The CARES Act helps a local and important piece of Wyoming history stay alive.
The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in the amount of $92,852 dollars. This funding was made available thanks to the CARES Act passed through the U.S. Congress. The grants are intended to support the essential operations at cultural institutions throughout the nation.
Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation executive director Dakota Russell has numerous plans on how to properly allocate the funding. The bulk of it will be used to retain current staff and offset the revenues lost due to the pandemic. From there, there may be new opportunities made possible with the leftover funds. The museum has been digitizing it artifacts and documents for more permanent preservation, expanded research access, and use in digital programs available to schools and students online.
But most importantly, this funding is ensuring the museum can keep its doors open. Museums across the nation are struggling, especially smaller museums like the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center. It was closed for a full 2 months earlier this year. This new influx of funding ensures that this piece of American history will not be forgotten.
