The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has announced a $13.4 million grant to the National Park Foundation to expand the National Park Service Mellon Humanities Fellowship program.

The grant will provide funding for 30 new humanities postdoctoral fellows who will help connect the public with interpretive and educational resources that explore the complex histories of the sites. Established in 2017 with the goal of telling a more comprehensive story of all Americans at parks, monuments, and historical sites, the program’s initial phase funded four scholars to conduct research on how the parks are impacted and/or informed by issues related to gender and sexuality equality, the legacy of the civil rights movement, and the history of labor and productivity. Future fellows will serve for two years each, focusing in the first year on research in support of a project defined by the National Park Service (NPS) host site, and in the second on an NPS project that they have helped design—both in support of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.

“Our national parks are treasured public spaces—not only where we go to bask in the beauty of nature and make lifelong memories with family and friends, but also where we can reflect on our collective past and learn more about the country we call home,” said Mellon Foundation president Elizabeth Alexander. “With this expansion of the National Park Service Mellon Humanities Fellowship, we have the opportunity to hear new voices and understand new perspectives in our historic sites and public lands throughout the United States.”

(Photo credit: NPS Photo/G. Purifoy)