Historic battlefields and sites of armed conflict are powerful reminders of the shared heritage of all Americans. As an ongoing effort to engage all Americans in the preservation of cultural resources beyond our park boundaries, the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program (NPS ABPP) promotes the preservation and interpretation of these important places. NPS ABPP awards financial assistance to support community-driven stewardship of battlefields and sites of armed conflict through four grant opportunities Preservation Planning, Battlefield Restoration, Battlefield Interpretation, and Battlefield Land Acquisition.
NPS ABPP administers Battlefield Interpretation Grants to provide assistance for projects that deploy technology to modernize and enhance battlefield interpretation and education at Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War battlefield sites eligible for assistance under the Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program established under 54 U.S.C. §308103(b). These grants are funded from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to help strengthen communities, preserve history and protect the national endowment of lands and waters. Funding will support scoping and implementation activities for historic preservation projects at eligible sites and will be awarded competitively. Grants require a dollar-for-dollar non-Federal match. State, local, and tribal governments, as well as nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.
Battlefield Interpretation Grants empower recipients to modernize and enhance battlefield education and interpretation – to inspire wonder, understanding and empathy at the places that witnessed some of our nation’s most challenging events. This grant program encourages the use of technology to connect with visitors through videos, mobile apps, interpretive signs, augmented reality and more. Battlefield Interpretation Grants seek an enhanced user experience where the application of “technology” and understanding of “modernize” is keyed to the user. Who is the audience, and how do these elements engage them? The user experience also relates to the narratives shared that can be “modernized.” What audiences are missing, and how might these elements engage them?
Two categories of grants are available for battlefield interpretation projects in different stages:
- Scoping Grants: These are available to fund the early stages of project development, such as research and content creation, consultation with stakeholders, exploration of available technologies, audience research, and development of technical proposals. The federal share for these grants should range from $20,000-$50,000 and have a period of performance of 1-2 years.
- Implementation Grants: These are available to applicants who have completed interdisciplinary scoping prior to the application and can provide draft content and design plans. The federal share for these grants should range from $50,000-$200,000 and have a period of performance of 2-3 years.
Deadline: June 12, 2024
Applicant proposals must identify whether they are seeking a Scoping Grant, with a funding level of $20,000-50,000 in Federal share, or an Implementation Grant, with a funding level of $50,000-200,000 in Federal share. See Section A for a description of the distinction between Scoping Grants and Implementation Grants.