The American Battlefield Trust is a charitable organization (501(c)(3)) whose primary focus is in the preservation of battlefields of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War, through the acquisition of battlefield land."Breaking News: The Civil War Trust Introduces the American Battlefield Trust" Announcement accessed May 10, 2018. The American Battlefield Trust was formerly known as the Civil 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 at the Cedar Creek battlefield in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, it had reached the milestone of 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 were acquired and preserved from 2014 to 2018."American Battlefield Trust Reaches Major Milestone." Emerging Civil War website, June 2, 1018. Accessed June 23, 2021. the total land saved exceeded .American Battlefield Trust website homepage. Total acreage figure is at bottom of page. Accessed July 10, 2025.
History
The organization was originally founded in 1987 as the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS), to save Civil War battlefield land. 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 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.
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 the Civil 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.
On November 11, 2014 (Veterans Day), the Trust partnered with the Society of the Cincinnati to launch "Campaign 1776", a subsidiary project designed to protect endangered battlefields from the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 by acquiring battlefield lands. Federal matching grants for this program were enacted by Congress in December 2014."National Effort Aims to Save Revolutionary Battlefields". Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star article accessed December 14, 2017. 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."The Civil War Trust Introduces the American Battlefield Trust.Emerging Civil War website, May 8, 2018. Accessed June 23, 2021.
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 of O. 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."Interview: Preserving Authentic Experiences," Historynet.com website, April 2021. Accessed June 23, 2021. 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 the Maryland 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. 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."Former Anne Arundel executive James Lighthizer awarded National Humanities Medal in White House ceremony." Capital Gazette, Annapolis, Maryland, January 13, 2021. Accessed June 23, 2021.
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.
Preservation methods
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 a conservation 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 the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program (CWBPP), administered by the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP), an office of the National Park Service. CWBPP is designed to promote the preservation of significant Civil War battlefields by offering competitive matching grants for qualifying preservation opportunities. 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.
Battlefield preservation The American Battlefield Trust has preserved more than 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. Accessed July 10, 2025.
Key battlefield preservation initiatives and acquisitions include:
at Fredericksburg, Virginia The campaign to preserve the Slaughter Pen Farm is the most expensive private battlefield preservation effort in American history.$2m Federal Money Goes to Slaughter Pen Farm – Civil War News, December 2006 The Trust, working in partnership with Tricord, Inc., SunTrust Bank, and the Central Virginia Battlefield Trust, was able to purchase the property for $12 million in 2006. To support the preservation efforts at the Slaughter Pen Farm the Department of the Interior awarded a $2 million CWBPP grant based on the significance of the land and the availability of non-federal matching funds. The Slaughter Pen Farm was the largest remaining unprotected part of the Fredericksburg Battlefield. It is also the only place on the battlefield where a visitor can still follow the Union assault from beginning to end.
at The Wilderness, Virginia In October 2010, the Trust announced a new campaign to acquire of the Wilderness Battlefield in Orange County, Virginia. This Middlebrook Tract includes the eastern edge of Saunders Field and land associated with the May 6, 1864, flank attack by Confederate forces under John B. Gordon. Historian and author Gordon Rhea stated that this land "witnessed some of the Wilderness' most brutal combat". After reaching its $1,085,000 fundraising goal in under three months, the Trust acted as a steward for the land until May 2014, when it was transferred to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Building on this acquisition, the Trust in 2011 was also able to secure a parcel that was the site of Union commander Ulysses S. Grant's daytime headquarters during the fighting."Overland Campaign Anniversary Begins with Expansion of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park", May 3, 2014.
at The Liberty Trail, South Carolina In October 2019, the Trust joined with its South Carolina partners and the National Park Service to announce a new initiative to create and promote the Liberty Trail, a heritage tourism and preservation initiative to promote South Carolina's crucial role in winning the Revolutionary War. The trail will link more than 70 Revolutionary War battlefields and sites in South Carolina on a driving tour that will stretch from the Appalachian Mountains to the Low Country. The program also aims to acquire and preserve more than 2,500 acres at the state's many battlefields."The Liberty Trail: New initiative aims to link S.C. battlefields of Revolutionary War." The Times and Democrat, Orangeburg, S.C., November 5, 2019 Accessed June 24, 2021. By mid-2021, the Trust and its partners had already saved at seven South Carolina battlefields: Waxhaws, Hanging Rock, Camden, Eutaw Springs, Fort Fair Lawn, Parker's Ferry and Port Royal Island.American Battlefield Trust Saved Land. (See page for South Carolina) Accessed June 24, 2021.
at Glendale, Virginia While the Richmond, Virginia, suburbs remain a prime area for development, the Trust has made significant acquisitions at the Glendale battlefield, preserving in 2007 and overall. Over 80 percent of the battlefield is now preserved. When combined with previous efforts at nearby Malvern Hill, the Trust has now created a three-mile-long (5 km) continuous corridor of protected battlefield.
at New Market Heights, Virginia Although often overshadowed by the many other Civil War battlefields in the Richmond area, the Battle of New Market Heights or Chaffin's Farm on September 29, 1864, inflicted more than 5,000 casualties and featured furious assaults on Confederate lines by Union soldiers in the ranks of the United States Colored Troops. The bravery and sacrifice of the black troops earned them respect on both sides and led to 14 black soldiers being awarded the Medal of Honor. As of mid-2021, the Trust had preserved .
at Champion Hill, Mississippi Using an easement rather than acquiring the land, the Trust protected at the heart of the Champion Hill battlefield in 2007. This key portion of the field is still owned by the Champion family, for whom the area and the battle were named, but now is under conservation easement. The Champion family will maintain ownership of their historic land while realizing their intention of seeing it protected in perpetuity.
at Shiloh, Tennessee