About the American Battlefield Trust

Our Mission

The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters.

Our Purpose

The purpose of the American Battlefield Trust is to inspire appreciation of America, its history, and its promise of liberty through an understanding of the wars fought on its soil, and of the sacrifices of earlier generations of Americans.

The American Battlefield Trust tells our extraordinary national story through the conflicts of the first century of the United States. We present this history as accurately and completely as possible, with special emphasis on soldiers engaged on the battlefield. Our vision is that a better understanding of these notable conflicts will inspire all Americans to appreciate more fully their history, on the ground where it actually happened, and why it matters today.

Americans have much to be proud of as the architects of the most successful and long-lived constitutional republic in the world.  Our country was founded on the principles of the Western Enlightenment that placed value on human liberty, a rarity in the world to that point. These principles are embedded in our founding documents, and foremost among them is the concept of personal freedom. Our country was not born perfectly formed; however, during the early struggles of our nation Americans found inspiration in these founding principles to form a more perfect union, and that effort continues today. American soldiers and their families were willing to sacrifice their lives and fortunes for the promise of personal liberty, freedom, and equality through the Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, and their sacrifices can best be imagined on the battlefields where they fought.  These places are their monuments.

We affirm that our understanding of these historic conflicts, the circumstances that caused armies to clash on hundreds of battlefields, and the aftermath of these conflicts is best informed by the historic record and not by the many narratives that evolved in the years that followed. As we believe the study of history should be a search for truth, we use primary sources to the extent possible, including thousands of first-hand accounts, letters, journals and reports. Other tools include original maps, first-hand accounts of troop movements, photography, drawings, and archaeology. 

Importantly, we also aspire to understand these struggles in the context of the age in which they occurred. We do not presume to speak for people who lived in times very different from our own, or to apply contemporary standards to their world. We listen to them in their own words and deeds, so that we may learn all we can from them.

We seek to inspire Americans today by the ideals that motivated earlier generations to sacrifice on our battlefields. As a result of our work, we hope that today’s Americans will be similarly dedicated to founding principles so that they may be informed and thoughtful participants in self-government, that America might always realize its promise of freedom and personal liberty, and that we continue our journey toward that more perfect union.
 

Values and Guiding Principles

We have a Passion for our Cause which compels a laser focus on our mission. We see battlefields as outdoor classrooms, teaching young and old alike about the sacrifices made during our nation’s turbulent first century to secure the freedoms that all Americans enjoy today. These were places where crucial chapters of the American story were written. Where ordinary citizens – farmers, merchants and laborers – displayed extraordinary valor fighting for independence and freedom.

We are committed to Excellence. We believe that history education is the foundation of good citizenship and a key ingredient in developing the national leaders of tomorrow. Visiting and learning about battlefields enables people to connect with our history, learning firsthand about the citizen soldiers who helped forge a nation. We believe parents should consider battlefield visits as an essential, formative experience for school-age children. We seek to collaborate and partner with any organizations who share our passion for preserving these foundations of freedom.

We have a deep, abiding Respect for the sanctity of historic battlefields. We see preserved battlefields as living memorials to the soldiers who fought there, and seek to pass on their story of their heroism and sacrifice to the next generation of Americans. They are also the final resting places for countless young soldiers who were buried where they fell, their graves unmarked and largely forgotten.

We recognize that we trade on the Trust of our patrons and our partners. The American Battlefield Trust is committed to sound fiscal management and frequent, open communication with our members and partners. That trust must be built with an unrelenting Determination to represent our nation’s complex story with accuracy, objectivity and integrity. The United States is the oldest and most effective democratic republic in the world. That has not happened by accident. The Trust seeks to preserve this history – not to promote a single point of view, but to provide a comprehensive set of perspectives from America’s first century. Our history – the good, the bad, the heroic, the regretful – shapes who we are as Americans today. That history can serve as a powerful lesson and inspiration, but only if it can be preserved.