Students from Saroyan Elementary tour the Fresno Flats Historical Village & Park. Photo via Fresno Flats Facebook.

The California Natural Resources Agency, which oversees more than 26 different environmental departments, conservancies and commissions, has selected Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park to be the recipient of nearly $175,000 in funding.

The grant is earmarked for new exhibits focusing on the history of local populations including indigenous and early Chinese-settled communities. It will also focus on local forest management and fire ecology.

“New exhibits will be installed focusing on the history and culture of the local Indigenous population in their own words including the cultural burning practices and local fire ecology, and the contributions of early Chinese immigrants in California,” a press release from the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau reads.

Improvements to the Oakhurst museum listed also include repairs to the museum, specifically the replacing of a rotting log at the bottom of the Taylor Log Cabin (built in 1869), as well as repairs to both the roof and floor.

“Our museum is dedicated to sharing amazing stories from our past and providing hands-on experiences that inspire and educate our children,” said Paul Adelizi, president of the Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park.

The park is built around two restored and furnished homes dating back to the 1870s as well as two early-day one-room schools and several other attractions aiming to educate visitors about 19th-century life in the Sierra Nevada.