FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2008
CONTACT: Molly Dannenmaier
Director of Marketing and Public Relations,
409-765-7834

"Save America's Treasures" Program Awards GHF $300,000 towards Bishop's Palace Roof Restoration

Competitive Federal Matching Grant Recognizes the Need to Preserve "One of the Finest Victorian Residences in the United States"

"Save America's Treasures," a collaborative program led by the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities and administered by the National Park Service, has announced the award of a $300,000 matching grant to Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) in support of its efforts to preserve the Bishop's Palace, Galveston's most significant Victorian residence and most popular heritage-tourism destination.

"It was very gratifying news," said GHF executive director Dwayne Jones. "When we took on the stewardship of this important building, we knew it was a major responsibility. Restoring the roof alone, vital not only for the house's structural integrity but a wonderful piece of art in itself, would cost about $1.5 million. When this federal grant is matched by private donations, as we are confident it will be, we will be well on our way to that goal."

In 2008, Save America's Treasures received 221 grant applications from eligible federal agencies; state, local, and tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations. Two panels of federal experts representing preservation and conservation disciplines reviewed the applications and made final recommendations to the Secretary of Interior. To be successful, each applicant project must be of national significance, demonstrate an urgent preservation need, make the case as to how they will address the threat, and demonstrate the likely availability of non-federal matching funds.

Architectural historians recognize the Gresham House (known locally as the Bishop's Palace because of the long residency there of the archbishop of the Galveston-Houston archdiocese) as one of the finest Victorian residences in the United States and the most important work of Texas architect Nicholas Clayton. The Gresham House now faces serious threats including water infiltration through a deteriorated roofing system and damage resulting from Hurricane Ike in September 2008. The clay roof tiles and copper flashing are beyond their effective life spans. Grant funds will go toward the rehabilitation of the significant, character defining roof.