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Most Endangered Battlefields 2008
15 Additional At Risk Sites

Brandy Station, Va.
June 9, 1863
Although recent plans for a major housing development near the site of the war’s largest cavalry battle appear to be off the table following significant local opposition, Culpeper County remains one of Virginia’s fastest growing counties. Culpeper Regional Airport, immediately adjacent the battlefield, may undergo significant expansion.

Fort Monroe, Va.
1861 – 1865
Once an important Union base and a refuge for freed slaves, and still an active army base, Fort Monroe faces an uncertain future thanks to a 2005 Base Realignment and Closure decision. National and local preservation groups are working with government officials to preserve this historic treasure.

Fort Morgan, Ala.
August 5 – 23, 1864
Maintenance and infrastructure problems continue to plague this fort which once guarded the mouth of Mobile Bay, but a new site management plan and executive director for the Alabama Historical Commission mean things are looking up. A full repair bill for the site could top $20 million.

Fort Stevens, D.C.
July 11–12, 1864
A push to create a unified presence and interpretation for the Defenses of Washington is gaining steam but may still be years from adoption. Preservationists are wary of what the upcoming closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center could mean for the battlefield.

Glorieta, N.M.
March 26–28, 1862
Although portions of the battlefield are within Pecos National Historic Park, others remain vulnerable to development. The presence of State Highway 50 makes some historic landmarks unsafe for visitors, although the Glorieta Battlefield Coalition has done much work to improve accessibility and interpret the site.

Hoke’s Run, W.Va.
July 2, 1861
With a new Wal-Mart coming to town and residential development now within a stone’s throw of a monument to Stonewall Jackson’s participation in the fight, preservationists worry that time may be running out for the Shenandoah Valley’s first battleground.

Honey Springs, Okla.
July 17, 1863
Only about one third of the land associated with the largest battle fought in Indian Territory (as Oklahoma was known during the war) is currently protected. Longstanding disputes between park advocates and local residents over traffic and visitor access continue.

Kennesaw Mountain, Ga.
June 27, 1864
If you count the 160,000 Atlanta-area commuters who pass through Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park each work day, it becomes the second most visited unit of the National Park Service. Park roads are currently operating at 160 percent capacity and such vehicular traffic severely restricts pedestrian access.

Lovejoy’s Station, Ga.
August 20, 1864
A 204-acre section of the battlefield in Henry County has been preserved as the Nash Farm Battlefield, but 75 acres in adjoining Clayton County have been proposed for a 287-home residential development.

Mansfield, La.
April 8, 1864
Lignite mining operations appear to be moving away from the core battlefield area, giving Mansfield State Historic Site a reprieve. Environmental problems stemming from excavations still remain a concern.

Petersburg, Va.
June 1864 – April 1865
Although the U.S. Army has been exceedingly sensitive to the presence of Petersburg National Battlefield during the expansion of nearby Fort Lee, rapid community development could impact future preservation efforts outside the park.

Richmond, Ky.
August 29 – 30, 1862
A new highway interchange at Duncannon Road off of Interstate 75 will only increase the already intense development pressure created by Richmond’s location 25 miles southeast of Lexington.

Shepherdstown, W.Va.
September 19 – 20, 1863
Developers seeking to build a 144-home subdivision on the battlefield face a March 2008 hearing before the West Virginia Supreme Court. The Jefferson County Board of Zoning Appeals and the Circuit Court have already denied their rezoning request for this portion of designated rural district. The county recently pledged $100,000 toward preservation efforts.

South Mountain, Md.
September 14, 1862
Dominion Transmission Inc. is seeking to build a $55 million natural gas compression station in Middletown, Md., near Turner’s Gap. The area is zoned for agriculture and borders significant amounts of preserved battlefield and scenic landscape. A public comment period closed in February. Plus, the proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor power lines are expected to cross through one of the battlefield gaps.

Yadkin River Bridge, N.C.
April 12, 1865
In August a developer seeking to build a racetrack near the site of the last Confederate victory in the Carolinas began excavations and grading activities without county permits, repeatedly ignoring stop work orders from government officials. Although a court eventually issued a restraining order against the developer, they still predict a summer 2008 opening.

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