FORT ATKINSON, Iowa – The National Park Service (NPS) has awarded Fort Atkinson State Preserve in Winneshiek County with a $497,500 grant as part of its Save America’s Treasures program. The grant award was announced by the NPS in September.
Fort Atkinson is a nationally significant military post from the 1840s now managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as a state preserve. The historic site includes several original buildings such as barracks and a gunpowder house, along with archeologically significant artifacts.
“We are pleased to receive funding to help restore this site, which is home to a unique part of Iowa’s history,” said Todd Coffelt, DNR Parks, Forests and Preserves Bureau chief. “We look forward to working with local community members and those with a passion for Iowa history to make this project a success.”
Originally built by the U.S. government from 1840 to 1842, federal troops occupied Fort Atkinson for military purposes until 1849. The fort featured prominently in the removal of Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) people from their ancestral lands.
The NPS grant will be used to assess and repair four buildings at the historic fort during the next three years. More information about the NPS Save America’s Treasures grant program can be found at https://www.nps.gov/preservation-grants/sat/index.html
Grant Contact: Nick Dellaca, nick.dellaca@dnr.iowa.gov