Museums, exhibits and historic sites around Michigan are shining up in celebration of America's 250th birthday this year.
The Historical Society of Michigan and the Michigan History Center created the America250MI Committee, at the directive of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. This statewide initiative is part of the nation's commemoration of the 250th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence.
In the most recent round of grants, the committee distributed $1 million in funding "to help bring the stories of Michigan's past to life."
Grant awardees this round spanned from war history of the untold stories of Revolutionary War patriots to the economic progress of railroads and maritime travel in Michigan.
Grants also funded Michigander stories through projects like "Ukrainian American Contributions to Michigan" in Wayne County, "Island Legacies" on Beaver Island and "Rooted in Place," a preservation Indigenous spaces in Charlevoix.
The number of applications more than doubled between first and second rounds, said Sandra Clark, director of the Michigan History Center.
"Michigan is defined by generations of hardworking people who contributed diverse chapters to our collective story of what it means to be Americans and Michiganders," Clark said.
Funds totaling $1,020,882 were awarded to 45 projects. Funds were appropriated to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources by the state Legislature.
Projects fit into the following categories: unfinished revolutions, power of place, the American experiment, We the People, doing history.
The program had 94 applicants for the first round in June. More than 50 projects around the state were awarded grants.
In the second round, 240 proposals were submitted, seeking more than $5.5 million in funds.
The committee highlighted the following round one grantees that finished their projects:
- Drake House Restoration in Kalamazoo: The Oshtemo Historical Society was granted $6,620 to refinish the original hardwood flooring and trim work in multiple bedrooms of the historic Drake House. The rooms, which are regularly viewed during tours, are important to the home's historic character.
- Jackson Civil War Muster: The 2025 Jackson Civil War Muster in August boasted the event's largest attendance to date, drawing a crowd of nearly 20,000 over the weekend. The Jackson Civil War Society received $5,000 toward the event.
- Hackley & Hume in Muskegon: The Lakeshore Museum Center received $50,000 to restore 17 windows at the Hackley & Hume Historic Site. The windows, original to the homes, were prioritized due to deterioration.