The fortunes of war

New Civil War Preservation Trust report gives ammunition to those trying to protect our nation's heritage

Date published: 5/31/2005

The fortunes of war

History, and preservation, pay

THAR'S GOLD IN them hills--and in assorted fields and fauna where brave men once fought for a nation's soul. So says a new report, "Blue, Gray and Green," which gives more ammunition, if any were needed, to gallant champions of historic preservation across the country.

Issued by the Civil War Preservation Trust, the report details specific dollar amounts that come into our region from tourism at the battlefields. The bottom line here is a good one: History pays. And if all moral or aesthetic or historical arguments fail to dissuade developers from bulldozing our heritage to make way for another subdivision, perhaps this report will convince communities that there is financial benefit in preserving the past.

Fredericksburg-area residents have waged modern-day battles themselves on this issue, of course. In some ways, the struggle to protect our sacred history mirrors the war that once pitted brother against brother--in this case, small bands of preservationists adopting the tactics of Confederate guerrilla hero John Mosby, utilizing unique tactics and limited resources to the fullest against superior numbers and better financed opponents. But developers--trying to provide homes and businesses to area residents--need not always be confused with Union Gen. William Sherman and his destructive march to the sea. Some have been unscrupulous and greedy, others merely doing what the law allowed--and shortsighted communities requested.

Like the parties in the war 140 years before, both sides of the preservation debate today are absolutely convinced of the justice of their cause, and the battles (not to mention rhetoric) have not been pleasant. The Civil War Preservation Trust report, though, just might be the weapon that puts the preservation forces on top. Consider:

Some 965 private-sector jobs in our immediate area come from battlefield tourism.

Tourists spend about $20.5 million here annually, with the average visitor shelling out over $50 per day--and in many cases, far more than that. Anyone who has brought a family of five to a gift shop knows the dollar figure can be high; add into that three meals a day, hotels, site fees, and more, and preserving history doesn't seem like it should even be an issue anymore.

Tourists wishing to discover more about the War Between the States spent roughly $174 million at a select number of battlefields--with a resulting $15.3 million in state tax revenue, and an impressive $7.7 million in local taxes.

As caretakers of this land where so much of our nation's history was written in blood, we have a responsibility to remember those on both sides of the national divide who gave their all between 1861 and 1865. The Civil War Preservation Trust report provides a much-needed rallying cry for those seeking to honor that mission.

Postscript

Speaking of preservation, kudos to all those involved in the restoration of Sunken Road. The lane, an evocative symbol of the great Battle of Fredericksburg, has now been returned to its 1862 condition. It was dedicated on Sunday after two decades of work by National Park Service and local government officials, preservation groups, and private citizens.

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Date published: 5/31/2005