(Statehouse) – State Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) is reacting to the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site receiving a grant to preserve the tourist attraction.
“I am thrilled to see the Whitewater Canal State Historic site receive these much-needed funds to help restore and preserve this important piece of Indiana history,” Leising said. “In recent years, I have worked hard with community leaders, citizens and the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites (ISMHS) to protect the Whitewater Canal. It is an integral part of the economy of Metamora, bringing in tourism and allowing small businesses to flourish.
“It is great to see that our work paid off, but this is just the beginning. ISMHS still must appear before the Indiana State Budget Committee to request the release of a further $7 million in state allocated funds before work can move forward. If the funds are released, the site could receive $14.4 million, with $400,000 already set aside from ISMHS to work on the site,” she added. “While there is more to do, these funds will go a long way in ensuring this site can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
State Rep. Lindsay Patterson (R-Brookville) announced last week that Southeastern Indiana has received a commitment for a $7 million matching grant from the Lilly Endowment to support restoration and preservation work at the Metamora site. She described the effort as “a major project totaling more than $14 million” and said the work would focus on the Duck Creek Aqueduct, the Laurel Feeder Dam, Lock 24, and the canal corridor connecting those structures.
The Whitewater Canal site, best known for the covered wooden Duck Creek Aqueduct, has faced mounting challenges in recent years as aging infrastructure and water-control systems deteriorated.
In mid-2025, the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, which operates the site, announced plans to close the Metamora location after the summer season, citing the scale and cost of repairs needed to safely operate the canal and preserve its historic structures.
Estimates presented publicly at the time placed the cost of full restoration at more than $14 million, including work to stabilize the aqueduct, repair dams and locks, and address canal segments between those landmarks.
Lawmakers had already approved $7 million in state funding in a previous budget cycle, but that appropriation was contingent on securing a non-state match of equal size.
