Tennessee Wars Commission Grant Fund

The Tennessee Wars Commission, the Tennessee Historical Commission division responsible for preserving the state’s significant military history, has announced the 2024-2025 grant cycle. Applications will be accepted from September 2, 2024, through November 15, 2024.

The Wars Commission Grant Fund provides financial support to coordinate the planning, preservation, protection, promotion, and interpretation of structures, buildings, sites, and battlefields related to Tennessee’s military heritage. This grant can fund a wide variety of projects relating to the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the Revolutionary War (1776-1783), War of 1812 (1812-1815), Mexican-American War (1846-1848), and the Civil War (1861-1865).

Since 1994, this grant program has funded approximately one hundred twenty-four different projects preserving and interpreting the military legacy of Tennessee and Tennesseans. “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, furthering our collective knowledge of these historical locations and events,” said Wars Commission Program Director, Nina Scall.

Example projects include, but are not limited to, archaeological surveys and excavations, cemetery preservation, contraband camp preservation and interpretation, graphic displays and interpretative panels, historic markers, and living history and educational programs.

Grant funds totaling $75,395.00 were awarded to four applicants during the 2024 fiscal year:
• Hazen Historical Museum Foundation receives $8,400.00 to install interpretive signage at the Bethel Cemetery. (Knox County)

• Historic Castalian Springs receives $12,000.00 to install signage that will focus on the cultural impact of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War at Cragfont and Wynnewood State Historic Sites. (Sumner County)

• Metro Historical Commission receives $6,420.00 for supplies for an archaeology survey of the Battle of Nashville at Sevier Park for public archaeology days. (Davidson County)

• Mind Balloon Films receives $48,575.00 for production of a short documentary titled “Tide Turners” focusing on the 13th US Colored Infantry. (Davidson County)

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