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America250 Mississippi Grantees
Walter Anderson Museum of Art
America250 Mississippi Legacy Grant – $20,000
The Walter Anderson Digitization Project
Project to digitize and preserve the museum’s treasured collection of Mississippi’s most important visual artist and create digital exhibits highlighting Anderson’s connections to the themes of America250, including “We the People,” “The Power of Place,” “Mississippi in the American Story,” and “Mississippi Traditions.”
University of Mississippi
America250 Mississippi Legacy Grant – $20,000
The Greenfield Farm Legacy Project
Funding to develop a traveling exhibit about Greenfield Farm, a working farm owned by internationally acclaimed Mississippi writer William Faulkner, which is in the process of being developed into a writer’s retreat. The exhibit will highlight Faulkner’s contributions to American literature and deepen Mississippians’ understanding of our state’s rich cultural history.
Union County Historical Society & Heritage Museum
America250 Mississippi Legacy Grant – $20,000
Creative Spirits and Discovery Zone Exhibits
Funding to create a new interactive permanent exhibit highlighting Mississippians from Union County who had a national impact on American culture in literature, journalism, music, television, and art. The exhibit will show how north Mississippians have made a lasting mark on American culture and history.
Pearl River Glass Conservatory
America250 Mississippi Legacy Grant – $20,000
Windows of Mississippi: A Legacy of Place and People
Funding to launch a new online digital archive of historic stained glass throughout the state, featuring churches, government buildings, including the Mississippi state capitol, and civic structures. Aligns with the America250 themes of “We the People” and the “Power of Place” by showing the diversity of Mississippi’s faith communities and highlighting how our stained glass reflects local traditions and identity.
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
America250 Mississippi Legacy Grant – $20,000
Keepers of the Coast: Preserving Black History at Pleasant Reed
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum will refurbish and update the historic Pleasant Reed House to tell the story of the Gulf Coast’s historic Black community through audio/visual exhibits and a documentary film entitled “Joys & Blues.” The exhibits will highlight the Coast’s role in the push for civil rights and connect this story to the national freedom movement to build a more perfect union.
Museum of the Mississippi Delta
America250 Mississippi Legacy Grant – $20,000
Music exhibit for the Museum of the Mississippi Delta
Creation of a new permanent exhibit that tells the story of music in the area around LeFlore County, including Blues pioneer Robert Johnson, country music legend Bobbie Gentry, and the music of the civil rights movement. The exhibit will highlight Greenwood’s role in the American civil rights movement and its contributions to the musical traditions that changed American culture.
Mississippi Delta Nature and Learning Center
America250 Mississippi Legacy Grant – $10,000
Seeds of Freedom Pavilion
Project to create an outside educational pavilion and interpretive signage highlighting the history of Black farmers in the struggle for freedom and the role of the Stoneville research center in American agricultural development. The exhibits will feature Mississippians who made a significant mark on America’s history and economy, including Fannie Lou Hamer and various research scientists at Stoneville.
Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum
America250 Mississippi Legacy Grant – $20,000
Mississippi USO History Gallery
Creation of a new permanent exhibit about the history of the USO in serving soldiers stationed at Mississippi’s military bases. Interactive displays will highlight Mississippi’s strong support for the men and women in uniform who have played a vital role in protecting American freedoms.
Historical Society of Gulfport
America250 Mississippi Legacy Grant – $20,000
Founding Gallery – Gulfport Museum of History
Funding to create a new permanent exhibit about the founding and early development of Gulfport in the Gulfport Museum of History, located in the city’s historic train depot. The exhibit will highlight Gulfport’s role in the economic development of the United States, connecting with the America250 theme of “Mississippi in the American Story.”
Jackson-George Regional Library System
America250 Mississippi Legacy Grant – $19,177.99
Gulf Coast Mosaic: Living Histories of Mississippi’s Shore
The creation of an accessible digital archive of library collections, including oral histories, family and school records, local TV programs, and photographs of daily life, industry, and local businesses that shaped the Gulf Coast’s economy and culture, highlighting its role in the American story. Aligned with the vision of America250, this project will connect the county’s history to the larger currents of American history, fostering a sense of place and community pride.
City of Gluckstadt
America250 Mississippi Legacy Grant – $20,000
Threads of a Flag: The Story of Gluckstadt
Creation of a short documentary film about the founding and development of Gluckstadt, highlighting its early settlers and German heritage. Gluckstadt’s founding families, church history, and agricultural roots illustrate important American themes of freedom and opportunity. The film will be screened at the town’s annual Germanfest event.
Alcorn State University
America250 Mississippi Minigrant – $5,000
The Power of Place: Stories, Memory, and Heritage in the Alcorn Community
An oral history and digitization project that will use online exhibits to highlight the role of Alcorn State University in the expansion of educational and economic freedom, from the establishment of the school after the end of the Civil War to educate former slaves to its impact today. This project aligns with the America250 theme of “We the People,” tracking the expansion of freedom in America.
