The Tennessee Wars Commission, part of the Tennessee Historical Commission (THC), has officially announced the commencement of the 2025 grant cycle for the Civil War Sites Preservation Fund (CWSPF), which will kick off on August 11. This year, a total of $3.2 million will be allocated to assist in the preservation of Tennessee’s most significant Civil War and Underground Railroad sites.
The CWSPF was established in 2013 with the aim of facilitating the acquisition and protection of properties associated with the 38 most historically significant Civil War sites throughout the state. Additionally, the fund extends its support to preservation initiatives for Underground Railroad locations that qualify for the National Register of Historic Places or are designated as National Historic Landmarks.
To be eligible for these grants, applicants must be recognized as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The grant operates on a matching basis, meaning that grantees are required to contribute 50 percent of the total project cost from sources that are not state-funded.
Over the past twelve years, the program has disbursed more than $20 million, contributing to the preservation of nearly 1,000 acres of battlefield land across Tennessee. In the previous year alone, the fund awarded close to $1.94 million, which facilitated the preservation of 81.4 acres at various sites linked to significant battles, including Wauhatchie, Chattanooga, Shiloh, Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville.
Interested parties must submit their applications digitally by October 31, 2025, via the SmartSimple platform at tdec.smartsimple.com. For further details regarding the Tennessee Wars Commission and information about previous grant recipients, individuals can visit tn.gov/historicalcommission. Any inquiries can be directed to Nina Scall, the Program Director, at [email protected].