Since its creation by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation has provided financial support to more than 640 cultural preservation projects in more than 100 countries. This accomplishment, now 10 years in the making, represents a contribution of nearly $26 million towards the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide. More importantly, it shows the depth of our nation’s respect for the cultural heritage of other countries.

The Fund supports a wide range of projects to preserve cultural heritage, such as the restoration of historic buildings, assessment and conservation of museum collections, archaeological site preservation, documentation of vanishing traditional craft techniques, improved storage conditions for archives and manuscripts, and documentation of indigenous languages.

In 2010, U.S. ambassadors in more than 90 countries around the globe applied to the Fund on behalf of partner institutions and organizations for support in meeting pressing cultural preservation needs. Among those receiving grants in 2010 are the Institut de Sauvegarde du Patrimoine National, for the documentation and assessment of buildings and sites in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, affected by the January 2010 earthquake; the Petra National Trust, for the rehabilitation of the Nabataean-era Flash Flood Protection System at the Petra World Heritage Site in Jordan; and the National Museum of Namibia, for the conservation of the Oranjemund shipwreck collection.

In Pakistan, the Department of Archaeology and Museums received a grant for the restoration of the early 17th-century Sheikhupura Fort. An impressive red brick fort built by the Mughal emperor Jahangir as part of the royal hunting estate of Hiran Minar, Sheikhupura Fort was an important rest stop for the royal entourage as it traversed the empire between Kashmir and Kabul. In the early 19th century, the fort passed into the hands of the Sikh Maharajah Ranjit Singh, and his queen, who built inside the fort a majestic four-story palace revered for its extraordinary wall paintings. This project will support the restoration of the fort and the palace interiors, and contribute to the economic development of the surrounding area.

By supporting the preservation of these and other special sites, objects, and traditions, the Ambassadors Fund helps extend their value as vital, defining elements of communities and nations; and enable their continued use, enjoyment, and relevance both today and beyond.

Browse the full lists of AFCP awards:

• AFCP 2010 awards (PDF)
• AFCP 2009 awards (PDF)

Details on and photographs from other projects supported by the Fund may be found in the Searchable Project List.