Supporters of the Alamance Battleground State Historic Site are in a race against time to buy the adjacent, privately-owned land before someone else does.
It's where back-country farmers revolted against the royal government in 1771.
Site manager of Alamance Battleground Jeremiah DeGennaro said owning the 43 acres of land will help show what life was like during the 18th century.
“Seeing land get developed into something like a strip mall is going to disturb the context of the site as a historic site,” he said.
The North Carolina Literacy and Historical Association is working with the state historic site to make sure the land won't be turned into a housing development or strip mall.
Manager of Development and Special Projects with the North Carolina Literacy and Historical Association Kimberly Kandros said if the land were developed it would be a loss for student visitors.
“When you see re-enactors running out, charging out from behind a strip mall, it does kind of cheapen the education integrity of the site,” she said. “It does lose something.”
Their Go Fund Me campaign has raised $11,000 so far.
DeGennaro said visitors would get more recreational opportunities if the land is preserved.
“That would be of immense benefit to us as a recreation area as a natural area for visitors to walk around,” he said. “We would add nature trails to that area.”
Their goal is to raise $500,000 to purchase and rehabilitate the land.
