Dozens of Michigan history projects are getting a fresh infusion of cash ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday — from a shipwreck exhibit in Grand Traverse to efforts to digitize WWII-era newspapers in Monroe County and create a bronze statue of “Big Annie,” an early 20th-century workers’ rights advocate, in Calumet.

The money is coming from the America250MI Grant Program, a joint effort of the Michigan History Center and Historical Society of Michigan. It announced its first round of recipients this week, awarding nearly $1 million to more than 50 history projects. The program is expected to award a total of $2 million to history organizations through next year.

The America250MI committee is charged with preserving and celebrating the state’s history as the country gears up to celebrate the next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“Michigan’s story is defined by generations of hardworking people who knew how to get stuff done,” Gov. Whitmer said in a statement. “As we gear up to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, let’s uplift their stories and make sure that they are passed on to future generations.

The America250MI History Grant Program was launched through funds allocated to the Michigan DNR by the state Legislature.

“Our project through the America250MI grant program is to bring our historic 1920s fire engine home to the museum for permanent display,” said Tyler Moll, Director of the Wayne Historical Museum, which was awarded $15,000 for the exhibit.

“This will be the first time the fire truck has been on display since the 1970s, and the much beloved ‘Old Betsy’ will finally be able to be seen permanently by everyone,” he said. “The grant will also include new interpretive signage and history about the truck.”

During the 45-day application window for the first round of grants, nearly 100 funding proposals requesting more than $2.2 million were submitted to the America250MI program.

“This funding will empower these communities to elevate and share their local stories, which is vital to the understanding and preservation of our state’s rich history,” said Sandra Clark, director of the Michigan History Center in a statement.

Awards were granted in over 30 counties, including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent, Kalamazoo, Saginaw and Muskegon counties.

“When I wrote the grant and I saw the needs … which I do know exists out there, we’re preserving the history, preserving the memories of these firefighters from the state of Michigan, who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our community,” said Dave Egeler, Director of Operations for the Michigan Firehouse Museum.

The museum was awarded a $4,879 grant to create a statewide fireman “line of duty” death registry, database and exhibit.

One of the largest grants, $50,000, went to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn to restore and create an immersive exhibit at the historic Jackson Home in Greenfield Village. The home, which the museum dismantled and moved to Greenfield Village from Selma, Alabama, is slated to open next year. The house was a safe haven for leaders “to rest and strategize the path forward” during the Civil Rights movement.

The second round of grant applications will open Nov. 1, and close Jan. 15. More information can be found on the American250MI website.

This article is being republished through a syndication agreement with Bridge Michigan. Bridge Michigan is Michigan’s largest nonprofit news service and one of the nation’s leading and largest nonprofit civic news providers. Their coverage is nonpartisan, fact-based, and data-driven. Find them online at  https://www.bridgemi.com/.