The state is trying to raise money to reopen historic sites that recently closed because of budget cuts. Those sites include the Marksville State Historic Site, which includes Indian burial mounds. The Fort DeRussy site, also owned by the state has never opened to the public and has always been by appointment only.

“At this point we are getting commitments of support but do not have any money in hand toward these amounts,” said Stuart Johnson, assistant secretary for the Office of State Parks.

Johnson said the state is focusing on corporations and other governmental agencies for financial assistance.

“We are looking for big hits however (we) will take any contributions,” he said.

The state’s historic sites range from military forts to Indian settlements.

This summer, a total of seven sites which included Marksville joined the “caretaker status” list, which means it is open only by appointment to groups such as schoolchildren. Nearly half of the state’s historic sites are largely closed to the public.

This is the second time the Marksville site has been closed due to budget cuts since the state took it over from the city in the 1950s. During the oil crisis of the mid 1980s, the doors were closed for a few months during the Edwards administration.

A clause in the deed when the city gave the Fort DeRussy site to the state provided for the property to be returned to the city if the state did not maintain it as a park.

Johnson said the state needs $262,000 to open the most recently closed historic sites five days a week.

Two state workers are out of a job because of the budget cuts.

The employees who lost their positions worked at Plaquemine Lock site and the Marksville State Historic Site.

Johnson said he tried to shift workers affected by the budget cutbacks to other jobs.

“For these two, it didn’t work out. They ended up being laid off,” he said.