INDIANA— Through its Heritage Support Grants program, the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) awarded more than $49,000 to 16 local history organizations representing 14 Indiana counties.
The program provides funding for high-priority projects in the areas of collections stewardship, capacity building, sustainability, and planning at local, county, and regional historical societies, museums, and sites across Indiana.
Heritage Support Grants are provided by the Indiana Historical Society and made possible by Lilly Endowment Inc. Learn more at www.indianahistory.org/grants.
The most recent recipients include:
Jackson County History Center, Jackson County
Jackson County History Center received $4,999.00 to repair damaged soffits, rafters, and guttering on its Ball Museum, helping to prevent water damage to artifacts and allow for continued public access to its collections.
Acting Ensemble, St. Joseph County
Acting Ensemble received $1,349.00 to fund scriptwriting and research for a play and exhibit about the South Bend Golden Hawks women’s professional football team, expanding access to the history of women’s sports in Indiana.
Adams County Historical Society, Adams County
The Adams County Historical Society received $4,999.00 to assist in the completion of a roof repair for the 1902 Charles A. Dugan mansion, which houses its collections, in an effort to preserve and sustain the mansion.
Cedar Lake Historical Association, Lake County
Cedar Lake Historical Association received $4,999.00 to repair the flooring and ceiling in the dining room at Lassen’s Resort as well as to install interpretive materials and chairs, enabling CLHA to continue developing its culinary heritage programming.
Chautauqua Wawasee, Kosciusko County
Chautauqua Wawasee received $1,600.00 to fund speakers for its 2025 “Digging Through History” program series, which features presentations of Myaamia and Potawatomi history and culture to educate the public about Indiana’s Indigenous heritage.
Friends of the Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County, Montgomery County
Friends of the Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County received $2,721.00 to purchase 14 data loggers and monitoring software to track environmental conditions across the Carnegie Museum. This will ensure proper environmental conditions for their collections and guide future HVAC upgrades.
Hamilton County Historical Society, Hamilton County
The Hamilton County Historical Society received $3,700.00 to create the Levinson Story Walk, a self-guided walking tour featuring signage and QR codes that highlight Noblesville landmarks connected to the influential Levinson family.
International Circus Hall of Fame, Miami County
International Circus Hall of Fame received $1,950.00 for the purchase of archival materials, including photo album storage boxes, acid-free Tyvek, and photograph sleeves, ensuring their collections will be preserved in a stable and archivally safe manner.
Kosciusko County Historical Society, Kosciusko County
The Kosciusko County Historical Society received $4,916.25 to digitally photograph, print, and rebind 27 rare assessor’s plat books from 1880 to 1891, which will preserve the records and allow for online accessibility.
Pike County Historical Society, Pike County
The Pike County Historical Society received $1,990.40 to fund a conservation assessment of 187 Pike County courthouse books, dated from 1833 to 1974, to address deterioration, develop a preservation plan, and prepare the collection for future digitization, ensuring continued access.
Pleasant Lake Historical Society, Steuben County
The Pleasant Lake Historical Society received $4,027.00 to replace damaged flooring in its 1950s-era Barbershop, restoring the classic checkerboard design and ensuring safety for visitors while preserving its collections.
Pulaski County Historical Society, Pulaski County
Pulaski County Historical Society received $2,415.00 to purchase and install mountings for historic photos in a Pocket Park exhibit, which will assist in the historical interpretation of county history.
Rush County Historical Society, Rush County
Rush County Historical Society received $4,900.00 to restore a rare Penny-farthing bicycle from its collection, enhancing community engagement by connecting it with Rush County’s annual Wendell Willkie Day event, boosting historical interest among residents and visitors.
Shelby County Historical Society, Shelby County
The Shelby County Historical Society received $1,000.00 in funding for its annual “Juneteenth: A Day for All” celebration, which will enable educational programming about Black heritage in Shelby County, promoting an inclusive and educational experience.
The Indiana Album, Inc, Marion County
The Indiana Album, Inc. received $2,000.00 to hire consultants for board leadership training, which will strengthen governance practices, clarify leadership roles, and improve fundraising strategies, ultimately bolstering the organization’s long-term sustainability.
Whiting-Robertsdale Historical Society, Lake County
The Whiting-Robertsdale Historical Society received $2,433.00 to purchase archival storage materials, which will ensure the proper preservation of thousands of historical photographs and artworks, and to prepare for a future climate-controlled storage space.
Guidelines and applications are available on the IHS website at www.indianahistory.org/grants or by calling the IHS at (317) 232-1882.
