Civil War Preservation Trust logo -credit http:/www.civilwar.org/ We are into the 150th annversity of the American Civil War. While many of us remember that war from our history class, many do not realize just how much of our past is being taken away, distroyed or harmed in the name or progress. Thanks to groups such as The Civil War Preservation Trust, and the donations and contributions of many, we are saving our nations past for the future.
http://www.civilwar.org
The Civil War Preservation Trust is America's largest non-profit organization (501-C3) devoted to the preservation of our nation's endangered Civil War battlefields. The Trust also promotes educational programs and heritage tourism initiatives to inform the public of the war's history and the fundamental conflicts that sparked it.
Preservation Revolution:
A Short History of the Civil War Preservation Trust
The Civil War Preservation Trust story began in 1987, when twenty or so stalwart souls met to discuss what could be done to protect the rapidly disappearing battlefields around them. They called themselves the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS) and they were spurred to action by destruction of Northern Virginia battlefields like Chantilly, where today only five acres remain. Watching the constantly expanding suburbs of Washington, D.C., they knew that it was only a matter of time before other battlefields were similarly swallowed up. The only way to save these sites for posterity, they decided, was to buy the physical landscapes themselves.
As word of efforts to protect these battlefields spread among the Civil War community, both membership and accomplishment lists began to grow steadily. The dedicated supporters who answered that original call to arms remain some of battlefield preservation’s most ardent supporters, and many of those early leaders are no less involved in the organization today. Others, like Brian Pohanka, Jerry Russell, Annie Snyder and Carrington Williams, are sorely missed, although we work to honor their memories by continuing the work they started.
In 1991, another national organization, the Civil War Trust (CWT), was founded to further efforts to protect these vanishing historic landscapes. Eight years later, in an attempt to increase the efficiency with which preservation opportunities could be pursued, the two groups merged to become the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT). Shortly thereafter Jim Lighthizer, a former Maryland Secretary of Transportation, became president of the new nonprofit group. During his government career, Lighthizer pioneered the use of Transportation Enhancement highway funds for historic landscape preservation. The program has, to date, saved more than 4,500 acres of Maryland battlefield land, and has become a model for similar projects in other states.
With a single organization combining the influence and resources of its two successful predecessors, a battlefield preservation revolution began. At the time of the merger, APCWS and CWT had a combined membership of approximately 22,000 members. Today, CWPT’s membership roster has roughly tripled the base of preservationists from which we draw support. By 1999, the two organizations had saved a combined total of 7,000 acres of battlefield land, but since joining forces, CWPT has permanently preserved a further 19,000 acres of hallowed ground. By saving battlefield land at four times the rate of the National Park Service, this organization, which began so humbly two decades ago, has become the number one entity saving battlefield land in America today.
Now in its third decade in the business of land preservation, CWPT recognizes the importance of working closely with partner groups, federal and state agencies, local governments, community-minded businesses and willing sellers who see the intrinsic benefits of historic preservation. We will continue to use every means at our disposal to leverage the generous gifts of our donors with a variety of government grant programs. We will continue to run a lean organization with some of the lowest overhead costs in the conservation business, devoting the most time, effort and money possible to the preservation of battlefield land. We will continue working to educate Americans about the plight of the fields where our national identity was shaped. And we will continue to be on the front lines of preservation, standing guard over history.
CWPT Land Preservation Techniques
The Civil War Preservation Trust preserves land utilizing several well established conservation strategies. Ultimately, these efforts are guided by our mission to preserve significant battlefield land in perpetuity. For those interested in preserving a property we invite you to contact our real estate department directly.
We work only with willing sellers and each project is unique in its own way. However, in general, there are two types of preservation transactions:
1. Preservation in which the landowner retains ownership
( i.e. Conservation Easements )
2. Preservation that transfers ownership
( i.e. “Fee simple transactions” )
In order to determine what to buy and what preservation strategy best suits the project we first consult with a landmark study in the world of battlefield preservation, the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report (“CWSAC”).The CWSAC Report was completed in 1993 by a 15-member Commission established by Congress to identify the most historically significant Civil War sites. Out of the nearly 10,000 battles and skirmishes of the war the report identified 384 principle battlefields worthy of preservation.
Once CWPT determines whether a prospective property is listed as a CWSAC eligible site, we utilize our Geographic Information System (“GIS”) computerized mapping capabilities to locate the potential property in relation to the historic landscape.
