'We're not just gonna roll over': The US Civil War battlefield at the centre of a new conflict

Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia is a place where history and technology are now clashing. This park is famous because it was the site of the first major battle of the American Civil War in 1861. Every year, people visit to watch re-enactors dressed in blue uniforms, firing cannons and showing how the battle was fought. These living historians help visitors understand what happened on these fields so long ago.

However, the peaceful landscape is now threatened by the rapid growth of technology. Big tech companies want to build massive data centres right next to the battlefield. Data centres are huge buildings filled with computers that store and process information for the internet, including artificial intelligence. As more people use the internet and AI becomes more popular, the need for data centres has exploded. Virginia already has hundreds of these centres, and plans are in place to build even more. This has caused concern among local residents, historians, and environmentalists.

Many people worry that building data centres so close to a historic site will erase important parts of American history. They fear that the new buildings will ruin the view and make it harder for people to connect with the past. There are also worries about the environment. Data centres use a lot of electricity and water, which could raise energy prices and harm local resources. Some experts say that the state may struggle to provide enough clean energy for all these new centres. While the companies promise to respect the history and add educational trails and signs, many believe this is not enough. Community groups and organizations like the American Battlefield Trust are fighting to protect the battlefield. They want to make sure that the lessons of the Civil War are not lost in the rush to build more technology. The debate continues, with both sides trying to find a solution that balances the needs of the future with respect for the past.