Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00021
The National Park Service grant opportunity titled "Research and Write Ranger Cabin Historic Furnishings Plan" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00021) is a discretionary funding program offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument. It falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category (CFDA 15.945) and was created on November 18, 2016, with an original application closing date of November 27, 2016. The program anticipated making a single award, with funding up to an award ceiling of $30,000.
The core purpose of the project is to support the hiring of a professional historian along with at least one history student trainee to research and produce a Historic Furnishings Plan for a specific historic structure at Walnut Canyon National Monument: the Ranger Cabin, formally known as the Cliffs Ranger Station. The cabin is a four-room building constructed between 1904 and 1907, and it served as a residence and work site for different federal personnel over time. From 1904 to 1934, it was staffed by U.S. Forest Service rangers and their wives, and from 1934 to 1941 it was used by National Park Service custodians. The grant is designed to fund the historical investigation and writing needed to guide accurate, defensible, and interpretively meaningful refurnishing of the cabin for public understanding.
A major challenge the project is meant to tackle is the limited surviving evidence of how the interior looked and functioned during its active years. While there are many photographs showing the exterior of the cabin and documenting some of the people associated with it, only a small number of known interior photographs currently exist, and those images show just one room and date specifically to 1935 during the National Park Service period. For years prior to 1935, the available information is described as sparse and largely anecdotal, meaning the furnishings plan would need to be built from careful archival research, contextual historical analysis, and corroboration across multiple sources rather than relying on abundant direct visual documentation.
The opportunity is also tied to a recent preservation and visitor-use context. Between 2011 and 2015, the Ranger Cabin underwent extensive renovation aimed at preserving the structure and enabling guided public visitation. Despite this investment, the building is currently unfurnished, with only an original wood stove remaining inside along with a fabricated apple pie, underscoring that the site is not yet being presented with historically appropriate interior furnishings. The expected outcome of the funded work is a written plan that can be used to guide decisions about what furniture, household goods, and other interior elements should be acquired, reproduced, or displayed, and how those choices should be justified historically for a specific period or interpretive theme.
Eligibility for the award includes nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and certain other eligible applicants as referenced in the opportunity’s additional eligibility information. In practical terms, the project is structured to combine professional historical expertise with hands-on training for a student, pairing research capacity with workforce development, while producing a tangible planning document the National Park Service can use to refurnish the cabin in a way that supports preservation goals and improves the quality of guided interpretation for visitors.Apply for P17AS00021
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Park Service: Research and Write Ranger Cabin Historic Furnishings Plan" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 18, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 27, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this National Park Service grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Research and Write Ranger Cabin Historic Furnishings Plan".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P17AS00021.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding program offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.
What is the funding activity category and CFDA number?
The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and the CFDA number listed is 15.945.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on November 18, 2016.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was November 27, 2016.
How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
Funding was available up to an award ceiling of $30,000.
What is the main purpose of the funded project?
The project is intended to support hiring a professional historian (along with at least one history student trainee) to research and produce a Historic Furnishings Plan for a specific historic structure at Walnut Canyon National Monument.
Which historic structure is the plan for?
The plan is for the Ranger Cabin at Walnut Canyon National Monument, formally known as the Cliffs Ranger Station.
What is the Ranger Cabin (Cliffs Ranger Station), and when was it built?
The Ranger Cabin is a four-room building constructed between 1904 and 1907. It served as a residence and work site for different federal personnel over time.
Who used or staffed the cabin during its active years?
From 1904 to 1934, it was staffed by U.S. Forest Service rangers and their wives. From 1934 to 1941, it was used by National Park Service custodians.
What is a Historic Furnishings Plan expected to do in this context?
The plan is meant to guide accurate, defensible, and interpretively meaningful refurnishing of the cabin. It is a written document that can support decisions about what interior furnishings and household goods should be acquired, reproduced, or displayed, and how those choices should be historically justified for a selected period or interpretive theme.
Why is producing the furnishings plan challenging?
A key challenge is the limited surviving evidence of how the interior looked and functioned. While there are many exterior photographs and images of people associated with the site, only a small number of known interior photographs currently exist.
What interior photographic evidence is known to exist?
The known interior photographs show only one room and date specifically to 1935, during the National Park Service period.
What is known about the evidence for years before 1935?
For years prior to 1935, the available information is described as sparse and largely anecdotal, meaning the furnishings plan would need to rely on careful research and corroboration rather than abundant direct visual documentation.
What kinds of research approaches does the opportunity imply will be needed?
Because direct interior documentation is limited, the work is expected to be built from archival research, contextual historical analysis, and corroboration across multiple sources to develop a well-supported plan.
