July 2011 e-Common Ground

A Capital Idea: Loans That Save Our History

When America declared its independence from Britain on July 4, 1776, a long and fierce fight was just beginning to unfold across the farms and meadows of our new nation. The American Revolution lasted more than five grueling years—and forever changed places like the Brandywine Valley, where Gen. George Washington’s army clashed with British troops before the capture of Philadelphia.

Today, you can still visit Brandywine Battlefield. That’s because a dedicated band of conservationists—including the Brandywine Conservancy, the Natural Lands Trust, the National Park Service, The Conservation Fund, and many other public and private organizations, donors and volunteers—have worked for years to protect and maintain the most significant properties within Brandywine Battlefield National Historic Landmark for visitors.

Without this effort, the very grounds where America fought for freedom could be lost to stores and houses. When a place like Brandywine Battlefield is labeled a “landmark” by the federal government, it’s considered historically important—but not guaranteed preservation or funding to keep it open to the public. More than a third of the Brandywine landmark is developed. Conservationists focus on saving its most significant lands, which witnessed the heaviest fighting.

We have contributed to this important goal by providing a timely loan to the Brandywine Conservancy, so it could protect a prized 100-acre parcel within the landmark. David D. Shields, associate director of the Conservancy, called the loan “critical to bridging a funding gap and securing the last piece of the historic Meetinghouse Road corridor.”

Beyond Brandywine, we have provided more than 155 loans to land trusts, making it possible to protect five state parks, seven battlefields, 17 historic sites, 35 farms and much more. Without our help, more than 95,000 acres of special places like these, across 30 states, could have been lost forever.

Learn more about our land trust loan program here or email Reggie Hall, Director of the Land Trust Loan Program at rhall@conservationfund.org.

At The Conservation Fund, we combine a passion for conservation with an entrepreneurial spirit to protect America’s favorite places. And yours.

Photos: Brandywine Battlefield (banner) and Washington's headquarters at Brandywine Battlefield (top). Both images by Holly Higging/Flickr.