On Wednesday, it was announced that the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) has given out almost $2 million in grants.
The grants were distributed to 153 eligible museums and official historical societies across 58 counties, including Philadelphia, according to a release. Thirty-seven of the sites awarded are located within Philadelphia county.
“Pennsylvania’s wonderful museums and historical societies help preserve and share the state’s rich history and culture through the stories they tell,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a release.
Wolf added, “These funds, awarded to museums and historical societies across the commonwealth, will help ensure these facilities are able to continue serving as educational resources for all Pennsylvanians.”
A release explained that the goal of this program is to strengthen Pennsylvania’s museum community. The grant money will go towards the cost of the general operation of eligible museums and official county historical societies that are not supported by any other state agency funding programs.
It was reported that they must also have an annual operating budget that is over $100,000 and at least one full-time professional staff person.
“Our commonwealth is truly fortunate to have so many outstanding museums and historical societies,” Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati said in a release.
Scarnati added, “I am very pleased that once again this year, these grants will help offer assistance to historical sites so that they can continue to provide excellent educational opportunities within our communities.”
A release states that the award amounts were chosen by using an equation. The equation was based on the percentage of the previous year’s operating budget.
The minimum grant official county historical societies receive was $4,000. The maximum that any museum could receive was $40,000
According to a release, below are the organizations located in Philadelphia that received grants from the state. The amount they received is included below as well:
Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University - $40,000
African American Museum of Philadelphia - $27,929
American Philosophical Society - $40,000
American Swedish Historical Museum - $7,872
Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust - $7,190
Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia - $5,275
Chestnut Hill Conservancy & Historical Society - $5,655
Christ Church Preservation Trust - $7,576
Cliveden of the National Trust - $4,481
College of Physicians of Philadelphia - $40,000
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site Inc. - $40,000
Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion - $4,000
Fort Mifflin on the Delaware - $4,000
Franklin Institute - $40,000
Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery Inc. - $6,680
Germantown Historical Society - $4,250
Girard College Foundation - $5,206
Glen Foerd Conservation Corporation - $4,600
Historic Fair Hill - $4,000
Historic Philadelphia Inc./Betsy Ross House - $40,000
Historical Society of Pennsylvania - $40,000
Independence Seaport Museum - $40,000
Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia - $13,000
John Bartram Association - $40,000
Museum of the American Revolution - $40,000
National Constitution Center - $40,000
National Liberty Museum - $27,504
Philadelphia Fire Department Historical Corporation - $4,000
Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks - $21,407
Please Touch Museum - $40,000
The Rosenbach - $16,428
Science History Institute - $40,000
Stenton - $4,364
Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania - $40,000
Wagner Free Institute of Science - $10,963
Woodlands Trust for Historic Preservation - $4,000
Wyck Association - $4,000
African American Museum in Philadelphia. PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
American Swedish Museum PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Betsy Ross House PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
American Philosophical Society. PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
