Fort Dobbs Wins Prestigious Grant

IMLS grant enables project to continue to preserve and interpret North Carolina's only French and Indian War fort

July 28, 2008

IREDELL COUNTY NC NEWS -- Fort Dobbs State Historic Site in Statesville, located in Iredell County, North Carolina, has received some good news! The North Carolina historic site has won the maximum customary grant award from federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through its Museums for America (MFA) program. The prestigious grant of $150,000 will fund a multi year development project designed to expand and enhance the site's historical and interpretive potential, and is one of 154 given by IMLS.

NC Historic Sites Director Keith Hardison, graciously accepted the grant award saying:

"This prestigious IMLS grant gives us an unparalleled opportunity to explore an oft-neglected aspect of North Carolina's colonial history and enables Historic Sites to interpret Fort Dobbs within a broader historical and cultural context."

With the new funding availability provided through the grant, the development project, "Fort Dobbs Historic Site: Reinterpretation, Expansion & Reconstruction," will now enable planning and conceptual drawings to be created for the site's development; reconstruction, interior exhibits, crafting, an interpretive plan as well as related exhibitions. The project stems from the new community-developed strategic plan and directly addresses Fort Dobbs' mission to "preserve and interpret North Carolina's only French and Indian War fort."

In 2008 the Institute's MFA grants totaled $16.9 million. The largest museum grant program administered by IMLS, MFA grants support institutions wanting to strengthen their services in engaging communities (education, exhibitions and interpretation), building institutional capacity (management, policy and training) and stewarding collections.

IMLS Director, Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice said:

"As repositories of our nation's treasures and our nation's history, museums are positioned to play an integral role in the education of their communities. Museums for America grants support projects and ongoing activities that build museums' capacities and help these institutions serve their diverse constituencies to the best of their abilities."

Other institutions receiving the maximum funds of grant, include the Guggenheim Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to create strong libraries and museums that educate people by connecting them to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute of Museum and Library Services, visit www.imls.gov

The role of Fort Dobbs and North Carolina in the French and Indian War (1754-1763), which is western civilization's first true world war, makes up an important chapter in North Carolina's colonial history. Built in 1756, the fort was named for Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs and manned by provincial soldiers. It was garrisoned from 1756-1761, sheltering frontier settlers during the war and serving as the colony's western frontier company headquarters. Fort Dobbs was attacked February 27, 1760, when soldiers fought off more than sixty Cherokee native Americans.

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., offering living history programs daily. It is part of the Division of NC Historic Sites and Properties within the NC Department of Cultural Resources. Finally, Fort Dobbs State Historic Site is conveniently located in the northern section of Statesville, at 438 Fort Dobbs Road, which connects with HWY 21, near I-40 Exit 151, and is approximately 2.8 miles from the Interstate exit. For more information on Fort Dobbs call 704-873-5882, or visit www.fortdobbs.org