The President Benjamin Harrison Home was awarded a Save America's Treasures (SAT) site-improvement grant from the National Park Service in early 2006 in the amount of $197,058. Much work ensued to match this grant dollar-for-dollar with non-federal sources, and oversee $400,000 worth of recovery, repair and renovation of the President’s Home. Ratio Architects was our architectural engineer, and Brandt Construction was our general contractor. The campaign itself commenced with pledges from our current and former board members amounting to 41% of the total goal! The R.B. Annis Educational Foundation contributed $25,000 toward the update and repair of the education classroom. The Lilly Endowment generously provided $40,000. The Arthur Jordan Foundation committed $35,000. And the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust rounded out the matching requirement with a helpful $30,000 gift. The remaining matching funds poured in from private individuals to whom we remain extremely grateful. Our gratitude to all who have helped position us to accomplish this restoration and repair work that we have dreamed of for many years. We invite you to visit the museum anytime to experience the “new look” of historical accuracy. The renovations were featured in Angie’s List, and the photographs below are a mere sampling of all the site work accomplished with this grant, including wallpaper, carpeting, medallion replacement, plaster work, brick walkway repair, tuck-pointing, etc.
Library
Library Before
Library After
Dining Room
Dining Room Before
Dining Room After
Second Floor Stairwell
Second Floor Stairs
Second Floor Stairs
Second Floor Hallway
Second Floor Hallway Before
Second Floor Hallway After
Brick Sidewalk
Walkway Before
Walkway after with herringbone design
Back Parlor Medallion
Before
After
Thank you to the following community members and foundations for ensuring that a very competitive federal grant was quickly matched to accomplish $400,000 worth of renovations at the home of Indiana's only U.S. President.
