With the end of the year marking the end of Glacier National Park's centennial celebration, it's a good time to look back at some of the projects made possible in the park by the Glacier National Park Fund to mark that anniversary.

Back in 2009 the fund kicked off a five-year Centennial Campaign with short- and long-term goals to mark the park's birthday. This week fund officials have announced that five of their seven Glacier Centennial Legacy Projects have been fully funded.

The Legacy Project's goal of $250,000 has been met and funding has been provided for the following projects:

* Build an Accessible Trail in Many Glacier area

* Preserve Heavens Peak Fire Lookout

* Upgrade Logan Pass Visitor Center Exterior Exhibits and Trail Information

* Develop “People in Glacier” Education Materials

* Continue the “Citizen Science in Glacier High Country” Program

* Construct a Watchable Wildlife Viewing Area at Many Glacier – partially funded

Here's a look at the status of those projects:

The first section of a wheelchair accessible trail has been constructed on an existing dirt foot-trail in the Many Glacier area to give the path a hardened and accessible surface. This section of trail is about a quarter-mile long and runs from the Many Glacier picnic area to the Swiftcurrent Creek Bridge.

An environmental assessment for the Heavens Peak Lookout area is being done before proceeding with this project. Stabilization of the Heavens Peak Lookout will halt deterioration so that this historic structure can remain on the landscape as part of Glacier’s cultural history. The upgrades at the Logan Pass Visitor Center exterior exhibits and trail information will provide several wayside exhibit panels in the main plaza directly behind the visitor center that will focus on the geologic history of the spectacular mountain landscape.

Years three through five of the Centennial Campaign will now concentrate on the long-term goals that include projects and endowments for trails, research, historical and cultural preservation along with a free in-the-park education program. The fund's goal is to raise an additional $2 million for these projects over the next three years.

The Glacier National Park Fund is the official non-profit fund raising partner for Glacier National Park. To learn more about their work, and to contribute towards it, call 406-892-3250 or go to www.glaciernationalparkfund.org.