Tennessee – The Tennessee Wars Commission has announced the recipients of its Fiscal Year 2025 grant program, awarding a total of $114,500 to support the preservation and interpretation of Tennessee’s rich military history.
Administered by the Tennessee Historical Commission, the program aims to protect historically significant locations tied to wars ranging from the French and Indian War to the Civil War.
Since its inception in 1994, the Wars Commission Grant Fund has supported 128 projects statewide. “The Wars Commission Grant Fund provides a unique opportunity for Tennessee communities to enhance their war-related history through the preservation, interpretation, and archaeology of sites, structures, and battlefields,” said Nina Scall, program director for the Tennessee Wars Commission.
This year, four applicants received funding:
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The City of Parkers Crossroads in Henderson County will receive $7,500 to perform a geophysical survey to locate the unknown graves of Confederate soldiers who died in the December 31, 1862, Battle of Parkers Crossroads.
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The Friends of Salem Cemetery Historic Site in Madison County will receive $45,000 for a Phase I archaeological survey of the historic cemetery area.
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The Grainger County Government in Grainger County will receive $50,000 to develop a master plan for a new public history and Civil War site at Breastworks Island, part of the 1863 Battle of Bean Station battlefield.
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The James K. Polk Memorial Association will receive $12,000 to construct a permanent exhibit featuring an electronic, interactive diorama of key battles from the Mexican-American War.
The grant fund continues to support a wide array of projects, including archaeological work, cemetery and contraband camp preservation, historic markers, and educational programming, enriching the understanding of Tennessee’s military heritage for future generations.