Presented in partnership with the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission
Charlottesville, Va—Today, Virginia Humanities, the state humanities council, announced $162,692 in grants to 20 nonprofit organizations across the Commonwealth. The grants are presented in partnership with the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission.
“These grants continue to be a cornerstone for organizations dedicated to commemorating Virginia’s pivotal role in the American Revolution,” said Cheryl Wilson, executive director of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission. “By funding projects that illuminate the lives of those who shaped our nation, we are not only honoring the past but also inspiring future generations.”
The following projects received VA250 grants:
Afro American Historical Association of Fauquier County (AAHA): Delivering the untold story of Fauquier’s African American population at America’s founding ($10,000) | Fauquier County
This project proposes to unveil and deliver the history of Fauquier’s African Americans, 1759-1790. Funding will support research that will focus on the years beginning with Fauquier’s formation in 1759-1790.
Preservation Virginia: New Exhibition Gallery at Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown: Contradictions of Liberty ($10,000) | Hanover County
A new exhibit at Scotchtown that will explore Patrick Henry’s role in the nation’s founding.
Botetourt County Historical Society: Celebrating & Remembering the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Point Pleasant ($6,500) | Botetourt County
This event will mark the 250th anniversary of the battle, which was the only major armed conflict of what is known as Dunmore’s War (a precursor to the American Revolution).
Clarke County Historical Association: Heritage Day ($1,700) | Clarke County
This event, hosted at the historic Burwell-Morgan Mill, brings in over two dozen history organizations and historic craft makers to provide a family-friendly experience as they learn about every day life in Virginia during the Revolutionary War.
Culpeper Minute Men: Pre-Event Community Engagement for the Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Visit to Culpeper ($17,000) | Culpeper
A series of events that will recall the Town and the citizens of Culpeper as they were during the Revolutionary War period, at the successful conclusion of the war in 1825, as they were when they celebrated the Centennial visit in 1925, and as they are today.
Fairfield Foundation: From Colony to Country: The Revolutionary World of John Page and Lewis Burwell ($5,350) | Gloucester County
A Revolutionary-period first-person interpretation program in collaboration with Shades of Our Past.
Fauquier Historical Society: A Lafayette Legacy: Honoring the Anniversary of a Revolutionary Icon’s Visit to Warrenton, VA ($6,000) | Fauquier County
A new exhibit commemorating Lafayette and his historic visit to Warrenton.
Foundation for Historic Christ Church: The First Three: From Washington to Jefferson ($2,270) | Northern Neck 250/Lancaster County
A speaker series featuring three nationally acclaimed historians who explore the lives of George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and the roles they played in the Revolution and the creation of the American republic.
Historical Society of Western Virginia: Fincastle Resolutions & Southwestern Virginia ($10,000) | Roanoke County
Programming surrounding 18th century life on the frontier and in the Appalachian Mountains, in conjunction with the “Fincastle Resolutions and Native Perspectives” exhibition which celebrates the Western side of the state’s involvement in the American Revolution.
Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation: Jamestown and the American Revolution ($10,000) | James City County
New public programs that will explore Jamestown’s impact on the American Revolution.
National Trust for Historic Preservation: Finding Freedom in a Time of Independence ($10,000) | Loudon County
This program will invite three distinguished speakers and historians to share their work and engage in discussion around topics related to how Native American and African American people navigated their pursuit of freedom during the period around the Revolutionary War.
National Trust for Historic Preservation: Inalienable Rights: History through the Eyes of Enslaved Virginians at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House ($10,000) | Alexandria
This project will bring Joseph McGill and the Slave Dwelling Project to the Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House for a weekend day of free public programs.
Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation: Patrick Henry’s Red Hill Commemorates the American Revolution ($10,000) | Charlotte County
A multifaceted commemorative project that will include: 1) a ceremony to swear in, welcome, and celebrate the United States’ newest citizens, 2) a ceremony to commemorate Patrick Henry’s birthday, and 3) updates to the Foundation’s “Road to Revolution” interpretive signs.
Portsmouth Historical Association: Lafayette 2024: Return to Portsmouth ($10,000) | Portsmouth
An immersive, multi-faceted, month-long celebration of Lafayette and America’s revolutionary idea of “Freedom for All.”
Radford Heritage Foundation (Glencoe Mansion): Mary Draper Ingles: Steps to Revolution ($8,350) | Radford
This new, permanent exhibition will share the story of Mary Draper Ingles and of the diverse cultural landscape (specifically with Native Americans, white settlers, and enslaved African Americans) of the “frontier” during the 6 7/16/2024 2:05 PM 18th century.
Smyth County Historical & Museum Society: The Road to Revolution: Smyth County and the Fincastle Resolutions of 1775 ($5,022.46) | Smyth County
A year-long, county-wide celebration of the Fincastle Resolutions of 1775.
