Make History With Us
Each Civil War Trails site is generated at the grassroots level, where local interest begins our process. When communities approach Civil War Trails, we start our work by bringing in local historians and descendants. Through our community-driven approach, we’re able to tell history and share stories that often have not been heard before. This approach allows us to interpret—not commemorate or memorialize—the events, people, and places of the most pivotal time in our nation’s history.
What Makes a Civil War Trails Site?
To ensure our program provides the most engaging, cohesive, and historically accurate experience possible for travelers, each Civil War Trails site must meet two primary qualifications to be included in the program.
The first requirement is that the site must have a connection to the American Civil War Era. This of course includes battlefields, military camps, and stories about troops and military leaders. However, we also want to take our visitors beyond the battlefield and engage them in the events leading up to and following the war, as well as the impact the conflict had on communities.
The second requirement is that the site should place the traveler in the footsteps of history. If a sign describes an event, it must be located where that event took place or be within sight of the event location. If it describes an individual, it must be located in a place with a direct connection to that person. Visitors should know why they are standing in that particular location within the first few moments of reading the sign.
If your site meets these requirements, we want to hear about it! Follow the steps below to submit an application and leave your mark on the Trail.
Before You Get Started
- Review the instructions, rules, and recommendations in our Trail Guide
- Complete the Property Owner and Membership forms included in the Trail Guide
- Identify a Project Lead to coordinate with CWT staff and community stakeholders
Click Here to Download the Trail Guide
Gather Application Materials
- Location Information: GPS coordinates of suggested location and a photograph of someone standing in the sign’s planned location, with the person standing as if reading the sign.
- Sign Text: Proposed text of no more than 275 words. This includes image captions and credits. You can find an example here.
- Citations: List of sources for historic content.
- High Resolution Media: Maps, photographs, illustrations, etc. to be included on the sign. Include permissions when applicable. Submit as separate images, not inside a document.
- Explanation of Significance: A brief description of the significance of the proposed site. Why tell this story? Why tell it at this location?
Partner demonstrating where visitors will stand when looking at their proposed sign.
Once you have collected all of the above, submit these materials and the completed Property Owner and Membership forms to executivedirector@civilwartrails.org. Civil War Trails (CWT) staff will review applications and return any comments or questions. If approved, the application will proceed to content review.
Sign Development and Production
- Content Review: Once an application is approved, CWT staff will review the proposed content and media. Staff will return an edited text to the Project Lead for review. The text must be approved by the Project Lead and all stakeholders before proceeding to design.
- Design: Once the text and media are approved, CWT staff will design the sign. A proof will be sent to the Project Lead in PDF format for final review and approval.
- Printing: Once the design is approved, CWT staff will send the sign to print.
Civil War Trails staff will contact the Project Lead to coordinate an installation date as soon as the sign is printed.
Get Ready for Install
- The Project Lead must ensure all utilities are marked at the proposed location of the sign before the installation date.
- A representative of the project must be present on site during the installation to direct final details.
Staff installing a brand new Civil War Trails sign.