Soldiers at Little Fork Church: Connecting Modern Communities by Interpreting Civil War History

A panoramic view of the Brandy Station battlefield study area.

Julie L. Basic, PLA

Recipient: Little Fork Episcopal Church (Culpeper County, VA)
Amount: $31,562.00

Constructed during the American Revolution, the Little Fork Church in Rixeyville, Virginia has anchored the local community for nearly 300 years. Serving multiple congregations and acting as common meeting place for important events. Including the mustering of the local militia, and preparations for war.

Prior to shots being fired at the beginning of the American Civil War, the “Little Fork Rangers” formed, and drilled at the church. Later becoming part of the 4th Virginia Cavalry. In the winter of 1863, the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry burned the church’s wooden pews to keep warm, because there was such a severe lack of firewood. Important local history that the present-day congregation of Little Fork Church intends to interpret as part of a larger community project.

Using the financial support of a Battlefield Interpretation Grant, the Little Fork Episcopal Church will develop a comprehensive interpretation plan, including waysides and trail design plans for the 16-acre property. Using modern accessibility practices to transform the church grounds into a recreational and educational experience for the whole community, highlighting local Civil War History.

Battlefield Interpretation Grants from the NPS American Battlefield Protection Program support preservation partners efforts to modernize and enhance battlefield interpretation. Helping to create learning environments that inspire diverse audiences to visit, understand, and empathize with the soldiers and civilians that witnessed some of our nation’s most challenging events. In addition to this grant opportunity, the program also provides financial assistance through Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants, Battlefield Restoration Grants, and Preservation Planning Grants, to help generate community-driven stewardship of historic resources at the state, tribal and local levels.