Project Profile: Address Climate-Driven Threats for Protection of Museum Facilities in Alaska’s National Parks

Collection storage at the Alaska Regional Curatorial Center. These hold important materials gathered by scientists, archeologists, and other professionals.

NPS / Zach Jones

Inflation Reduction Act
Resilience | FY24-26 $581,000

The National Park Service (NPS) will conduct Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments (CCVAs) and adaptation planning for facilities storing museum collections. This project will safeguard museum collections by assessing the vulnerabilities of facilities, developing adaptation options, conducting disaster preparedness, and resource recovery training for museum staff, including updating park Museum Collection Emergency Operation Plans.

Why? With climate change looming large, it is vital to protect park facilities in Alaska that house museum collections. Heavy precipitation events, landslides, and wildfires have already demonstrated the vulnerability of museum facilities, prompting an urgent call to action. By aligning with the 2016 Cultural Resources Climate Change Strategy, the NPS will improve its understanding of climate impacts on facilities holding museum collections, assessing tipping points and thresholds crucial for the preservation of museum collections. In addition, this project aims to foster consistency between adaptation approaches and disaster preparation plans, ensuring a robust framework to combat climate-induced threats.

What Else? By forging partnerships with the State of Alaska, a comprehensive heritage emergency network will be established. This network will not only enhance disaster preparedness and response training for museum staff but also facilitate multi-jurisdictional adaptation planning.

About the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act provides the National Park Service with an historic opportunity to address critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs. Projects funded in national parks represent broad-scale and impactful resource investments across every corner of our nation—from Alaska to Florida to Maine.