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Contact: Brad Traver, 928-241-8837
NPS Restoration work will restore the glass storefront to the mid-century modern Painted Desert Oasis building designed by famed modern architect Richard Neutra. New York, November 6, 2015 – Petrified Forest National Park is among five grant recipients announced today by American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to receive a total of more than $1 million in funding to support the restoration and preservation of five National Treasure sites in parks. The grant will help to begin the restoration of the Painted Desert Community Complex at Petrified Forest. The Painted Desert Community Complex is an exceptional example of Mission 66, a nationwide infrastructure program undertaken by the National Park Service between 1956 and 1966 that resulted in a radically new Modern style of Park architecture. Prior to this time, visitors’ services were scarce or even non-existent in our National Parks and Monuments, which were becoming increasingly popular. In a surprising move, the Park Service hired architect Richard Neutra, best known for his striking midcentury modern homes in Southern California, to imagine a new complex for Petrified Forest National Park. The community Complex Neutra developed with Robert Alexander represented a new and innovative approach to providing visitor services, offices, maintenance, community services, and employee housing all in one location inside a Park. “We are delighted by the generosity of American Express and our partners at the National Trust for Historic Preservation”, said Petrified Forest Superintendent Brad Traver. “This Complex has many needs but nothing we could do would be more important to its eventual rehabilitation than restoring the glass storefront to the Painted Desert Oasis building.” “As the presenting partner of the National Treasures program, American Express has pledged to save and sustain historic places that represent our country’s rich history,” said Timothy J. McClimon, president, American Express Foundation. “The sites we have selected to receive funding reflect a diverse set of experiences as well as the challenges and triumphs of the American people. By preserving these sites, we are helping ensure their legacy and cultural significance for future generations.” • Hinchliffe Stadium (Patterson, New Jersey): Completed in 1933, the cast concrete, art-deco style stadium is one of the few remaining sports grounds in the country associated with Negro League baseball. In 1996, the stadium closed, damaged by neglect and vandalism. This grant will preserve two original ticket booths at the entrance to the complex. • Pullman Historic District (Chicago, Illinois): Built in 1880, the nation’s first model industrial town attracted skilled workers to the Pullman Palace Car Company, where the first African-American labor union was born. Today, the district has been declared a National Monument, and showcases a revitalized historic neighborhood that honors the important role the town’s residents played in American history. This grant will restore the original multicolored, stained-glass windows at the Hotel Florence. • Painted Desert Community Complex (Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona): Completed in 1963, the collection of steel, glass, and masonry buildings are one of the earliest examples of modern architecture in a National Park. The complex is still in use today, but limited funding for repairs and maintenance have impaired the condition of the buildings. This grant will restore the glass storefront of the Oasis Building. • Sweet Auburn Historic District (Atlanta, Georgia): Listed to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1974, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, located in the district, commemorates the leader’s birthplace and significance within the American Civil Rights Movement. This grant will fund the preservation of five Victorian and shotgun homes on Dr. King’s childhood street. historic places. https://twitter.com/SavingPlaces About Petrified Forest National Park Learn more at: ### MEDIA CONTACTS: |
Last updated: November 22, 2015