The Town of Lena
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $7,000
Lena 4th of July
The grant proposal outlines Lena, MS’s initiative to revive its historic 4th of July celebration in 2026, using the event to honor local veterans, showcase the town’s heritage buildings and celebrate community resilience through music and storytelling. The project will include a veteran’s memorial, performances by local musicians, dramatic monologues, historical exhibits and restoration efforts for the town’s unique gymnasium, culminating in a fireworks display.
Magee Chamber of Commerce
America250 Mississippi Minigrant – $5,000
Magee Celebrates America250
Magee Celebrates America250 is a March–July series of public programs in Magee that use the Declaration of Independence and local military service as focal points to renew civic engagement, teach the history and ideals of American democracy and foster intergenerational patriotism. Activities include a family patriotic movie night with a veteran speaker, a public reading and discussion of the Declaration by local legislators and a July 4th fireworks celebration.
City of Long Beach
America250 Mississippi Minigrant – $5,000
Long Beach 4th of July Jubilee
Long Beach’s annual 4th of July Jubilee is expanded into a full-day cultural heritage celebration that highlights Mississippi traditions, music and history while strengthening civic pride and community identity. The June 27 event in downtown Long Beach will feature an outdoor festival with local vendors, a patriotic parade, a live music block party showcasing Mississippi musicians and a beachfront fireworks show, all designed to reflect themes of Mississippi Traditions, The Power of Place and We the People. The city emphasizes economic and social benefits—supporting local artists and businesses, fostering inclusive, family-friendly participation and building a lasting legacy of community storytelling and shared memory connected to Mississippi’s role in the American story.
The Rosa Foundation
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $10,000
BEHIND THE BIG HOUSE 2026
Behind the Big House 2026 is a historical and educational event in Holly Springs, MS, held in April 2026, as part of America250 Mississippi. The program centers on the theme “WE THE PEOPLE,” using guided tours, interpretive stations and community collaboration to educate audiences about the resilience and contributions of enslaved people and their descendants, highlighting Mississippi’s role in advancing freedom, equality and civic ideals. The proposal details hands-on exhibits, expert presentations and museum displays designed to reach students and the broader public, emphasizing inclusion and historical understanding in pursuit of “a more perfect union”.
Link Centre
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $6,200
How America Got the Blues: The Songs that Shaped Our Nation
“How America Got the Blues: The Songs that Shaped Our Nation” celebrates Mississippi’s deep roots in blues music by engaging elementary students in Tupelo with education, songwriting and performance activities. Through a mini-residency, students will learn about and create original blues songs, culminating in recorded student performances and a free public concert that showcases the blues’ influence on American music and culture. The project aims to inspire youth, preserve local musical history and build lasting community appreciation for Mississippi’s pivotal role in shaping national musical traditions.
Mississippi Department of Archives and History
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $10,000
First Oval Office Project: Bringing Washington’s Marquee to Mississippi
The First Oval Office Project will bring a full-scale replica of George Washington’s Revolutionary War marquee to Mississippi, offering an immersive public history experience on the grounds of the Old Capitol Museum in Jackson during fall 2026. Through this living history installation, in partnership with the Museum of the American Revolution, the project will engage Mississippians—especially students—by highlighting the state’s connections to the nation’s founding and providing educational resources, lesson plans and interpretive programs tied to the American Revolution. The initiative is free and open to the public and aims to leave a lasting legacy by deepening understanding of the state’s role in America’s journey toward democracy.
The Arts, Hancock County
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $10,000
Place Apart, Place Connected: Remembrance and Reinvention at the Edge of America
Place Apart, Place Connected is a year-long arts and humanities initiative by The Arts, Hancock County that uses storytelling, documentary film, public dialogue and community art to explore Hancock County’s key role in American history and identity. Through events like an oral history Living Library, a participatory Story Slam and a juried community art exhibition, the project brings together diverse residents and partners to reflect on themes of movement, democracy and resilience—ultimately showing how local Mississippi stories and creativity embody central national experiences. Activities will run throughout 2026, building lasting civic connections, preserving community voices and amplifying Mississippi’s place in American heritage.
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $6,000
Fabric of Our Future: Mississippi’s Children Celebrate America250
This project commemorates America’s 250th anniversary through a large-scale community quilt created by children across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Guided by museum educators and local quilters, participants will design individual quilt squares expressing their visions for the future, which will be assembled into a collective artwork celebrating Mississippi’s cultural heritage and creativity. Culminating in a community celebration in August 2026 and later featured in a Smithsonian traveling exhibit, the project blends intergenerational artistry, civic pride and Mississippi’s enduring quilting traditions.
