The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites (ISMHS) has secured $14.4 million through a combination of state and grant funding to support crucial work to restore and preserve the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site in Metamora.
In January, ISMHS received a commitment for a $7 million matching grant from READI 2.0 funding. The grant, administered by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), was awarded to match for another $7 million in restricted funds allocated by the state of Indiana in 2023 for the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site Preservation Project.
“The leadership of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites has worked long and hard with the Metamora community to preserve the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site,” ISMHS Board of Directors Chair Fred Cate said following the grant commitment. “This is an encouraging new development for this project.”
As a next step, ISMHS was required to appear before the Indiana State Budget Committee to request the release of the state-allocated $7 million. With the committee’s approval in April, ISMHS can move forward with work on the Duck Creek Aqueduct, Laurel Feeder Dam and lock 24.
ISMHS proposed the $14.4 million project in 2022 to address various historic structures on the 14-mile section of the Whitewater Canal that encompasses the site. The project originally included essential repairs and restoration to the Laurel Feeder Dam, locks 24 and 25 and the Duck Creek Aqueduct — the nation’s only known surviving historic wooden aqueduct — along with a new canal boat and docking system.
During the compliance process required under the conditions of the grant, ISMHS updated the site evaluation and environmental review, revealing further deterioration and erosion since the project was proposed in 2022. When the financial assessment was updated and adjusted for inflation, the project cost estimate increased to $17.5 million. With the cost increase, ISMHS has adjusted the project’s scope to fit the available funding and it is moving ahead with the adjusted project scope to preserve the aqueduct, feeder dam and lock 24.
The work is expected to take several years to complete. ISMHS will continue planning next steps for the site and its operations.
