2 Henrico Civil War sites to be protected with state funding
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Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that more than $3.9 million in grant funding will be allocated to protect 621 acres of Civil War battlefield land throughout Virginia – including significant acreage in Henrico County.
In total, 10 projects will receive funding through the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fund, including two in Henrico:
• $978,000 for the Capital Region Land Conservancy to acquire an easement over the 138-acre Camp Holly Farm in Eastern Henrico, which played a role in three major Civil War battles: Deep Bottom I, Deep Bottom II, and Chaffin’s Farm/New Market Heights;
• $251,500 million for the American Battlefield Trust to make a fee-simple purchase of 34-acre Moore Tract in Eastern Henrico County, adjacent to the Richmond National Battlefield Park and located entirely within the Chaffin’s Farm/New Market Heights Battlefield. The Battle of Chaffin's Farm and New Market Heights of 1864 featured multiple units of the United States Colored Troops, whose presence during the battle and others helped propel the Union Army to victory during the Civil War.
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources oversees distribution of funds awarded through the VBPF program. Grant recipients are required to make these properties accessible to the public through interpretive signs, tours, and pedestrian trails.
“Virginia has played a pivotal role in the history of our nation and it is incumbent upon us to ensure that we preserve that history,” said Youngkin.
The VBPF, established in 2010, focuses on protecting battlefields associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War. This grant round saw no applications for Revolutionary War or War of 1812 sites.
Grant recipients must donate an easement to the Virginia Board of Historic Resources for any land acquired using these funds. The VBPF project selection considered factors such as historical significance, proximity to protected lands, threat of development, and potential for education, recreation, research, and heritage tourism.
Beyond preserving historical sites, the projects are designed to contribute to conservation goals by protecting open spaces, agricultural land, wetlands, timberlands, water quality, wildlife habitats, and recreational areas near urban areas.
