Whitewater Canal State Historic Site awarded $7 million matching funding
May 10, 2023 at 2:01 p.m.
Indiana's General Assembly approved $7 million in matching fudning in the state's biennial budget to renovate the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site (WCHS). The renovation will include a new canal boat to replace the Ben Franklin III, which was removed from the canal last year after being deemed unrepairable, as well as the restoration of the nation’s only known wooden aqueduct originally constructed in 1843. The Duck Creek Aqueduct was even featured in an edition of Ripley's Believe It Or Not, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Engineers determined without restoration, the aqueduct could be destroyed by a flood at any time.
WCSHS applauded state Sen. Jean Leising, Rep. David Abbott and Rep. Lindsay Patterson, and the Indiana General Assembly for securing the $7 million matching grant stating Leising, Abbott and Patterson “championed the proposal with their colleagues and through the budget committees in the House and Senate.”
“The state has made a commitment to supporting the community with a $7 million investment matching grant," ISMHS President and CEO Cathy Ferree said. "Now, they are looking for the community to demonstrate its commitment by working together to fund the matching portion of this project. The state has placed its confidence in Franklin County and the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, recognizing how transformative this total investment of $14.4 million could be to Metamora, Franklin County, and the State of Indiana."The project also includes the restoration of the feeder dam, Lock 24 and 25, dredging the canal to remove built-up silt, and replacing the canal boat with the dry dock station for the canal boat.
The community of Metamora is already planning and discussing ideas to raise the funds. More details will be coming soon.
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Indiana's General Assembly approved $7 million in matching fudning in the state's biennial budget to renovate the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site (WCHS). The renovation will include a new canal boat to replace the Ben Franklin III, which was removed from the canal last year after being deemed unrepairable, as well as the restoration of the nation’s only known wooden aqueduct originally constructed in 1843. The Duck Creek Aqueduct was even featured in an edition of Ripley's Believe It Or Not, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Engineers determined without restoration, the aqueduct could be destroyed by a flood at any time.
WCSHS applauded state Sen. Jean Leising, Rep. David Abbott and Rep. Lindsay Patterson, and the Indiana General Assembly for securing the $7 million matching grant stating Leising, Abbott and Patterson “championed the proposal with their colleagues and through the budget committees in the House and Senate.”
“The state has made a commitment to supporting the community with a $7 million investment matching grant," ISMHS President and CEO Cathy Ferree said. "Now, they are looking for the community to demonstrate its commitment by working together to fund the matching portion of this project. The state has placed its confidence in Franklin County and the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, recognizing how transformative this total investment of $14.4 million could be to Metamora, Franklin County, and the State of Indiana."The project also includes the restoration of the feeder dam, Lock 24 and 25, dredging the canal to remove built-up silt, and replacing the canal boat with the dry dock station for the canal boat.
The community of Metamora is already planning and discussing ideas to raise the funds. More details will be coming soon.