Lake Caroline Homeowners Association
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $10,000
Lake Caroline America250 Mississippi Celebration
The Lake Caroline America250 Mississippi Celebration is a six-week program designed to honor 250 years of American history by highlighting the contributions of everyday Mississippians to the nation’s founding ideals of courage, liberty and community responsibility through educational activities, living-history performances and inclusive community events. With hands-on programming for children, tributes to veterans and public celebrations such as parades and flag ceremonies, the project aims to foster a deeper appreciation for Mississippi’s heritage and active citizenship, while leaving a lasting legacy of respect and patriotism for future generations. The events are scheduled from April through July 2026 and include interactive history crafts, parades, patriotic ceremonies and a Fourth of July fireworks finale.
Mississippi Children’s Museum
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $10,000
Story to Stage: America250
The Mississippi Children’s Museum received support for its Story to Stage: America250 traveling exhibit, an interactive experience that encourages children to explore storytelling, character development and American history, with a particular emphasis on Mississippi’s unique contributions. The revamped exhibit will feature six engaging activities—including reading themed books, creating storyboards and performing on stage—to foster literacy, broaden understanding of US culture and inspire intergenerational conversations. Launching in early 2026, the project will travel to three locations across Mississippi, providing free, child-focused programming that connects communities to the nation’s heritage.
GRAMMY Museum Mississippi
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $10,000
GRAMMY Museum Mississippi’s 10th Anniversary
GRAMMY Museum Mississippi will celebrate its 10th anniversary in March 2026 with a weekend of music-filled events that coincide with the national America 250 commemoration, showcasing Mississippi’s pivotal influence on American music history. The proposal seeks funding for a free Blues Brunch and outdoor festival, featuring performances, educational workshops and family activities that highlight the state’s musical heritage and deepen community engagement.
City of Nettleton
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $10,000
The Town Creek Celebration & Archaeology Exposition Festival
The Town Creek Celebration & Archaeology Exposition is a one-day, multi-generational event in Nettleton, Mississippi, designed to honor local Indigenous, civic and civil rights history through interactive exhibits, live performances and educational panels. Bringing together over 500 participants from diverse backgrounds, the event features Indigenous dance, genealogy workshops and oral history recordings, all aiming to promote community pride, historical awareness and cultural preservation. Its legacy includes permanent archival resources at Lowe Library, strengthened tribal partnerships and a replicable model to inspire future civic engagement and heritage programming.
Yoknapatawpha Arts Council
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $10,000
Mississippi250
The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council seeks support to expand its annual June Summer Sunset Concert Series with a special July 4th celebration in Oxford in 2026. The project blends live concerts highlighting Mississippi’s musical traditions with historian-curated readings and writing prompts on democracy, plus short documentary films exploring how Mississippi’s culture shapes the arts. Designed as a free, multimedia program, it aims to celebrate the state’s musical and democratic heritage, foster community reflection and engage diverse audiences across generations.
The Town of Mantee
America250 Mississippi Minigrant – $2,600
Mantee History Museum
By updating the Mantee History Museum, the Town of Mantee in Webster County will honor local veterans and their contributions to America’s story through an expanded collection featuring military memorabilia, new display cases, and framed exhibits. The project will also enhance community engagement by creating a digital inventory for online access and refreshing the museum’s interior with new furniture and décor. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will celebrate the updates and invite the community to reconnect with the museum and its history.
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
America250 Mississippi Program Grant – $10,000
Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration
The Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration (NLCC) has, for more than three decades, positioned Mississippi voices, places, and stories within the wider American narrative. The 2026 event theme, “Stories of American Freedom,” will highlight how the pursuit of liberty, justice, and equality has shaped the nation and how Mississippi, and Natchez in particular, has played a vital role in that story. Events feature topics ranging from Revolutionary-era tavern songs, to Native American code talkers, to the Civil Rights struggles of Fannie Lou Hamer and the Mississippi Freedom Movement. By drawing nationally recognized authors and scholars into conversation with Mississippi history and culture, the NLCC situates Natchez not as a backdrop but as a focal point of America’s ongoing struggle for freedom.
Mid-Mississippi Regional Library System
America250 Mississippi Minigrant – $1,200
Community Leadership Consortium
With the “Voices of Mid-Mississippi: A Community Time Capsule” project, the Mid-Mississippi Regional Library System in Kosciusko will create and install a time capsule to capture and preserve residents’ reflections on American ideals and the library’s role in communities across its five-county region. Patrons will contribute handwritten note cards responding to prompts such as “What does America mean to you in the context of our local history?” and “How has the library shaped your pursuit of knowledge and community connection?” The time capsule will also include small mementos like library bookmarks, historical photos of the town, and a proclamation from local officials, such as the mayor, affirming the library’s enduring place in service to the area’s story.