How does the project relate to recent preservation or visitor-use work at the cabin?
Between 2011 and 2015, the Ranger Cabin underwent extensive renovation intended to preserve the structure and enable guided public visitation. The furnishings plan supports the next step: presenting the interior in a historically appropriate way for visitors.
What is the current condition of the cabin interior as described in the opportunity?
The building is currently described as unfurnished, with only an original wood stove remaining inside along with a fabricated apple pie.
What is the expected deliverable or outcome of the grant-funded work?
The expected outcome is a written Historic Furnishings Plan that the National Park Service can use to guide refurnishing decisions and strengthen guided interpretation for public understanding.
Does the opportunity emphasize interpretation for visitors as part of the goal?
Yes. The furnishings plan is intended to support public understanding and improve the quality of guided interpretation by grounding the interior presentation in defensible historical research.
Is the project structured to include training or workforce development?
Yes. The opportunity specifically describes pairing a professional historian with at least one history student trainee, combining research capacity with hands-on training while producing a tangible planning document.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and certain other eligible applicants as referenced in the opportunity's additional eligibility information.
Are institutions of higher education eligible if they are 501(c)(3) nonprofits?
The eligibility language provided indicates 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible but institutions of higher education are excluded from that category in this opportunity.
Where will the funded work be applied?
The work will be applied to the Ranger Cabin (Cliffs Ranger Station) at Walnut Canyon National Monument.
What time periods of the cabin's use appear most relevant to the furnishings research?
The cabin's documented use spans at least 1904 to 1941 (Forest Service staffing through 1934 and National Park Service use from 1934 to 1941). The only specifically mentioned interior photos date to 1935, which may be a key reference point for the plan.
What problem is the National Park Service trying to solve by funding this work?
The problem is that the cabin, despite renovation and readiness for guided visitation, is not yet presented with historically appropriate interior furnishings. The funded research and writing are intended to create a credible basis for refurnishing decisions.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Natural Resources
Next opportunity: Reintroduction of Trifolium amoenum at Ring Mountain
Previous opportunity: Field Initiated Projects Program: Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) - Development
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for P17AS00021
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P17AS00021) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| National Park Service: Prepare Archives Repository Guide for the Western Archeological and Conservation Center Apply for P17AS00022 Funding Number: P17AS00022 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $99,639 |
| PNR WCFSP FY17 Apply for BOR PN 17 F001 Funding Number: BOR PN 17 F001 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Water Conservation Field Services Program Program Apply for BOR LC 17 001 Funding Number: BOR LC 17 001 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| 2017 CCC Backcountry Trails Pinchot Pass Trail Maintenance Apply for P17AS00023 Funding Number: P17AS00023 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $110,000 |
| Plains and Prairie Potholes Cooperative Landscape Conservation Apply for F17AS00029 Funding Number: F17AS00029 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| National Fish Passage Program Apply for F17AS00030 Funding Number: F17AS00030 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Partnering to Educate and Inform Stakeholders on Park Resources Including Wilderness Stewardship Apply for P17AS00024 Funding Number: P17AS00024 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $137,000 |
| Interpretation Internship Apply for NPSNOICHAM1700046 Funding Number: NPSNOICHAM1700046 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent: Documentation and Implementation of Treatment Plans at Casa Grande Ruins Apply for P17AS00026 Funding Number: P17AS00026 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $51,000 |
| Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program - Region 5 Apply for F17AS00036 Funding Number: F17AS00036 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program Apply for F17AS00037 Funding Number: F17AS00037 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| State Wildlife Grant Program Region 5 Apply for F17AS00038 Funding Number: F17AS00038 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Wildlife Restoration Grant Program - Region 5 Apply for F17AS00035 Funding Number: F17AS00035 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $20,000,000 |
| Migratory Bird Joint Ventures Midwest Region - FY2017 Opportunities Apply for F17AS00039 Funding Number: F17AS00039 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Local Youth Employment in Southern Arizona Apply for P17AS00017 Funding Number: P17AS00017 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program Tribal Participation Apply for BOR UC 17 N001 Funding Number: BOR UC 17 N001 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| CA CESU Maintenance of JSATS Array in South Delta for USFWS Apply for F17AS00048 Funding Number: F17AS00048 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Notice of Intent: Frijoles Mesa Excavation Apply for P17AS00030 Funding Number: P17AS00030 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $34,929 |
| R8 (CA/NV) State Wildlife Grant Program for State Fish and Game Agencies Apply for F17AS00060 Funding Number: F17AS00060 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Western Monarch Population Viability Analysis Apply for F17AS00061 Funding Number: F17AS00061 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $47,500 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "P17AS00021", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.