Civil War Sites Preservation Fund Grant Cycle Opening

The Tennessee Wars Commission, the Tennessee Historical Commission division responsible for preserving the state's significant military history, has announced the August 10, 2026 opening of this year's grant cycle for the Civil War Sites Preservation Fund (CWSPF). This fund is provided by legislation to the Tennessee Historical Commission, whose board approves and awards CWSPF grants. The Tennessee Wars Commission administers the application and grant processes. $2.3 million in funding will be available from the CWSPF this year.

The Civil War Sites Preservation Fund, begun in 2013, is a key source for matching funds for the acquisition and preservation of properties associated with the 38 most significant Civil War sites in Tennessee. Additionally, grants can assist in funding the acquisition and protection of Underground Railroad sites eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, or eligible for designation as a National Historic Landmark.

Applicants must be a 501 (c) (3) non-profit. This grant will pay a one-to-one, 50 percent match where the grantee provides the match from a non-state source.

"Since its debut in 2013, over $22 million in funding from this program has helped save approximately eleven hundred acres of threatened Tennessee battlefield lands," said Tennessee Historical Commission Interim Executive Director, Miranda Montgomery. Tennessee Wars Commission Director of Programs, Nina Scall noted, "Last year the Commission awarded $2,602,273.82 and helped to preserve approximately 22.387 acres of battlefield properties. Those projects focused on core battlefield areas associated with the Stones River, Shiloh, Franklin, Nashville, and Hoovers Gap battlefields."

The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2026. The grant application process is digital, through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Grant Management System.

For questions regarding the grant process or application procedure, contact .