Civil War Preservation Trust. Civil War Preservation Trust Preserves Historic Battlefield Land. Civil War Preservation Trust

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1 Civil War Preservation Trust Preserves Historic Battlefield Land Outright purchases Conservation easements Partnerships with federal, state and local governments Working with local citizens Civil War Preservation Trust Civil War Preservation Trust Helped protect more than 22,000 acres Protected land in 19 states CWPT is the number one entity for protecting Civil War battlefield land in the United States Since 1999, CWPT has protected Civil War battlefield land at three times the rate of the National Park Service Civil War Preservation Trust Supports communities trying to balance the benefits of preservation against burgeoning development Blue, Gray and Green The Civil War Preservation Trust s Economic Benefits Study Provides a battlefield benefits guide for community leaders Demonstrates how to decide when saving Civil War battlefields makes dollars and sense 1

2 About Blue, Gray and Green Battlefield Visitors Multi-year study commissioned by CWPT Conducted by Davidson Peterson Associates Partially funded by a grant from the Department of Interior, National Park Service This study examined only out-of-town visitors. Locals, school groups and recreational visitors were excluded from the visitor counts. Non-Locals 5 Locals 42% More About Blue, Gray and Green Surveyed Battlefields Uses on-site interviews to profile visitor demographics and expenditures, as well as attitudes regarding the overall visit Develops an economic model using public records to determine jobs supported and state and local government revenues Antietam, MD Bentonville, AR Brice s Crossroads, TN Chickamauga/Chattanooga, TN,GA Corinth, MS Franklin, TN Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania, TN Gettysburg, PA Kennesaw, GA Mansfield, LA Mill Springs, KY New Market, VA Olustee, FL Perryville, KY Port Hudson, LA Prairie Grove, AR Richmond, VA Shiloh, TN Wilson s Creek, MO Community Leaders Face Mounting Dilemmas CWPT Supports Battlefield Communities in Crisis Population growth affects pristine sites Taxpayers question the value of spending dollars for battlefield preservation Local leaders face pressure to rezone historic properties Sprawl and traffic impact preserved battlefields 2

3 Questions for Community Leaders CWPT s Blue, Gray and Green Study Balances Development and Preservation What are the real costs of development? Do preserved battlefields have value to a community? What does preservation mean to local citizens? Civil War Tourists Can Answer the Questions and Solve the Dilemmas What Are the Real Costs of Development? What is the cost of services for new residential development? New schools Police and fire protection More traffic on local roads More strain on utilities Facts About Development: Tax Revenue Needed to Service Land Facts About Development: Straban Township, Penn. (includes part of Gettysburg Battlefield) $ $ Residential Land $0.36 Open Space Residential Land $0.06 Open Space *Per $1 dollar of tax revenue *Per $1 dollar of tax revenue 3

4 Facts About Development In Virginia, 70,000 new dwelling units cost the state general fund $19 million and required $613.6 million in total infrastructure spending A new high school with a capacity of 1,800 pupils costs $57 million in Spotsylvania County, Va. (the location of four major Civil War battlefields) This is a cost per student of $32,030 Do Preserved Battlefields Have Value to a Community? Preserving hallowed ground attracts tourists Tourists spend money on local hospitality and retail services Increased tourism supports jobs for local residents Tourist expenditures generate taxes that are used to pay for services to local residents What Does Preservation Mean to Local Citizens? Civil War tourism encourages an attractive quality of life Civil War tourists are educated and affluent Civil War tourists are good will ambassadors and good salespeople for your community What Battlefield Tourists Mean to Your Community How much are tourists worth in dollars spent? How many new jobs will be created? How many new tax dollars will be generated? Can the community attract new tourists? Civil War Tourists Are Active, Affluent and Interested Visitors Averages for 19 Battlefields: Average Income: $65,200 Average Age: 49.5 Percent College Grads: 51% Visitor Occupations Professional/Technical Retired Executive/Managerial Sales/Clerical Business owner Skilled Craftsperson Other/No Answer 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 4

5 Points to Consider Communities can use Civil War tourists demographics to determine how best to market their battlefield(s) Because of their income and education, Civil War tourists are among the best visitors a community can attract Civil War Tourists Mean Business for Local Merchants Totals for 19 battlefields: Retail Expenditures: $242,531,609 Average Expenditure Per Person Per Day: $49.16 Civil War Tourists Buy Lodging, Food and Retail Goods Overnight Stays at Battlefield Communities Shopping 27% Admissions Transportation 10% Other 5% Paid Accommodations 64% Free Accommodations Did Not Stay Overnight 2 Food & Beverage 26% Lodging 24% Points to Consider Civil War Tourists Generate New State and Local Tax Revenues Communities can build a hospitality infrastructure Total for 19 battlefields: to attract Civil War tourists and provide more opportunities to capture their dollars State Government Revenue: $20,896,00 Local Government Revenue: $11,638,00 5

6 Points to Consider Encouraging tourism to battlefields reduces the tax burden on local citizens Without tourism, these revenues would have to be raised elsewhere Civil War Tourists Support Jobs for Local Residents Total for 19 battlefields: Jobs Supported: 5,683 Visitors Needed to Support One Job: 980 Points to Consider Civil War Battlefields Are the Main Attraction Visitor Attitudes Towards Battlefields Battlefield tourists mean jobs for locals Support a vibrant local economy Attract additional hospitality oriented businesses Recommend Site to Others 91.2% Visit Other Civil War Sites 74. Visit Because of Battlefields 64.2% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% A Majority of Tourists Come for the Battlefield Points to Consider Came Because of Battlefield 6 Learned After Arriving 32% A targeted marketing program can lure more tourists and dollars to your community Current visitors to a battlefield can serve as goodwill ambassadors to attract additional tourists 6

7 What Do Visitors Look For When They Visit Battlefields? What Services Do Visitors Utilize At Battlefields? When tourists venture to Civil War battlefields, they are looking for information to shed additional light on the events that transpired there This information is key to a positive visitor experience Self-guided tour using guide/map Self guided tour following signs Guided walking/driving tour led by ranger 30% 4 59% Walk on own without help 24% Book or other publication 22% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% What Visitor Amenities Would They Like to Use? Preserving Civil War Battlefields Is Good Business Costumed interpreters or re-enactors Guided walking/driving tour led by ranger Movie/video on-site 11% 17% 27% Preservation adds value to the community Preservation costs less than development Preservation enhances the quality of life for local residents Tour led by guide from commercial company Self-guided tour using guidebook 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% Recommendations Use the experiences of other battlefield communities as a guide to determining the benefits of increasing Civil War tourism Thoroughly examine the cost benefits of tourism when considering development Take steps to preserve and protect battlefields and other money-generating historic sites in the community For More Information Contact: Civil War Preservation Trust Toll Free: (800)