Support the New Market Interpretation Initiative

It’s been an amazing year for Battlefield Preservation.  In fact, there’s been no year in our history when we’ve been able to accomplish more.  Now, as 2022 draws to a close, let’s finish the year the way we started it – swinging for the fences – and come together for one more campaign.

We have time for one more win before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.  If we can come together and raise $35,000, we can reinvent the visitor experience on the New Market battlefield.  This relatively small investment will create a battlefield experience in downtown New Market at sites where fighting opened the battle, swept from street to street, and brought war to the doorsteps of the people who lived there. 

Much of the Battle of the New Market took place on the eastern side of the battlefield, but the history of those actions has largely been overlooked or forgotten – because that part of the fight has not been interpreted.

Before the end of this year, we can begin to change that.   With just $35,000 of investment from us, we will be able to complete our downtown battlefield Visitor Center in the historic Strayer house; install wayside exhibit signs and battlefield site signs at various locations throughout the town; launch a new cell phone audio tour for the battlefield; and even restore a length of period fencing on a town lot marking the flank of the first federal line!

Because of the funding that we’ve received from the Commonwealth of Virginia, we can match every dollar of the $35,000 raised – doubling the power of your gift! That means that our $35,000 campaign will have a $70,000 impact!  And here’s the thing: this isn’t important only for the future understanding of the Battle of New Market.  It’s also important because it is an opportunity for us to show the world how battlefield tourism can spur business in a small town and have a positive impact on the local economy.  Why should we care about that?  Because if people in the Valley see battlefields as an important part of their future they will help us save them.  It’s as simple as that.

This is vitally important project, and a great way to have your end-of-year giving matched to double the impact of your investment.  This project has great naming opportunities and will include a donor board in the new visitor center recognizing our donors to this campaign; recognition on exhibit signs; and even recorded recognition of donors as part of the audio tour stops.  I know that for you it’s about preserving the history of what happened on our battlefields… but it’s nice for us to be able to recognize our friends for their support.