Great American Outdoors Act National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund Newsroom

The project, funded by the Great American Outdoors Act’s (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund, will help preserve the park’s landmark buildings and provide comfort for the almost five million people who visit them annually as the park prepares to for an influx of visitors associated with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

An important Revolutionary War site has improved access and opportunities to discover its historical and recreational features because of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). In its ongoing commitment to preserving America's natural and cultural treasures, the National Park Service (NPS) Maintenance Action Team (MAT) program continues to take significant steps in addressing critical facility projects across small and medium-sized parks nationwide.

A National Park Service (NPS) preservation crew has been rehabilitating the Black Maria over the past two years. Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) at a cost of $161,218.03, the work performed by a maintenance action team (MAT) included floor, window and door repairs, new exterior sheathing, electrical upgrades, and a ramp for universal access.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park received approximately $11 million in funding from the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund to rehabilitate a two-mile section of Newfound Gap Road near Gatlinburg. The rehabilitation project will include single-lane closures starting as early as April 15.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, will finish the approximate $15.7 million repair and rehabilitation of Lakeview Drive that started last year. Work will begin April 8 and is expected to end in early July.

Mammoth Cave National Park officials and invited guests gathered at The Lodge at Mammoth Cave on Friday, Mar. 22 to mark the completion of the Mammoth Cave Hotel Roof Replacement Project. The project was funded through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund and fixed major structural issues with the park’s main hotel building.

During a visit to Gateway Arch National Park, Secretary Haaland announced a new $17 million investment from GAOA that will enable the park to continue restoration of the Old Courthouse — the site of the first two trials of the pivotal Dred Scott case in 1847 and 1850 — which will help restore the upper floors and exterior of the building. At the completion of the project, the Old Courthouse will have improved accessibility that will allow more visitors to visit this historic place, modernized utilities that will improve the visitor experience, and new exhibits that will tell a fuller story of the Dred Scott case and its impacts on American history.

Indiana Dunes National Park has received approximately $22 million from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund to stabilize and restore three nationally significant historic buildings. This spring, restoration efforts will begin on the Bailly Homestead, the Good Fellow Camp Lodge, and the Century of Progress District’s House of Tomorrow.

This phase of the project will use $31.606 million funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and aims at revitalizing this historic gem while safeguarding its future. Focus areas are the Kitchen, Dining Room, Great Lounge, egress paths, and chimneys.

While in Yosemite National Park, Sams also toured two historic buildings with rehabilitation and preservation projects funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund. GAOA funded Maintenance Action Teams composed of skilled craftspeople from the National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center are performing the work.