South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust

What South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust does

The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust (SCBPT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1993 and headquartered in Camden, South Carolina, with a secondary address in Charleston. The Trust preserves and interprets South Carolina's Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields and military historic sites through land acquisition, conservation easements, archaeological research, and public education. Its operational scope covers more than 200 documented Revolutionary War engagements in the state, with a long-term goal of preserving or interpreting approximately 80 battlefield sites through The Liberty Trail initiative.

SCBPT's service portfolio spans fee-simple land acquisition, conservation easement negotiation with property owners and developers, archaeological survey and excavation (using LiDAR, ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry/gradiometry, metal detection, drone photography, and historical map georeferencing), and public interpretation through digital and physical channels. Core products include The Liberty Trail — a digital driving tour app developed in partnership with the American Battlefield Trust connecting Revolutionary War battlefields statewide — and The Camden Burials Project, which recovered and reinterred 14 Revolutionary War soldiers in April 2023 with full military honors. The Trust also provides site assessment consulting, artillery demonstrations, and educational programming, and publishes primary-source scholarship such as The Francis Marion Papers, Volume One (February 2025).

The business model is nonprofit and grant-funded. Revenue streams consist of tiered annual memberships ($35 Friend, $100 Supporter, $500 Patron, $1,000 Benefactor), tax-deductible project-specific donations ($25 minimum), and grants from institutional partners including the SC Conservation Bank, SC250 (the statutory American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission), Laurens County 250th Commission, and co-development funding from the American Battlefield Trust. Customer segments include individual history enthusiasts and members, property owners seeking conservation easements, developers needing historic compliance support, and local/state government agencies pursuing heritage tourism and economic development. Marketing is conducted via the Trust's website, email newsletter, the Liberty Trail app, media relations, community ceremonies, and social media.

Name

South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust

Legal name

South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust

Website

https://scbattlegroundtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that preserves and interprets Revolutionary War and Civil War battlegrounds in South Carolina through land acquisition, archaeological research, conservation easements, and heritage tourism products including The Liberty Trail app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Battlefield Preservation

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE), Archaeological Sites & Heritage Interpretation Centers (THAJADAG), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Historic preservation services
• Battlefield land conservation
• Archaeological research services
• Heritage tourism programs
• Nonprofit land trusts

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership program with multiple tiers providing newsletters, event invitations, and annual reports in exchange for recurring fees.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations supporting specific projects like Fort Johnson, Liberty Trail, Hayes Station, various battles, and general operations.
3. Grants and Funding: Research and interpretative work funded by grants from organizations interested in preservation. Also seeks grants to achieve preservation goals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that protects and interprets South Carolina's Revolutionary War and Civil War battlegrounds and military historic sites. It acquires battlefield land through purchases and conservation easements, conducts archaeological and archival research using advanced geophysical technologies (LiDAR, GPR, metal detection, drones, gradiometry), and delivers public interpretation through the Liberty Trail digital driving-tour initiative, the Camden Burials Project, and educational programming including battlefield tours and artillery demonstrations.

Product overview

The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust (SCBPT) operates as a nonprofit preservation organization offering a portfolio of battlefield preservation, archaeological, and educational interpretation services. The core offerings include The Liberty Trail—a digital driving tour app developed in partnership with the American Battlefield Trust—and The Camden Burials Project. The trust provides land preservation services (conservation easements and acquisitions), archaeological technology services (LiDAR, GPR, metal detection, drone mapping), consulting for historic site assessment, and educational interpretation programs. The organization also maintains a membership program with tiered annual levels and accepts project-specific donations for battlefield preservation efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Liberty Trail: A partnership between SCBPT and the American Battlefield Trust that connects Revolutionary War battlefields across South Carolina through a driving tour with digital interpretation via a mobile app.

