An effort to conserve the Desert View Watchtower’s historic murals at Grand Canyon National Park is one of the projects up for vote in a contest to distribute $2 million/NPS

National parks across the country will receive $2 million in grants to preserve historic sites, but which projects get fully funded is being decided by a public vote that pits park vs. park.

A new campaign, Partners in Preservation: National Parks, has chosen 20 projects from Alaska to Puerto Rico that “reflect the diverse communities and experiences that comprise our nation’s cultural fabric.” The requests range from $97,000 to $250,000, and the top seven vote-getters at VoteYourPark.org are guaranteed full funding, while the others will share the balance depending on how many votes they get. Individuals can vote for up to five projects every day through July 5.

“The support of private organizations has been essential to our efforts to care for the places that convey our nation’s history and culture since the creation of the National Park System 100 years ago,” National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said in a release. “The 2016 Partners in Preservation campaign is a strong symbol of our partners’ continued dedication to ensure that these special places are preserved and protected for future generations of Americans.”

With a maintenance backlog at $12 billion and counting, the National Park Service has become reliant on partnerships and donations to help preserve its historic sites. Partners in Preservation, a community-based partnership between American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to raise awareness of the importance of preserving historic places, has committed $16 million in support of historic sites throughout the U.S. This campaign honors the National Park Service’s Centennial.

“Historic preservation is a hallmark of American Express’ involvement in strengthening communities, and we are proud to help lead the effort to preserve these cultural sites and monuments that contribute to our national and regional identity,” Timothy J. McClimon, president of the American Express Foundation, said in a release.

At the outset of the campaign, the local nonprofit partner for each of the participating sites will receive a grant of $10,000, which will be used to increase public awareness about the historic structures nominated.

“Since the inception of our national park system a century ago, the parks’ cultural resources have been central to the visitor experience and telling the full story of our nation’s diverse history,” Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said in a release. “Today, two-thirds of our more than 400 national parks are dedicated to cultural and historic significance. As such, we are delighted to embark on Partners in Preservation: National Parks, which builds on the program’s decade-long experience in galvanizing public support for preserving historic structures for future generations.”

New to the program for 2016 is a collaboration with National Geographic, a partner with strong ties to U.S. national parks as well as historic preservation. By voting daily at VoteYourPark.org, supporters can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Yellowstone National Park sponsored by National Geographic.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Partners in Preservation: National Parks and celebrate our shared commitment to preserve some of the world’s most meaningful and culturally significant sites,” Susan Goldberg, editor-in-chief of National Geographic, said in a release. “We love to give our readers an opportunity to engage with their passion for parks and Partners in Preservation: National Parks is an ideal way to activate our very engaged community and empower them to participate.”

Park Projects

• Denali National Park, Superintendent’s Office: The rustic former superintendent’s office represents Alaska’s adventurous, pioneering and resourceful spirit.
• Everglades National Park, Flamingo Visitor Center: The visitor center is a distinctive example of Park Service Modern architecture and the Mission 66 building program that transformed America’s national parks in the 1950s and 1960s.
• Grand Canyon National Park, Desert View Watchtower: The site features historically-significant American Indian murals and offers expansive views of one of the country’s most iconic vistas.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Clingmans Dome Observation Tower: Built in 1959 as part of the Mission 66 program, the tower is the highest point in the park, offering visitors the best views of the Great Smoky Mountains.
• Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Alcatraz Guardhouse and Sally Port: Built in 1857, the site was the first permanent U.S. defensive facility in San Francisco Bay and military prison in the country.
• Governors Island National Monument, Fort Jay Trophée D’Armes: Designed in 1796, Fort Jay’s arch served as the entrance to an active military fortification for 199 years and is topped by the earliest domestically carved military sculpture in the nation.
• Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, North and South Overlooks: The memorial reflects St. Louis' role in the westward expansion of the United States and the overlooks provide visitors with a connection between the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River.
• Joshua Tree National Park, Keys Ranch: The ranch tells the story of William Keys, who, despite the desert’s unforgiving conditions, first permanently settled and prospered in the area.
• Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church: Built in 1922, the church served as the spiritual home of Martin Luther King, Jr. from his birth to his death, and sits at the center of America’s Civil Rights Movement.
• Minute Man National Historical Park, Hargrove Barn and Parker’s Revenge Battlefield: On April 19, 1775, the opening battle of the American Revolution took place at this site.
• Mount Rainier National Park, Longmire Historic District Search and Rescue House: The house was built in 1936 as part of one of the most extensive collections of Park Service Rustic architectural style in the country.
• Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Borglum View Terrace: The terrace stands at the site of Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum’s original studio and is composed of several of the former structure’s elements.
• National Mall & Memorial Parks, Columbus Fountain: Built in 1912, the fountain is positioned at the grand entrance to Union Station, making it one of the first historic sites visitors see when arriving in D.C. by train.
• Pullman National Monument, Pullman Administration Building: Built in 1880 as part of the nation’s first planned model industrial town, the Administrative Building is the focal point of the community - a testament to the American railcar industry, the rise of the labor movement and the Pullman Porters’ struggle for unionization.
• San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Mission Concepción convento and Father President’s Office: Built in 1755, the church and convento represent the largest concentration of Spanish colonial frescoes in the country and the origins of South Texas culture.
• San Juan National Historic Site, San Felipe del Morro garitas (sentry boxes): Completed in 1772, the garitas served as part of the defense system at El Morro, the largest fortress in the Caribbean.
• World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, Battleship Row Mooring Quay: The quay is one of the of the last remaining structures marking the location of the American battleship force during the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941.
• Yellowstone National Park, Brink of Upper Falls Overlook: The overlook is a popular visitor destination at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, our country’s first national park.
• Yosemite National Park, Parsons Memorial Lodge: Built in 1915, by the Sierra Club, the rustic landmark is one of the earliest stone buildings in a national park.
• Zion National Park, Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel and Highway: Completed in 1930, to link Zion with touring destinations such as Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon, the 1.1 mile-long tunnel was carefully designed to blend in with the surrounding landscape.