LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – You say you want a revolution? How about an anniversary for one? There is good news for history lovers, community organizers, and anyone with a knack for cashing in on government grants: Michigan’s got $2 million up for grabs to celebrate America’s 250th birthday – or as the many are calling it, the “semiquincentennial.”
That’s right, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the state is tossing some serious dough at local projects to honor the American Revolution and Michigan’s role in it. So, if you’ve got a plan to bring 1776 back to life, it’s time to polish up that grant application.
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The America250MI History Grant Program, spearheaded by the Michigan History Center and the Historical Society of Michigan, is splitting the funds across two rounds. The first kicks off on March 1st and runs until April 15th, with a cool $1 million on the table. The second round, for those who like to procrastinate, opens in November.
Not just for museums – think bigger, bolder and more revolutionary.
Don’t assume this cash is only for dusty old museums and fragile historical documents (though, sure, those count too). The grant program encourages impactful projects that encourage community collaboration with the America250MI five guiding themes:
- Unfinished Revolutions. From the American Revolution through the Underground Railroad, Michigan has a history of people fighting for freedom, recognition and basic human rights. What revolutions continue to this day?
- Power of Place. It is human nature to identify ourselves by place, whether that is the geographic, geologic and physical environment or the political, economic, historic, cultural and emotional connections to it. How does “place” define us?
- We the People. Michigan is home to more than 10 million unique people of different races, cultures, languages, ethnicities, religions and points of view. What does “being American” mean today, and how do new generations discover belonging?
- American Experiment. Democracy is challenging. Through the lens of history we can see successes, mistakes and opportunities. How can we build on these to shed even more light on our government, democratic institutions and civic life?
- Doing History. As those who love, teach, preserve and make history, we must work together with our communities to interact with Michigan’s past. How can we best engage people in conversations about what history is and why it matters?
What exactly is the money for?
The funding can be used for things like educational programming, capital improvements, exhibits, collections management and interpretive signs and the money is available for tribal governments, 501(c)(3) nonprofit history organizations and local units of government.
Free cash? Sure, but big bucks require some skin in the game.
Projects can land anywhere from $2,500 to $50,000, but there’s a catch: the bigger the request, the more you have to match in funding. Tier 1 (up to $5,000) is free money, but Tier 3 (up to $50,000) requires a 30% match. Basically, the state’s willing to help, but they want to see some effort too.
So, whether a community wants to highlight Michigan’s role in the Revolution, put a fresh spin on democracy, or just make sure their town square gets a shiny new historical marker, there’s funding to make it happen.
Trump’s big birthday bash: Task Force 250 plans America’s semiquincentennial celebration.
Nationally, President Trump has issued an executive order concerning America’s 250th birthday celebration. Trump has established the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday (Task Force 250) to plan a grand celebration for the nation’s semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026.
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In a statement from the White House, they said America’s 250th anniversary will “afford an opportunity to unite the American people around their shared history and common future as a nation.”
The task force, chaired by the President and Vice President, will coordinate efforts across federal agencies and collaborate with the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. The order also reinstates the National Garden of American Heroes, adding 250 historically significant figures, and reaffirms protections for American monuments against vandalism. The Department of Defense will provide funding and administrative support for Task Force 250, which will conclude its work by December 31, 2026.
