Learn more about this new preservation effort at Brandy Station.
Imagine standing in a beautiful, open field, surrounded by rolling hills and sweeping views of the Virginia countryside.
Now imagine that same landscape covered in buildings, roads, or commercial development.
That's what nearly happened at Brandy Station, Virginia.
For nearly 40 years, the American Battlefield Trust and dedicated preservationists have fought to protect this remarkable place from development — even stopping plans for a Formula 1 racetrack.
Why? Because these fields hold an important piece of America's story.
In 1863, Brandy Station was the site of the largest cavalry battle ever fought in North America. Thousands of soldiers fought across this landscape in a clash that helped change the course of the Civil War.
But protecting Brandy Station has never been just about preserving the past. It's about what we leave for the future.
Acre by acre, supporters have helped save threatened land, remove modern structures, and restore the landscape. And in 2024, decades of determination paid off when Culpeper Battlefields State Park opened to the public.
Brandy Station Battlefield — July 1, 2024 Opening of Culpeper Battlefields State Park
Previous preservation efforts helped open a brand new state park — Culpeper Battlefields State Park — in July, 2024.
More than 2,353 acres at Brandy Station Battlefield have been preserved.
Today, 414 more acres are at stake!
Now, thanks to expected federal and state grant funding, we need to raise just $62,500 to permanently protect additional 414 acres... 406 acres adjacent to Fleetwood Hill, plus a nearby 8.45-acre tract. Together, these represent one of the largest remaining unprotected portions of the Brandy Station battlefield.
That's approximately $150 per acre — an extraordinary opportunity to save threatened battlefield land for future generations.
We're also working to raise $59,563 to continue restoring Brandy Station's historic landscape, building on efforts to remove modern structures, clear debris, and return the battlefield closer to its 1863 appearance.
The total goal is $122,063 to save and restore this hallowed ground.
By protecting and restoring this hallowed ground, we can ensure future generations do more than read about history — they can walk the land, experience its beauty, and connect with the stories that shaped our nation.
Help Save 414 More Acres At Brandy Station Battlefield
Once open land is developed, we can't simply bring it back. And once the places where our nation's history unfolded are gone, future generations lose the chance to experience them for themselves.
Saving Brandy Station has taken nearly four decades. But the long game is worth playing when the reward is something that can last forever.
'Til the battle is won,
David N. Duncan
President
American Battlefield Trust
P.S. Saving the land is only part of the long game at Brandy Station. Together, we have come a long way. Now, the next part of our preservation journey at Brandy Station is just beginning. Will you join us? Please make a donation to keep the momentum going at Brandy Station.