Fort Pillow National Battlefield Park Study Act
H.R. 926, introduced February 4, 2025, would authorize a special resource study of Fort Pillow Historic State Park in Henning, Tennessee, to assess its national importance and to evaluate the feasibility and suitability of designating it as a unit of the National Park System (specifically described in the bill as a National Battlefield Park). The bill, titled the Fort Pillow National Battlefield Park Study Act, directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct the study and report on whether Fort Pillow should become part of the National Historic Park System. The proposal rests on Fort Pillow’s Civil War history, including the Massacre at Fort Pillow and its significance to U.S. Colored Troops (USCT), and notes the site’s current status as a state park (1,642 acres with museums, trails, camping, and picnic facilities). The bill does not itself authorize funding or constitute designation; it creates the study and potential pathway for future congressional action.
Key Points
- 1Short title: The bill may be cited as the “Fort Pillow National Battlefield Park Study Act.”
- 2Purpose: To authorize a special resource study of Fort Pillow Historic State Park to determine national significance and potential designation.
- 3Findings and context: The bill provides historical background on Fort Pillow, highlighting the 1864 massacre, the involvement of the USCT, and Fort Pillow’s enduring significance to Civil War history and national memory.
- 4Secretary’s duties: The Secretary of the Interior (through the National Park Service) must conduct the study and evaluate the site’s national significance.
- 5Designation consideration: The study will determine the suitability and feasibility of designating Fort Pillow as a unit of the National Historic Park System (i.e., potentially as a National Battlefield Park).