Nine America 250 Grants Awarded in January 2026!
The Mary Chilton Foundation announced the recipients in the second round of applications for the special matching grant program to fund America 250 observances in South Dakota.
1/23/20261 min read
1) $2500 - Dakotaland Museum, Huron, “Moments that Made US” - 21 color panels illustrating themes of the American Revolution, April 19 - August 31, 2026.
2) $2500 - City of Brookings to host the traveling 3/4 replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in a temporary installation at the Fishback Soccer Complex, June 11-14, 2026
3) $1010.90 - Siouxland Heritage Museum, Sioux Falls - “Soldiers of the American Revolution” - a living history speaker will bring a Continental Soldier to life for groups of elementary school students.
4) $2500 - Journey Museum, Rapid City - “Monumental Memories” - Exhibition commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, May 22 - October 4, 2026.
5) $2500 - Redfield Area Chamber of Commerce - “Redfield Baseball/Softball Day - America’s 250th” - Free community event with flag bunting on the grandstands, free America 250 t-shirts and pennants, evening fireworks, June 13, 2026.
6) $2500 - Crooks Veterans Park - “Grand Opening” - Kickoff event to celebrate America 250 at the newly-constructed park that features a fallen soldier exhibit. Plans include live patriotic music and speakers, a military flyover, a BBQ picnic, followed by an evening fireworks show, early August.
7) $2500 - Pierre Players - “1776” - Community theater production of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy based on the events leading up to the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence. Grand Opera House, July 17-19 and 23-26, 2026.
8) $2281.79 - Black Hills Chapter NSDAR - “America 250 Birthday Bash” - Life-size cut-outs of Revolutionary War figures including Declaration of Independence signers, and hands-on family activities at the Rapid City Street Festival, July 3 & 4, 2026.
9) $2500 - Custer County Historical Society - “Historic Custer City 4th of July Parade Mural” - Commission for local artist to paint a composite mural of an 1880s Independence Day parade based on historic photographs from the 1881 Courthouse Museum. The 40’ x 10’ mural will painted on the side of a building facing Mount Rushmore Road. Painting to begin mid-May and unveiled on July 4, 2026.