Preservation News: Victory at McDowell

Just last week, our friends at the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (SVBF) announced that they had preserved one of the last few acres of the core of the McDowell Battlefield. According to the SVBF, this particular battlefield is unique; with low threats, McDowell’s core area can be fully preserved. Between the American Battlefield Trust, the SVBF, and other preservation groups, over 1,000 acres have been saved at McDowell.

In total, the 19 acres cost roughly $160,000. $20,000 was raised from generous donors and SVBF members, while $60,000 came from the Virginia Battlefields Preservation Fund and $80,000 from the Battlefield Land Acquisition Program.

As Stonewall Jackson’s first major victory in the 1862 Valley Campaign, the McDowell Battlefield will also be furnished with interpretive signage and trails to get more people to the site. Additionally, the battlefield’s proximity to Staunton, Virginia will help boost tourism.

For more information on the SVBF, please visit their website at www.shenandoahatwar.org. If you would like to contribute to their efforts and help save more battlefield land in the Shenandoah Valley, check out their donation page, linked here.