Press Releases and Annual Report

View the 2023 Heritage Area Annual Report here.

Download the Heart of the Civil War Media Kit here. Recent press releases are below.

See the most recent economic impact report for the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area here.

2021

Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Grants Fund Local Heritage Tourism Projects — July 9, 2021
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Economic Impact Estimated at $450.2 Million — January 21, 2021

2020

MD Heritage Areas Authority Awards Provide Key Funding for Local Heritage Tourism Projects — July 14, 2020

2019

Author Randi Korn to speak on Intentional Practice at Tenth Ward Distilling Company — April 22, 2019
Record-Breaking Grant Awards from MD Heritage Areas Authority — July 15, 2019
Newcomer House Porch Programs- Wet Plate Photography with John Milleker — August 7, 2019
Performance to Commemorate Emancipation Proclamation at the Newcomer House: Race and #Real Talk — August 7, 2019

2018

Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Announces FY19 Mini-Grant Program — August 20, 2018
Local Organizations to Receive Grants from Maryland Heritage Areas Authority — July 16, 2018
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Announces FY18 Mini-Grant Awards — January 8, 2018
HCWHA Seeks Volunteers for Newcomer House 2018 Season — February 8, 2018
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Launches 2018 Newcomer House Porch Programs — April 4, 2018
President of Menare Foundation and Monocacy Park Ranger Headline April Newcomer House Porch Program — April 13, 2018
Newcomer House Porch Program May 12-13: Civil War Tintype Portrait Sessions — May 4, 2018
Newcomer House Porch Program June 23: Do You Have Hidden Treasures at Home? — June 11, 2018

2017

Newcomer Porch Program on October 7- Civil War Veterinary Medicine — September 25, 2017
September 2017 Highlights Media Kit — September 1, 2017
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Announces FY18 Mini-Grant Program — August 10, 2017
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Announces Assistant Director Emily Huebner — August 8, 2017
Newcomer Porch Program Scheduled for Aug. 5 & 6- South Mountain Artillery — July 31, 2017
Four Local Organizations to Receive Grants from Maryland Heritage Areas Authority — July 10, 2017
Heart of the Civil War launches collaborative internship — May 17, 2017
Statewide Preservation Award goes to Heart of the Civil War GeoTrail — April 21, 2017
Civil War GeoTrail Media Kit — April 21, 2017
Maryland Heritage Areas Authority votes to expand Heart of the Civil War boundaries — April 13, 2017
Newcomer House Porch Programs continue in 2017 — March 27, 2017
Executive Director honored with national award — February 22, 2017
HCWHA announces heritage tourism funding opportunity — January 4, 2017

2016

Antietam Superintendent Susan Trail, Visit Hagerstown President Dan Spedden, and Heart of the Civil War Director Liz Shatto

HCWHA announces FY17 mini-grant awards — December 7, 2016
Volunteers recognized for five years of service at Newcomer House — December 2, 2016
Winter Lights & Lore Media Kit — October 26, 2016
Free workshop on Pokémon Go offered to Museums & Historic Sites — October 4, 2016
Heart of the Civil War GeoTrail to launch on Oct. 1 — September 13, 2016
Newcomer House Porch Programs offered into fall — September 13, 2016
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area announces FY17 mini-grant program — August 16, 2016
Three local organizations to receive Grants from Maryland Heritage Areas Authority — July 13, 2016
Free workshop series for museums & historic sites kicks off on July 12 — July 6, 2016
Free, family-friendly Newcomer House Porch Programs continue this summer — June 2, 2016
Civil War Trust & Heart of the Civil War to host “Generations” program at Newcomer House — May 18, 2016
HCWHA to host second public meeting on Preservation Education Initiative — April 5, 2016
Every Kid in a Park extension to launch in HCWHA — April 5, 2016
New “Porch Program” Series to Begin at Newcomer House in April — March 29, 2016
Maryland Historical Trust honors Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area website redesign— March 16, 2016
Heritage programs, local groups, redevelopment projects honored with preservation award— March 16, 2016
HCWHA to host national tourism webinar through American Alliance of Museums — February 25, 2016
Volunteers sought for historic Newcomer House Exhibit and Visitor Center— February 18, 2016
HCWHA to host public meeting on new Preservation Education Initiative — January 4, 2016

2015

HCWHA announces MHAA Project Grant opportunities — December 8, 2015
HCWHA to host celebration and retrospective at Antietam National Battlefield — October 26, 2015
Heart of the Civil War invites visitors to participate in Newcomer illumination ceremony — October 26, 2015
Newcomer House signing ceremony Media Kit — September 8, 2015
Newcomer House at Antietam to continue operations as Visitor Center — August 31, 2015
HCWHA announces FY16 Mini-Grant program — August 31, 2015
Local organizations to receive Grants from Maryland Heritage Areas Authority — July 13, 2015
Request to change the Management Entity of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area — June 16, 2015
Save Historic Antietam Foundation and Maryland Theatre to receive prestigious preservation awards — May 18, 2015
HCWHA website launch and stakeholder meetings — April 30, 2015
1865 Commemorations Media Kit and Appendix — March 2015
Illuminating Frederick 1865 to commemorate 150th anniversary of Civil War’s end — March 11, 2015
New Civil War Trails marker to be dedicated at Gathland State Park — March 11, 2015
Join the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area in “Bells Across the Land” on April 9 — February 12, 2015
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area announces second round of mini-grant funding — February 5, 2015