PAL

PAL conducted statewide surveys of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 battlefields and associated properties for the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP).  

Process

Documentation of more than 120 battlefields and associated properties involved extensive research and fieldwork to identify eligible battlefield sites, rank their relative historical significance, develop preservation alternatives, and provide broad recommendations for site preservation and interpretation.

Survey data was collected using a global positioning system (GPS) unit equipped with a data dictionary.  The products of the surveys were presented in a geographic information system (GIS) and database formats and incorporated into the ABPP geodatabase.

The evaluation of significance of the battlefields employed a ranking system established by the NPS that determines what portions, if any, are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Results

Products of the ABPP nationwide survey are used to guide management practices and solicit appropriations from Congress to preserve significant and threatened battlefield sites. The ABPP operates an annual grant program designed to encourage local protection of sites.