The Mission Of BONPS
The Battle of Nashville Preservation Society, Inc. (BONPS) was formed in 1992 by a group of Nashvillians who recognized that the last remnants of the battlefield were quickly disappearing, and that the Battle of Nashville was poorly understood by both Nashvillians and visitors alike.
Preservation
Initially, its goal was to search for and identify unimproved ground that played important roles in the 1864 battle and find a way to protect it from development. The group’s work and tenacity ultimately led to the ownership and protection of two iconic pieces of the battlefield – Confederate Redoubt No. 1, and the summit of Shy’s Hill. Both have now been granted permanent protection from development through the Tennessee Land Grant, and have been improved by BONPS with the addition of interpretative kiosks and signage as well as reproduction field artillery pieces.
BONPS has been instrumental in contributing to the preservation of numerous other portions of the battlefield, including efforts to protect and interpret Fort Negley, Kelley’s Point, and numerous other smaller sites as well as many historic markers. It played a key role in the relocation of The Battle of Nashville Monument to Granny White Pike. BONPS continues to assist in maintaining not only the sites it owns, but also in watching over and maintaining many others including the Monument.
In 2011, the Sesquicentennial year of the American Civil War, BONPS continued its search for battlefield sites, including efforts to purchase and preserve an acre of undeveloped land in the area of Peach Orchard Hill, site of some of the most vicious fighting and where men of the United States Colored Troops notably distinguished themselves on the field of battle. If successful, BONPS plans to improve the site with an interpretative kiosk and signage, as it has done at Redoubt One, Shy’s Hill and Kelley’s Point, in order to assist the public’s understanding of the conflict.
Education
Protecting land and structures is not the only work of BONPS. The group’s officers and directors maintain close relationships with other similar organizations in the Middle Tennessee area, working together to commemorate and explore one of the most significant events in Nashville history. In keeping with this goal, its members routinely make talks and presentations to schools, clubs, historic associations and other public gatherings. Many are authors of scholarly works which explore the Battle and the issues which surround it. Its members have studied the battlefield in detail, have amassed important collections of artifacts from the battlefield, and have participated in reenactments which help the public understand the war.
In 2012, BONPS began offering personal tours of the battlefield and of Nashville’s other Civil War historic sites for visitors interested in this important history.
Annually, BONPS sponsors, often in conjunction with other groups, a wide range of educational and entertainment events which shed light on the Civil War in Nashville, ranging from plays to in-depth seminars. BONPS sees becoming an indispensible resource on the Battle of Nashville as one of its major goals and responsibilities. This goal includes developing strong association and cooperation with both private and governmental historic groups, such as state and local historical commissions.
It also includes development of this website which is designed to provide a rich and authoritative repository of Battle of Nashville information as well as serve as a community bulletin board for historic events sponsored by BONPS and numerous other Civil War groups. Through the website, BONPS makes numerous educational materials available to improve an understanding of this historical event, including maps, books and DVDs.
Philosophy and legal status
BONPS undertakes its goals of preservation and education with the non-partisanship of a historical association, honoring the men who fought for both the Union and the Confederacy on Nashville soil. BONPS is a tax-exempt, open-membership Section 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation which is managed by elected officers and a board of directors, all of whom are identified on the website. Contact can be made with BONPS at its main phone number and by email, as well as with various officers; all contact information can be found in the Contact Us section of the website.
