During the summers of 1991 and 1992, MARWP began work on the Heroon at Messene, also known as ancient Ithomi. For more than two millenia, the Heroon lay as a pile of rubble, the small distyle in-antis temple having been knocked down by some unknown natural or human force. In 1988, the Heroon was re-discovered, virtually left in its crumbled state and more importantly unplundered. In collaboration with Professor Petros Themelis, director of excavations, the University of Minnesota undertook a concentrated program of recovery, study and publication with the aim of eventual physical reconstruction.

After a hiatus of seven year, during which time the temple was reconstructed on paper and funds were generated for reconstruction, MARWP returned to the sitein the summer of 1999 and began the rebuilding process.