If a property is within the recognized boundary of a CWSAC eligible battlefield we must next determine how best to preserve the property. Generally, CWPT either purchases a permanent conservation easement or purchases the property outright in order to preserve the integrity of the land. Each type of transaction is described in greater detail below.
Conservation Easements Explained
A conservation easement is defined as, “A legal agreement between a landowner and an eligible organization (qualified land trust or state entity) that restricts future activities on the land to protect its conservation values in perpetuity.” Thus, the landowner still retains ownership of the property, but the permanent easement will protect the land from future development.
In most cases a conservation easement:
Does not allow for new structures, unless they are necessary for an agricultural operation.
Restricts any changes to the topography of the landscape.
Restricts the ability to subdivide a property.
Conservation easements can be very advantageous to landowners for several reasons:
Preservation of family land in perpetuity
Federal Income Tax benefit
Certain State Income Tax benefits
Estate tax benefits
Property tax benefits
Fee Simple Transactions Explained
There are several types of transactions that transfer ownership of a property which are described in greater detail below:
1. Sale or Donation of Land
CWPT generally pays fair market value for land, but landowners can sell for less and receive tax benefits.
2. Bargain Sales Landowner sells land to land trust for less than fair market value which creates a charitable income tax deduction based on the difference between the land's fair market value and its sale price.
3. Sale Subject to Life Estate Landowner sells or donates a remainder interest to land trust, but retains right to live and use property; land trust gains control upon death of landowner.
4. Sale/Leaseback Option Landowner sells land to land trust, and then leases property back.
5. Sale to Conservation Buyer Landowner sells land to conservation buyer at fair market value, and then the conservation buyer preserves the land and benefits from tax incentives.
Once CWPT determines the best preservation strategy, the Trust must determine how to pay for the transaction. Funding for CWPT preservation projects generally comes from the following sources:
Federal Grants (Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program, Transportation Enhancement Program, Farm & Ranchland Protection Program)
State Grants (e.g. Virginia Civil War Historic Site Preservation Fund, NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund)
Other Non-Profit Organization Grants
Landowner Donations
CWPT Member Contributions
Contact Us
For more information on possible Civil War battlefield land preservation please contact our Real Estate Department:
Tom Gilmore
Kathy Robertson
Project Manager
krobertson@civilwar.org
202.367.1861 ext. 7209
Washington, D.C.CWPT Corporate Office
1156 15th Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20005
(P) 202.367.1861
(F) 202.367.1865
Fee Simple Transactions Explained
There are several types of transactions that transfer ownership of a property which are described in greater detail below:
1. Sale or Donation of Land
CWPT generally pays fair market value for land, but landowners can sell for less and receive tax benefits.
2. Bargain Sales Landowner sells land to land trust for less than fair market value which creates a charitable income tax deduction based on the difference between the land's fair market value and its sale price.
3. Sale Subject to Life Estate Landowner sells or donates a remainder interest to land trust, but retains right to live and use property; land trust gains control upon death of landowner.
4. Sale/Leaseback Option Landowner sells land to land trust, and then leases property back.
5. Sale to Conservation Buyer Landowner sells land to conservation buyer at fair market value, and then the conservation buyer preserves the land and benefits from tax incentives.
Once CWPT determines the best preservation strategy, the Trust must determine how to pay for the transaction. Funding for CWPT preservation projects generally comes from the following sources:
Federal Grants (Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program, Transportation Enhancement Program, Farm & Ranchland Protection Program)
State Grants (e.g. Virginia Civil War Historic Site Preservation Fund, NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund)
Other Non-Profit Organization Grants
Landowner Donations
CWPT Member Contributions
Contact Us
For more information on possible Civil War battlefield land preservation please contact our Real Estate Department:
Tom Gilmore
Director of Real Estate
tgilmore@civilwar.org
202.367.1861 ext. 7227
Kathy Robertson
Project Manager
krobertson@civilwar.org
202.367.1861 ext. 7209
Washington, D.C.CWPT Corporate Office
1156 15th Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20005
(P) 202.367.1861
(F) 202.367.1865
Membership Headquarters
11 Public Square, Suite 200
Hagerstown, MD 21740
(P) 301.665.1400
(F) 301.665.1416
Sons of Confederate Veterans / credit SCV Camp Buffalo Guards 
Sons of Unions Veterans Civil War / credit - SUVCW Director of Real Estate
tgilmore@civilwar.org
202.367.1861 ext. 7227
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