Julie A. Oaks
TDOT, Public Information Officer
 Office: 615.741.2331
Mobile: 615.533.7105
Fax: 615.741.9093

Nashville, Tenn. — Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that the state will provide an enhancement grant in the amount of $543,480 to assist with phase two of the Tennessee Civil War Trails program, operated by the Tennessee Department of Tourism.

The grant funds will be used to develop Civil War Trails sites in communities across the state.  Phase two will result in more than 250 newly interpreted and accessible Civil War sites.

“This program will create more easily accessible, user friendly system for travelers to follow as they explore sites and transportation corridors associated with the American Civil War in Tennessee,” said Governor Bredesen.  “It also encourages partnerships between state agencies and local communities.  I’m proud the State of Tennessee can make investments like this to enhance local communities for the benefit of citizens and visitors alike.”

Susan Whitaker, Commissioner of the Department of Tourist Development said, "On behalf of the many state agencies, legislators and local community leaders who partnered to develop the Civil War Trails initiative, I would like to thank Governor Bredesen and Commissioner Gerald Nicely of TDOT for this enhancement grant to expand this important project. This expansion will enable hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans and visitors from around the world to experience and appreciate Tennessee's rich Civil War heritage as well as preserve the integrity of these historic sites for future generations."

The grant is made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area Director, Dr. Van West, said "The Civil War Trails project helps communities to identify and use their heritage assets for local economic growth.  This grant helps to further this cause."

“TDOT has funded more than $189 million in transportation related projects through our Enhancement Grant Program,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely.  “This program provides funds to cities, counties and state organizations to fund activities such as the restoration of historic facilities, bike and pedestrian trails, landscaping, streetscaping and other non-traditional transportation projects.” 

The federal grant program was established by Congress in the early 1990’s to fund activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation’s transportation system.

Fred Prouty, Director of Programs for the Tennessee Wars Commission added, “This grant will help expand the state's Civil War trail signage system to more than two-hundred new sites.  These sites help promote and educate the general public about the benefits of preserving our endangered historic Civil War sites and I hope the end result of this effort will be long-range preservation of many of our endangered historic resources connected with the War Between the States.”

The Tennessee Civil War Trails program will be both a freestanding, statewide program and a part of the existing 700-site, three-state Civil War Trails program which has been developed through similar grant funding.  The project will encourage and reward local governments and private sector participants that establish, promote and maintain the program in their areas.