Every state has historical landmarks that shape its character, from the Statue of Liberty in New York to the Las Vegas strip in Nevada. With most HBCUs existing for several decades, it’s no surprise that some campuses also have historical buildings or monuments. 

To ensure these historical structures continue to stand into the foreseeable future, the National Park Service (NPS) recently announced they are giving a total of $9.7 million in grants to help several HBCU campuses maintain historical structures. The NPS has provided over $87 million in grant funding to HBCUs since the 1990s.

This grant supports 21 preservation projects in nine states. A few of these structures receiving the grant funds include (NPS):

• North Carolina A&T State University’s World War Memorial Stadium was built in 1926 and is the oldest minor-league ballpark in the state. The funding will help pay for repairs and update seating in the stadium.

• Mississippi Industrial College’s Washington Hall was created in 1905 and is part of the school’s Historic District. The grant will assist in the building’s needed repairs to the roof and other areas.

• Selma University’s Memorial Hall is part of the institution’s Historic District and plans to use the funding to replace the building’s roof and upgrade its HVAC and electrical systems. 

“For more than 180 years, Historically Black Colleges and Universities have provided high-level academics, opportunities, and community for generations of students. These grants enable HBCUs to preserve the noteworthy structures that honor the past and tell the ongoing story of these historic institutions,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams (NPS). 

Other HBCUs interested in receiving grant funding to preserve their historical sites must be listed or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The funding can be used for “pre-preservation studies, architectural plans and specifications, historic structure reports, campus preservation plans, and National Register nominations” (NPS). 

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