The American Battlefield Trust motivates lifelong appreciation for America’s history by creating immersive, transformative experiences on the battlefield.

Creating Transformative Experiences for Students

We seek to create a meaningful and inspiring battlefield experience for every student, helping them develop a deeper connection to history and instilling a lifelong appreciation for the ideals these battlefields represent. Thanks to the campaign, we have given many students this opportunity, sending more than 37,000 students on field trips to historic sites across the country

Our goal: By the end of the semiquincentennial we want 10 million students to experience history where it was made. This includes both in-person and online engagement through a combination of student field trips and virtual experiences.

Off
Off
A crowd of students on a field trip to Gettysburg Battlefield

Turning Lessons into Lifelong Memories

Through Our Enduring Legacy, we’ve funded over 37,000 students to visit battlefields through the History Field Trip Grant Program.

Most of America’s 50 million students live within a short drive of a battlefield — often one that we’ve helped protect. By covering field trip costs, this program removes financial barriers and makes these unforgettable experiences possible for many who would otherwise miss out. And once on-site, the Trust’s educational tools bring history to life, fostering engagement, and inspiring future civic leaders.

I've spent my career on these battlefields, and I will tell you: the most important thing that happens here isn't preservation. It's what happens when a young person stands on this ground and understands — really understands — what took place. Your support made it possible for us to bring that experience to more students than ever before.”

Photo of a smiling man in a hat standing with his arm propped on a cannon.

Garry Adelman 

Chief Historian, American Battlefield Trust

Battlefields as Outdoor Classrooms for All Ages

We believe the most powerful way to inspire appreciation of our history is through direct engagement with the places where history happened. Our battlefields are more than just land — they are outdoor classrooms offering unparalleled, life-changing learning experiences. Students, teachers, and families can enjoy an immersive experience and connect to history on the very ground where monumental events took place. 

But we know that not everyone can visit a battlefield in person. That’s why we have harnessed cutting-edge digital tools to bring battlefields to audiences everywhere. Through interactive maps, virtual tours, and digital storytelling, we have transported learners to these sacred sites, allowing them to “walk the ground” from anywhere in the world. And for those planning an in-person visit, our digital resources enhanced the experience, providing deeper insights and historical context that make every step more meaningful.

Off
Off

Experience History Anywhere: Digital Tools for Education

The American Battlefield Trust is committed to inspiring America’s understanding of our history through quality content and digital programming. Some examples:

Off
Off
A man on a battlefield views an augmented reality scene on an iPad

The Liberty Trail

A journey through place and time, connecting locations central to the story of the American Revolution. The Liberty Trail website and tour guide apps, created by the Trust, help users navigate this history by providing context and historical interpretation. These interactive tools offer unique perspectives powered by the latest technology, including virtual and augmented reality.

Illustration of New York harbor with small rectangular prisms on the map showing historical battle position of the Continental and British armies.

Revolutionary War Animated Map

See the Revolutionary War unfold, from Lexington to Yorktown and beyond, on our animated map. Using a combination of dramatic narration, historic and modern images, motion graphics, reenactment footage, and music, this tool uncovers the mesmerizing stories of the war that made America.

Two photographs that blend into each other at the centerpoint. The left is a black and white lithograph from the Gettysburg address and the right is a modern photo of a man dressed in 1860s era fatigues walking in the same location as the earlier lithograph.

Step Into History: Gettysburg Address

This “Then and Now” series combines contemporary video and animation methods, enabling viewers to accompany historians as they stroll through historical pictures and share the stories behind the scenes immortalized on film, including this iconic image of the site where President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863.

Our Enduring Legacy gave us the opportunity to think beyond preserving battlefields — it allowed us to reimagine how people experience them. Because of this campaign, we've created innovative digital tools that bring the power of place to students, teachers, and history lovers across the country, ensuring millions of Americans can connect with these landscapes as we commemorate our nation's 250th anniversary and beyond.”

Lawrence Swiader

Lawrence Swiader 

Chief Digital Officer, American Battlefield Trust