National Park Service and partner agencies announce $24.25 million in Save America’s Treasures Grants

News Release Date: September 9, 2022

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services today announced $24.25 million in Save America’s Treasures grants to fund 80 projects in 32 states and the District of Columbia.  

“Through private and public investments, the Save America’s Treasures program supports community-based preservation and conservation work on some of our nation’s most important collections, artifacts, structures, and sites for the benefit of future generations,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams.  

Save America’s Treasures, funded through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), provided $356 million to more than 1,326 projects between 1999 and 2020. Requiring a dollar-for-dollar private match, these grants have leveraged more than $500 million in private investment and contributed more than 16,000 jobs to local and state economies.  

Buildings and collections which have previously received Save America’s Treasures grants are not eligible to receive a second grant for the same project. This award of $24.25 million will leverage more than $69 million in private and public investment and support projects like the ones below: 

• In Florida, Bok Mountain Lake Sanctuary and Singing Tower is a National Historic Landmark designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. for Edward Bok as a garden sanctuary for birds, wildlife, and humans. Save America’s Treasures grant funding will complete the rehabilitation and reinvigoration of the original landscape design including the restoration and conservation work for the Exedra fountain located in the Western Outlook Garden. The applicant will provide $933,464 in matching funds. 

• The National Building Museum in Washington, DC, will conserve and digitize the Architectural Toy Collection which was donated to the museum by collector George Wetzel in 2006. The collection includes iconic toys such as Lincoln Logs, Erector Sets, Tinker Toys, LEGO bricks, and rare toys from around the globe. The applicant will provide $62,490 in matching funds. 

• The Alaska Native Heritage Center collections represents a broad and unique scope of Indigenous peoples from around the state and comprises approximately 3,500 items. With the installation of enhanced cases and equipment, the institution will be able to create a more controlled and secure environment for 120 historic cultural items through the procurement of 7 new cases. The applicant will provide $107,250 in matching funds. 

Established in 1977, the HPF is authorized at $150 million per year through 2023 and has provided more than $2 billion in historic preservation grants to states, tribes, local governments, and non-profit organizations. Administered by the NPS, HPF grant funds are appropriated by Congress to support a variety of historic preservation projects to help preserve the nation’s cultural resources and history.