Bentonville Battlefield Receives $100,000 Restoration Grant from National Park Service

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has been awarded a $100,000 Battlefield Restoration grant from the National Park Service to produce a Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) to guide the restoration of key portions of the Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site in Johnston County.

"At Historic Sites, we often ask ourselves to consider what the land witnessed. This generous grant from the National Park Service will help us to more deeply understand and share the story of this incredibly significant battlefield as more than just a site of war," said Michelle Lanier, director of the Division of State Historic Sites.

The CLR will document what the landscape looked like during the battle, assess current conditions, and provide recommendations to restore the historic landscape to day-of conditions. With over 2,200 acres preserved, this planning tool is critical in documenting the battlefield's complex historical and natural resources, evaluating the changes in land use, and recommending long-term strategies to restore the forested lands to their historic 1865 appearance. The report will involve feedback from landowners, tenant farmers, Tribal entities, preservation specialists, and the local community.

The American Battlefield Protection Program's Battlefield Restoration Grants support preservation partners across the country in their effort to restore eligible American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War sites to day-of-battle conditions. Funding for these grants is provided through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which reinvests revenue from offshore oil and natural gas leasing to help strengthen conservation and recreation opportunities across the nation.

About Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site
Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site interprets the battle and the Harper House, a farmhouse used as a field hospital where surgeons treated nearly 600 men wounded in the battle. The site is located at 5466 Harper House Rd., Four Oaks, NC, three miles north of Newton Grove on S.R. 1008, about one hour from Raleigh and about 45 minutes from Fayetteville. For more information, visit https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/bentonville-battlefield or call (910) 594-0789.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.