The Prince William Historic Preservation Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is raising funds for the Curation and Conservation of American Civil War Artifacts at the Old Brentsville Jail using one of the newest tools in philanthropy, “Crowdsourcing”.
“Crowdsourcing harnesses the power of the internet and engages small donors in the important work of philanthropy,” according to Chuck Mills, a member of the Foundation’s Board. “We are using the Indiegogo platform for this exciting initiative which went live on March 15 and will run for sixty days”, says Mills, “Even very small donations are welcome, appreciated, and important in preserving history for future generations.”
“We are raising funds to conserve and prepare for exhibition a significant collection of Civil War artifacts. These artifacts will form the basis for the interpretation of the Civil War in Brentsville,” says Brendon Hanafin, Prince William County’s Historic Preservation Chief, “Our goal of $3,500 will accomplish this project to include the conservation, interpretation and display of the materials. This project will ensure that the American Civil War history of Brentsville is a significant part of the overall Jail exhibit.”
The Brentsville Jail is a nationally significant historic property located in Prince William County, Virginia. Brentsville has a rich and colorful Civil War story that has largely been lost to history. The purpose of this project is to re-discover that history and tell it through the interpretation of artifacts left behind by both Union and Confederate soldiers.
More information about the Prince William Historic Preservation Foundation crowdsourcing campaign can be found at: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rediscovering-brentsville-s-civil-war-stories