Products and services

• The Liberty Trail A digital driving tour app and statewide preservation initiative developed in partnership with the American Battlefield Trust. The Liberty Trail connects approximately 80 Revolutionary War battlefields across South Carolina through on-site interpretation, digital experiences, and wayfinding signage. It serves visitors, heritage tourists, and educators seeking self-guided access to South Carolina's Revolutionary War history.
• Land Preservation Services Conservation easement programs and land acquisition services for property owners, developers, and government agencies to permanently protect historic battleground sites while allowing continued use of the property. Includes tax-deductible easement options.
• Archaeological Technology Services Advanced archaeological survey and research services including LiDAR mapping, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), magnetometry/gradiometry, drone-mounted cameras, metal detection, and archival research methods to locate and document historic battlegrounds.
• Consulting Services Historical site assessment consulting services to determine whether mounds or other features on a property are War-era earthworks or battleground remnants. Provided to property owners, developers, and government agencies.
• Educational Interpretation Services Archival research and interpretive programs that bring history to life through techniques including battlefield tours, artillery demonstrations, and first-person historical demonstrations at educational events and commemorations.
• Annual Membership Program Tiered annual membership options (Friend $35, Supporter $100, Patron $500, Benefactor $1,000) providing digital newsletter, invitations to special events, and digital annual report to supporters of battlefield preservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72 sites protected over 30 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Battlefield TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship partnership for The Liberty Trail initiative connecting Revolutionary War battlefields across South Carolina. ABT is the nation's leading heritage land preservation organization having saved more than 55,000 acres of battlefield land in 24 states. Jointly developing digital experiences, preserving land, and creating interpretive content.
• Historic Camden FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner for Camden Burials Project and ownership of Camden Battlefield. Led efforts to determine DNA identification of recovered soldiers. Manages Historic Camden Foundation cemetery where Continental soldiers were reinterred.
• Katawba Valley Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBegan negotiating conservation easement in 1996 to protect Camden Battlefield footprint.
• Palmetto Conservation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired Camden Battlefield in 2002 and assumed leadership of preservation process; contracted with SCIAA for archaeological research.
• SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted extensive historical and archaeological research on Camden Battlefield from 2002-2009; resumed intensive metal detector coverage 2020-2022; provides principal investigators and field directors for excavation projects.
• Camden Archives & MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Camden Burials Project; offers exhibit 'From the Field of Battle: Archaeological Artifacts from the Battle of Camden and the Battle of Hobkirk's Hill' through 2026.
• City of CamdencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Camden Burials Project and Hobkirk Hill Battlefield Park opening; provides support for Revolutionary War tourism and economic development.
• Kershaw CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Camden Burials Project and Hobkirk Hill Battlefield Park preservation efforts.
• Revolutionary War Visitor CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner site featuring exhibits on American Revolution Southern Campaign; hosts Tuesday Talks and other programs during Camden Burial week.
• SC Department of Parks, Recreation, & TourismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in preservation efforts and heritage tourism initiatives.
• Kershaw County School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Camden Burials Project educational initiatives.
• British EmbassyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided pallbearers from 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and military honors for British soldier buried in Camden Burials ceremony; symbolized transformation of UK-US relationship.
• FHD ForensicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracted by Historic Camden Foundation for DNA testing and genetic genealogy analysis that successfully identified Private John Pumphrey.
• Richland County Coroner's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted forensic anthropology work preparing remains for permanent burial; collected biological profiles including sex, age, stature, and cause of death information.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fort Sumter National Monument (NPS): Operated by the National Park Service, this federally managed historic site in Charleston Harbor preserves Civil War-related history. Comparable as a publicly operated South Carolina historic-site experience, including Fort Johnson and other coastal military sites SCBPT also preserves.
• Trust for Public Land: A national nonprofit that works with landowners, communities, and government agencies to protect land for public use, including parks and natural areas. Comparable to SCBPT on conservation easement and acquisition mechanics, though broader in scope.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: A privately funded national nonprofit focused on saving historic places, with comparable advocacy, grantmaking, and site-stewardship functions. A broader incumbent operating across all historic preservation, not narrowly battlefield-focused.
• National Park Service — Revolutionary War Sites: Federally operated network of Revolutionary War historic sites across multiple states. Overlaps with SCBPT on battlefield preservation, interpretation, archaeology, and educational programming, but at a national scope and with permanent federal funding.

Direct peers

• Civil War Preservation Trust (now merged into ABT): Now part of American Battlefield Trust, this organization historically focused on Civil War battlefield preservation with similar acquisition, easement, and member-supported models. Provides a comparable preservation nonprofit model and methodology baseline.
• American Battlefield Trust: The nation's leading heritage land preservation nonprofit with 55,000+ acres saved across 24 states. SCBPT's flagship Liberty Trail initiative is co-developed with ABT, making it both a direct operational partner and the closest direct peer in mission, model, and donor base.
• Palmetto Conservation Foundation: Acquired the Camden Battlefield in 2002 and led the early preservation process before SCBPT took the operational lead. Comparable South Carolina-focused conservation nonprofit with overlapping land-protection and easement activity.
• Historic Camden Foundation: Co-owner of the Camden Battlefield and lead partner on the Camden Burials Project. Operates Historic Camden as an open-air museum and manages the cemetery where Continental soldiers were reinterred, overlapping directly with SCBPT on preservation, archaeology, and interpretation.

Regional players

• Revolutionary War Visitor Center (Camden): A Camden-area partner site featuring exhibits on the American Revolution Southern Campaign. Operates in the same South Carolina heritage-tourism space as SCBPT with overlapping programming and audience.
• South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism: SC state agency partnering with SCBPT on heritage tourism initiatives and operating state parks. Overlaps with SCBPT on battlefield tourism, interpretation, and visitor services within South Carolina but as a public-sector operator rather than a nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SCBattlegrounds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sc-battleground-preservation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust