Trust sets record for acreage saved
during its 25th anniversary year

The Civil War Trust, in its 25th anniversary year, has completed the most successful year in its history, permanently protecting 3,735 acres of hallowed ground in 2012. Overall, the group and its predecessor organizations have now helped save in excess of 35,700 acres at 120 historic sites in 20 states.

In 2012, the organization closed 39 separate transactions at 26 individual battlefields in eight states. The battlefields where land was preserved in 2012 included Mill Springs, Perryville and Rowlett’s Station.

In addition to the Trust’s preservation track record in 2012 for the total number of acres saved, much of the acreage was of historic significance for the battlefield land protected in perpetuity.

Throughout the year, the Trust strove to coordinate preservation initiatives with sesquicentennial commemoration activities. Sometimes – as at Mill Springs in January and Perryville in October – this meant announcing a new fundraising campaign to preserve land for that battle’s 150th anniversary.

Land and preservation success was achieved in the Commonwealth with partnership between the Trust, government officials and other nonprofit entities. Cited were the Kentucky Heritage Council and Kentucky Natural Resources Conservation Service and Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. Numerous nonprofit preservation groups – including the Bluegrass Conservancy and the Mill Springs Battlefield Association – as well as supportive municipal governments also played a crucial role in the process, Trust officials noted.

“While the protection of battlefield land where the Civil War was fought will always remain at the heart of our mission,” Civil War Trust Chair Jim Lighthizer said, “we also seek to promote appreciation and understanding of American history through a variety of advocacy, education and interpretation projects. We hope that these efforts will help inspire the future generations of Americans to study their heritage.”

During 2012, the Trust received a variety of awards and recognitions for its work. In July, its membership magazine Hallowed Ground earned top honors for outstanding quality through the APEX Awards for Publication Excellence, receiving its fourth-consecutive Grand Award – one of only 100 bestowed out of nearly than 3,400 entries in the international contest. The organization also continued to earn accolades for its sound fiscal management and commitment to top-notch donor relations, receiving a prestigious 2012 Top-Rated Award by Great Nonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations, and earning accreditation from the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance.