WHO WE ARE
Who We Are
WHO WE ARE
The Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area is a partnership unit of the National Park Service and administered by the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University. Since its inception, the Heritage Area has worked with communities and organizations across the state to tell the powerful stories of the home front, the demands of fighting and occupation, the freedom of emancipation, and the enduring legacies of Reconstruction.
WHAT WE DO
We leverage federal, state, local, and private funding to build new educational, tourism, and recreational opportunities for Tennessee residents and visitors. Our Professional Services and Outreach program provides assistance at no cost to property owners and organizations developing heritage programs and projects. Through our Collaborative Partnerships program, organizations, local governments, and non-profit groups can apply for matching funds to develop projects including interpretive brochures, driving tours, exhibits, educational materials, and heritage tourism and preservation planning. For more information on how we can help and for an electronic copy of our Collaborative Partnership application and guidelines, please see How We Can Help.
OUr HIstory
Official Designation
Through the National Park Service heritage ar eas exist across the country. Heritage areas are "places designated by the United States Congress where natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape, which tell nationally important stories and represent the national experience through both physical features and the traditions that have evolved within them."
In 1995, Congress invited proposals from across the United States for the still relatively new National Heritage Areas program. Of the 41 proposals submitted from across the country, the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area was one of eight that was ultimately selected. In 1996, Representative Bart Gordon successfully introduced legislation to create the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, which was designated by Congress in November of that same year.
Early Organization
In 1998, the Center for Historic Preservation was charged with creating a Compact and Master Plan to develop, implement, and manage the Heritage Area. Over the next two years, the Center partnered with the Tennessee Historical Commission/ Wars Commission, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the Tennessee State Legislature, the Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association, Tennessee State University's African American History Conference, and other stakeholders to develop a preliminary planning document, conduct state-wide public forums, and gain input and support for the final Master Plan. In 2001 Don Sundquist approved the Heritage Area's Compact and Master Plan, which outlines major interpretive themes, management structure, planning, and funding guidelines. The final Master Plan and Environmental Assessment was submitted to the National Park Service and the Secretary of the Interior in 2004.