Contact: Ally McMurray, Semiquincentennial Grant Coordinator
Allyson.Mcmurray@wisconsin.gov
National Park Service Awards Semiquincentennial Grant To Aztalan State Park
Aztalan State Park holds the remains of a multi-component, multi-ethnic precontact Native American village site.
Photo credit: iStock/timhughes
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced it will receive a grant of $306,582 from the National Park Service Semiquincentennial Grant Program for site enhancements at Aztalan State Park, a National Historic Landmark site in Jefferson County.
Aztalan State Park holds the remains of a multi-component, multi-ethnic precontact Native American village site. The site thrived between A.D. 1000 and 1300 as a band from the southern Mississippian civilization migrated north to the Crawfish River, where they built a regionally unique, heavily fortified village.
The DNR, in consultation with tribal governments and the Wisconsin Historical Society, works to educate the public and protect the exceptional archeological and cultural resources within the state, like Aztalan State Park.
The DNR will use the grant funds for preservation projects on the property, some of which include removing hazardous trees, controlling invasive plants and repairing stockade walls.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that Aztalan State Park has been chosen to receive this funding from the National Park Service, said Richard Kubicek, DNR Departmental Archaeologist. “Aztalan State Park is a special place, blending natural beauty and unique history. This grant will allow us to make some much-needed improvements and repairs to the site.”
This project is supported through the Semiquincentennial Grant Program funded by the Historic Preservation Fund as administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior. The Semiquincentennial Grant Program was created by Congress in 2020 and commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
“National parks and National Park Service programs serve to tell an authentic and complete history, provide opportunities for exploring the legacies that impact us today and contribute to healing and understanding,” said Chuck Sams, National Park Service Director. “Through the Semiquincentennial Grant Program, we are supporting projects that showcase the many places and stories that contributed to the evolution of the American experience.”
Learn more about the Semiquincentennial Grant Program on the National Park Service’s website.
