National Park Service awards grant for archaeological survey of Buffington Island

Heritage Preservation Services

For Immediate Release
April 13, 1999
Contact: Ginger Carter (202) 343-1210

The National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program announced today that it has awarded a grant of $40,000 to Heidelberg College, to conduct an archaeological survey of the Buffington Island Civil War battlefield -- the pivotal battle in John Hunt Morgan's Raid in Ohio.

This survey will be used to identify and resolve disputes about the location and size of key aspects of the battle. "We were very impressed with the College's proposal, and we are pleased to be able to assist in this important project," said Bryan Mitchell, Chief of the American Battlefield Protection Program. "Many of this nation's significant battlefields are at risk and will be lost or badly compromised without the continuing good work of institutions like Heidelberg College," Mitchell continued.

The American Battlefield Protection Program was established by Federal law to work for the protection of significant battle sites associated with all wars fought on American soil. The program provides assistance to state, local, and tribal governments, as well as private organizations, so that many of the nation's significant battlefields can be effectively protected and managed at the community level, without resort to costly Federal intervention to acquire and maintain them. The program's success depends on effective partnerships with those groups that are the stewards of these battlefields.

For additional information on this project please contact Michael Pratt, Director, Center for Historic and Military Archaeology, Heidelberg College, 310 E. Market Street, Tiffin, OH 44883, 419-448-2070. More information on the ABPP, including a list of other grant recipients, can be found on the Web at www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/.

Heidelberg College / College Relations / webmaster@heidelberg.edu