Wal-Mart Proposed Near Civil War Site Angers Historians

A proposed Wal-Mart retail center near a Civil War battlefield in Virginia has preservationists up in arms.

1 minute read

August 25, 2009, 11:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Wal-Mart says it's not building on actual battlefield land. Its store would be on the edge, outside the national park.

Preservationists disagree. They say the proposed site might not be where actual fighting occurred, but it's where a lot of war activity took place, such as where armies ran medical teams and reinforcements up and down."

The area has reportedly been zoned for commercial use for more than 20 years. Some proponents say it's time for the area to get some use and some tax revenue. Others say the impact will be too great.

Monday, August 24, 2009 in NPR

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