awards, showcasing the innovative means available to bring the past alive through this medium.[40]
The Trust received a 2012 accreditation from theBetter Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance.[41]
The Trust was awarded the "Partner in Conservation Award" by theUnited States Department of the Interior in 2010.[42]
The Trust's membership magazine,Hallowed Ground, has been honored in the APEX Awards for Publication Excellence each year since 2009.[43][44]
The Trust's Gettysburg Animated Map, produced by Wide Awake Films, received a 2014 Silver Telly Award in the Online/Historical Programs category.[45]
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