This project focuses on the conservation, transportation, and storage of 95 museum objects from various national parks

Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Arizona, operating as the Arizona Board of Regents, received a Cooperative Agreement award of $116,325 from the National Park Service under the Cooperative Research and Training Programs – Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945) effective July 15, 2025, with completion targeted for July 31, 2027. The award supports a comprehensive museum collections management initiative focused on the conservation, transportation, and storage of cultural artifacts from multiple national parks. Project deliverables include performing conservation treatments on 95 museum objects to stabilize artifacts, designing and implementing custom storage solutions for over 1,275 items, conducting condition surveys for approximately 3,000 archaeological pieces, and executing the careful packing and transportation of collections across park locations.

The University of Arizona will maintain complete documentation of all conservation treatments and processes to ensure compliance with established conservation standards. The project is designed to preserve cultural heritage resources, improve storage conditions, and enhance accessibility of national park collections for research and public exhibition purposes, ultimately benefiting both park visitors and the broader research community. As a comprehensive research institution with substantial federal contracting experience and recognized expertise in scientific and technical services, the University of Arizona is well-positioned to execute the conservation and collections management activities required under this cooperative agreement with the National Park Service.

Activities include performing conservation treatments to stabilize artifacts, packing and transporting collections, designing custom storage solutions for over 1,275 items, and conducting condition surveys for approximately 3,000 archaeological pieces. Documentation of all treatments and processes will be maintained to ensure compliance with conservation standards. The expected outcome is the preservation of cultural heritage, improved storage conditions, and enhanced accessibility for research and public exhibition, benefiting park visitors and researchers alike.