Tennessee – The Tennessee Wars Commission, a division of the Tennessee Historical Commission, announced that the 2025 grant cycle for the Tennessee Wars Commission Grant Fund will open on Sept. 1. This year, $69,700 will be available to support projects that preserve and interpret Tennessee’s significant military history.
Last year, the program awarded $114,500 in grants for projects that included an archaeological survey, a historical documentary, and interpretive signage for multiple sites across the state. Since the program began in 1994, approximately 128 projects have been funded, highlighting and preserving the contributions of Tennesseans from the French and Indian War through the Civil War.
“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 related to the French and Indian War through the Civil War era, furthering our collective knowledge of these historical locations and events,” said Wars Commission Program Director Nina Scall.
The Tennessee Wars Commission Grant Fund is designed to support projects that coordinate planning, preservation, protection, promotion, and interpretation of Tennessee’s military heritage.
Eligible projects include archaeological surveys and excavations, cemetery preservation, contraband camp preservation and interpretation, graphic displays and interpretive panels, historic markers, master plans and foundation documents, as well as living history and educational programs.
The grant program covers military history projects tied to several conflicts, including the French and Indian War (1754–1763), the Revolutionary War (1776–1783), the War of 1812 (1812–1815), the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), and the Civil War (1861–1865).
Applications are open to individuals, museums, educational institutions, private organizations, and local government bodies. While there is no minimum matching requirement, applicant contributions will be taken into consideration during the review process.
The deadline for submissions is Nov. 21, 2025. Applications must be submitted digitally, and interested applicants are required to create an account and complete the process online through the Tennessee Historical Commission’s website.
The Tennessee Wars Commission emphasized that the grant program is a critical resource for communities and organizations across the state, helping preserve important sites, enhance historical understanding, and ensure Tennessee’s military legacy is shared with future generations.