Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Grants Fund Civil War Sites

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, is extending to January 31, 1997, the deadline to apply for matching grants to help finance interpretation of Arkansas Civil War sites.

The grants will be financed with partnership funding from the National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program and can be used to create exhibit panels for Civil War sites that currently lack interpretation or are poorly interpreted.

"The initial response to this special initiative through the AHPP's Historiac Preservation Education Grant program was lower than expected, so we are allowing additional time for people to complete their grant applications," AHPP Director Cathy Slater said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local communities to tell the story of their Civil War- related properties and increase heritage tourism."

The grants will be awarded in $1,000 increments, which must be matched by a minimum of $1,000 in cash. Public and private organizations, as well as individuals, can apply for matching funds throught the program. Each application will be reviewed by a panel of historians and preservationists before the AHPP's grants committee awards the funds in early 1997. All applications must be postmarked no later than January 31, 1997, to be considered for funding.

Grant funds can be used for wayside exhibits similar to those found in Arkansas state parks. Eligible projects can include interpretation of battle sites, Civil War cemeteries or camp sites, or other properties related to the state's Civil War heritage.

For assistance in determining whether your Civil War propertyis eligible for the program or to receive an application packet, write AHPP. Battlefield Interpretation Initiative, 1500 Tower Building, 323 Center Street, Little Rock, AR 72201 or call 324-9880.