| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2008
Press Contacts
Jeannine Mjoseth, IMLS, 202-653-4632
Kimber Craine, PCAH, 202-682-5661
David Barna, NPS, 202-208-6843
Elizabeth Stark, NEA, 202-682-5744
Lindsey Mikal, NEH, 202-606-8317
IMLS Announces Save
America’s Treasures Awards of $10.52 Million
Washington, DC—The
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) joins
the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
(PCAH) and the National Park Service (NPS) in congratulating
the recipients of this year’s Save America’s
Treasures (SAT) awards of $10.52 million. With these grants,
the 40 institutions and agencies will be able to conserve
their significant U.S. cultural and historic treasures
for public enjoyment and education for years to come.
“Projects funded by Save
America’s Treasures represent some of the most cherished
icons of American history and culture,” said First
Lady Laura Bush, PCAH Honorary Chairman. “President
Bush and I want to ensure that our historic properties,
artifacts, and communities throughout the nation continue
to be preserved and enjoyed by future generations.”
“Save America’s
Treasures represents an exceptional process that blends
the best expertise of our federal cultural partners and
the National Park Service to select and recommend projects
of exceptional value to our nation’s cultural and
historic legacy. With the support of Congress and the
White House, this program exemplifies what the public
and private sector can accomplish together in preserving
these pre-eminent symbols of our democracy and cultural
values,” remarked PCAH Chairman Adair Margo.
This year, the Institute of
Museum and Library Services will administer Save America’s
Treasures grants to five institutions: the Association
for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, the B&O
Railroad Museum, the Buffalo Bill Memorial Association,
the Minnesota Historical Society, and the University of
Utah's Utah Museum of Natural History. With their grants,
these organizations will be able to carry out high priority
activities such as purchasing an x-ray unit to scan artifacts
excavated at Jamestown, restoring 19th century locomotives,
re-housing Native American treasures, retrofitting cases
for historic flags, and updating antiquated storage systems.
“The Institute of Museum
and Library Services is proud to support Save America’s
Treasures. These awards make a real difference and help
institutions take concrete steps to protect our nation’s
collections,” said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director
of IMLS.
Since its inception in FY 1999,
Save America’s Treasures’ 967 grants (469
earmarks and 498 competitive grants) have been awarded
to preserve nationally significant and endangered historic
buildings, structures, places, collections, artifacts
and artistic works. To date, all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Midway Island have received
grants. Each of the federal agency partners in the program—IMLS,
NPS, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National
Endowment for the Humanities—oversee the awards
to projects that reflect their own missions.
Additional information on the
Save America’s Treasures program can be found on
the PCAH Web site at www.pcah.gov
and the NPS Web site at www.nps.gov/history/hps/treasures.
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