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"Open House Weekend" Planned at National Parks Vying for $2 Million in Preservation Grants
[June 15, 2016]

"Open House Weekend" Planned at National Parks Vying for $2 Million in Preservation Grants


National parks across the country participating in Partners in Preservation: National Parks will host Open House Weekend, June 18 and Father's Day, June 19, featuring a range of family-friendly activities from arts and crafts to scavenger hunts, specialty tours, park ranger talks and public access to typically restricted areas of the parks. During the events, guests will also be able to learn about the Partners in Preservation program, the participating sites' histories and their restoration efforts.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005895/en/

Partners in Preservation, a community-based initiative created by American Express (News - Alert) (NYSE:AXP) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2006 to raise awareness of the preservation needs of historic places, recently launched its 2016 campaign in honor of the National Park Service's Centennial. Partners in Preservation: National Parks will award $2 million in grants to historic sites in need of preservation support within national parks. The distribution of the grants will be decided by public vote, currently underway at VoteYourPark.org. Hosted by media partner National Geographic, the voting website will be open through July 5.

While Open House Weekend events are free, park entry fees and for some sites reservations, still apply.

"American Express has been engaging the public in serving, preserving and celebrating U.S. national parks throughout this year as a premier partner of the National Park Foundation's Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque movement and the 2016 National Park Service Centennial," said Timothy J. McClimon, president of the American Express Foundation. "Open House Weekend is a wonderful opportunity for the participating sites to shore up votes for the campaign and for the public to discover these amazing, diverse sites, their preservation needs and the range of activities our parks have to offer."

The public is also invited to share their national park experiences on social media and celebrate these sites using #VoteYourPark and tagging @savingplaces on Instagram and Twitter (News - Alert) posts.

"Creative programming and interactive experiences at national parks help protect the future of these places and create lifelong advocates for their preservation," said Stephanie K. Meeks, president and CEO, The National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Partners in Preservation Open House Weekend will give families a chance to experience these diverse parks, take in their rich history and natural beauty, and have a Father's Day adventure they won't soon forget."

The national parks participating in Partners in Preservation: National Parks and hosting Open House Weekend events include:

Denali National Park | Denali Park, Alaska

Superintendent's Office: Guests can learn more about the effort to restore the historic superintendent's cabin and view a timeline of the cabin's history and its impact on the development of the park. People can visit www.akgeo.org or call 907-274-8440 for more information.

Everglades National Park | Homestead, Florida

Flamingo Visitor Center: On Saturday, June 18, guests can take a half-day bus tour of the park's historic Flamingo district to learn about the Mission 66 architecture that made Flamingo a gateway destination in the 1960s and preservation plans to restore the Flamingo Visitor Center. Reservations are required and space is limited. People can visit the tour's eventbrite page or call 305-665-4769 for more information.

Grand Canyon National Park | Grand Canyon, Arizona

Desert View Watchtower: Guests can tour the Desert View Watchtower and its murals designed by Architect Mary Colter in 1932 "to introduce the depths of native culture to the traveler." Local tribes will conduct cultural demonstrations. On Saturday, June 18, Park Ranger Marie Malo will present a Living History Program. People can visit www.grandcanyon.org or call 928-863-3875 for more information.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Tennessee and North Carolina

Clingmans Dome Observation Tower: Guests can tour the Clingmans Dome Tower and engage with park staff and volunteers on hand to tell the stories of the site and answer questions during the weekend-long event. People can visit www.friendsofthesmokies.org or call 865-436-1302 for more information.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area | San Francisco, California

Alcatraz Guardhouse and Sally Port: Guests can celebrate Father's Day weekend learning about the rich military history of Alcatraz with a visit to the 1857 Guardhouse - the very first permanent U.S. defensive facility in San Francisco Bay. Reservations required. People can visit www.nps.gov/goga or call 415-561-3000 for more information.

Governors Island National Monument | New York, New York

Fort Jay Tropheìe D'Armes (eagle): Guests can discover, celebrate and become a part of Fort Jay's most important preservation initiative by participating in scaffold tours with the preservation crew, eagle talks by park rangers, live cannon demonstrations, arts and crafts, fort building, a selfie booth, a scavenger hunt and more. People can visit www.govisland.com/events/save-our-eagle-fort-jay-open-house or call 646-832-3367 for more information.

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial | St. Louis, Missouri

North and South Overlooks: On Saturday, June 18, guests can enjoy informational sessions about the site and the needed repairs to the north and south overlooks. People can visit www.CityArchRiver.org/Visit or call 314-881-2015 for more information.



