Major expansion works have been planned for the Ulster American Folk Park.

The £2.4m scheme will be largely funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, which since 2006 has contributed £18.6m under its National Museums Northern Ireland capital development programme.

Culture Minister Nelson McCausland said the investment will see 30 additional acres of museum land transformed into a series of American Frontier Landscapes.

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The County Tyrone museum has also received a private donation to invest £75,000 for the restoration and rebuilding of an original frontier log house.

Minister McCausland said: "We are keen to continue to invest in our national museums to ensure they are of an exceptional standard with international appeal."

Chief Executive for National Museums Northern Ireland, Tim Cooke, said: "I am confident that this investment will help attract additional tourists in years to come, while also extending opportunities to learn about emigration and our connections with the United States."

This first phase of a ten year development programme is due to be completed at the museum in 2011 when it will be open to the public.

The rest of the museum will not be affected during the project and will operate normally.

(PR/KMcA)