Joshua Tree National Park | Twentynine Palms, California

Keys Ranch: Guests can join an adventure into the heart of Joshua Tree National Park to see the classic Keys Ranch homestead. They will meet archeologists and rangers and explore old cars, the windmill, stamp mill and more. Six free tours will be offered daily on June 18 and 19; reservations are required. People can visit www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/Keys-ranch-rehab.htm or call 760-367-5522 for more information.


Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site | Atlanta, Georgia

Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church: On Sunday, June 19, the site will host a family-friendly afternoon of food, games and history commemorating the anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States with an emphasis on education and achievement of African-Americans in Atlanta. People can call 404-331-5190 for more information.

Minute Man National Historical Park | Concord, Massachusetts

Hargrove Barn and Parker's Revenge Battlefield: Guests can visit the newly discovered site of an opening battle of the American Revolution (News - Alert) and join Rangers for a variety of programs and site walks to learn about the restoration project and plans to transform a historic barn for classroom use. People can visit https://www.nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?eventID=5195580-307230 or call 978-369-6993 for more information.

Mount Rainier National Park | Longmire, Washington

Longmire Historic District Search and Rescue House: On Saturday, June 18, guests can discover how architecture, search and rescue, and the Civilian Conservation Corps are connected to the site during an evening presentation at the historic Paradise Inn. There they can learn about Mount Rainier's Rustic style architecture, ongoing preservation work, and search and rescue efforts. People can visit www.wnpf.org or call 206-623-2063 for more information.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial | Keystone, South Dakota

Borglum View Terrace: Guests can join Mount Rushmore Society volunteers and rangers for meet and greets at two visitor stations to learn about the Partners in Preservation campaign and the site's restoration plans. People can visit www.mountrushmoresociety.com or call 605-574-3101 for more information.

National Mall & Memorial Parks | Washington, D.C.

Columbus Fountain: On Saturday, June 18, visitors can learn more about the restoration needs of Columbus Fountain, its history, and the importance of preserving it as the grand entrance for one of the greatest train stations in the world. People can visit www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/columbusfountain.htm for more information.

Pullman National Monument | Chicago, Illinois

Pullman Administration Building: On Sunday, June 19, activities will include an antique automobile show, photo opportunities with park rangers, gifts, prizes, exhibits about Pullman, including a Chicago Land Lionel model railroad club exhibit, a Pullman Porter exhibit and a Super Junior Ranger exhibit. Site tours of the factory, the Thomas Dunbar House and the interior of the first floor of the clock tower building will also be offered. People can visit www.pullmanil.org or call 773-785-8901 for more information.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park | San Antonio, Texas

Mission Concepcioìn convento and Father President's Office: On Saturday, June 18, guests can attend the family-friendly event featuring live music, food trucks, children's hands-on activities, including tile painting and arch building, a lecture on preservation techniques and tours of the project area as well as the mission. People can visit www.missionsofsanantonio.org for more information.

San Juan National Historic Site | San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Felipe del Morro garitas (sentry boxes): Guests can visit the historic Castillo San Felipe del Morro and explore the iconic garitas, the sentry posts that have defended Puerto Rico for centuries. People can visit www.nps.gov/saju/index.htm or call 787-729-6777 for more information.

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument | Honolulu, Hawaii

Battleship Row Mooring Quay: On Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19, The World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument will host free events with talks on historic preservation, "Ask a Park Ranger" sessions, hands-on activities including making a concrete replica miniature of the USS Arizona mooring quay and special exhibits. People can visit www.nps.gov/valr/getinvolved/partners-in-preservation.htm or call 808-965-8726 for more information.

Yellowstone National Park | Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Brink of Upper Falls Overlook: Visitors can learn about Yellowstone's involvement in the Partners in Preservation campaign through digital and print materials set up in the Canyon Visitors Center and learn about the park's preservation needs and how the public can help the park secure preservation funding. People can visit www.ypf.org or call 406-586-6303 for more information.

Zion National Park | Springdale, Utah

Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel and Highway: Guests to the Visitor Center in Zion Canyon can explore an exhibit on the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway, learn about needed preservation work and pick up a brochure to take a self-guided driving tour of the Tunnel. People can visit www.ZionPark.org or call 800-635-3959 for more information.

For more information about Partners in Preservation: National Parks, please visit www.savingplaces.org/VoteYourPark and to vote daily through July 5, please visit VoteYourPark.org. More information about the Open House events is available www.VoteYourPark.org/OpenHouse.

About Partners in Preservation

Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, awards preservation grants to historic places across the country.

Through this partnership, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to increase the public's awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and to preserve America's historic and cultural places. The program also hopes to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic places at the heart of their communities. To date, the program has committed $16 million in preservation funding to nearly 200 diverse historic sites throughout the country.

About American Express

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, Plenti rewards program, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, corporate card, business travel and corporate responsibility.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America's historic places. www.savingplaces.org


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