The John Marshall Foundation: John Marshall’s Revolutionary Life and Legacy in Virginia, a 360-Degree Virtual Tour ($10,000) | Richmond
Creation of a 360-degree, 10-stop virtual tour of John Marshall’s life and legacy in Virginia, his journey to and from the American Revolution across the Commonwealth.
Town of Abingdon, VA: Traveling Back to Revolutionary Times ($10,000) | Washington County
An initiative to distribute historical plaques embedded with QR codes to serve as physical gateways to a wealth of historical insights through a dedicated mobile application for IOS and Android devices.
University of Virginia: Cville Puzzle Hunt 2025 ($7,500) | Albemarle County
A free citywide puzzle event for teens and adults of all ages, held annually in downtown Charlottesville celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial by featuring images, stories, and/or character reenactments of actual historical figures from the American Revolution on each of the puzzle pieces.
Watermen’s Museum: The Virginia State Navy Project ($10,000) | York County
This project will highlight the development and history of the Virginia State Navy from 1775 – 1781 by developing and presenting interactive exhibit stations, cross curricular educational programs, 250th anniversary themed special events and public lecture programs that highlight the multi-cultural history of life on the water during the colonial period.
This project proposes to unveil and deliver the history of Fauquier’s African Americans, 1759-1790. Funding will support research that will focus on the years beginning with Fauquier’s formation in 1759-1790.
Preservation Virginia: New Exhibition Gallery at Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown: Contradictions of Liberty ($10,000) | Hanover County
A new exhibit at Scotchtown that will explore Patrick Henry’s role in the nation’s founding.
Botetourt County Historical Society: Celebrating & Remembering the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Point Pleasant ($6,500) | Botetourt County
This event will mark the 250th anniversary of the battle, which was the only major armed conflict of what is known as Dunmore’s War (a precursor to the American Revolution).
Clarke County Historical Association: Heritage Day ($1,700) | Clarke County
This event, hosted at the historic Burwell-Morgan Mill, brings in over two dozen history organizations and historic craft makers to provide a family-friendly experience as they learn about every day life in Virginia during the Revolutionary War.
Culpeper Minute Men: Pre-Event Community Engagement for the Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Visit to Culpeper ($17,000) | Culpeper
A series of events that will recall the Town and the citizens of Culpeper as they were during the Revolutionary War period, at the successful conclusion of the war in 1825, as they were when they celebrated the Centennial visit in 1925, and as they are today.
Fairfield Foundation: From Colony to Country: The Revolutionary World of John Page and Lewis Burwell ($5,350) | Gloucester County
A Revolutionary-period first-person interpretation program in collaboration with Shades of Our Past.
Fauquier Historical Society: A Lafayette Legacy: Honoring the Anniversary of a Revolutionary Icon’s Visit to Warrenton, VA ($6,000) | Fauquier County
A new exhibit commemorating Lafayette and his historic visit to Warrenton.
Foundation for Historic Christ Church: The First Three: From Washington to Jefferson ($2,270) | Northern Neck 250/Lancaster County
A speaker series featuring three nationally acclaimed historians who explore the lives of George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and the roles they played in the Revolution and the creation of the American republic.
Historical Society of Western Virginia: Fincastle Resolutions & Southwestern Virginia ($10,000) | Roanoke County
Programming surrounding 18th century life on the frontier and in the Appalachian Mountains, in conjunction with the “Fincastle Resolutions and Native Perspectives” exhibition which celebrates the Western side of the state’s involvement in the American Revolution.
Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation: Jamestown and the American Revolution ($10,000) | James City County
New public programs that will explore Jamestown’s impact on the American Revolution.
National Trust for Historic Preservation: Finding Freedom in a Time of Independence ($10,000) | Loudon County
This program will invite three distinguished speakers and historians to share their work and engage in discussion around topics related to how Native American and African American people navigated their pursuit of freedom during the period around the Revolutionary War.
National Trust for Historic Preservation: Inalienable Rights: History through the Eyes of Enslaved Virginians at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House ($10,000) | Alexandria
This project will bring Joseph McGill and the Slave Dwelling Project to the Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House for a weekend day of free public programs.
Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation: Patrick Henry’s Red Hill Commemorates the American Revolution ($10,000) | Charlotte County
A multifaceted commemorative project that will include: 1) a ceremony to swear in, welcome, and celebrate the United States’ newest citizens, 2) a ceremony to commemorate Patrick Henry’s birthday, and 3) updates to the Foundation’s “Road to Revolution” interpretive signs.
Portsmouth Historical Association: Lafayette 2024: Return to Portsmouth ($10,000) | Portsmouth
An immersive, multi-faceted, month-long celebration of Lafayette and America’s revolutionary idea of “Freedom for All.”
Radford Heritage Foundation (Glencoe Mansion): Mary Draper Ingles: Steps to Revolution ($8,350) | Radford
This new, permanent exhibition will share the story of Mary Draper Ingles and of the diverse cultural landscape (specifically with Native Americans, white settlers, and enslaved African Americans) of the “frontier” during the 6 7/16/2024 2:05 PM 18th century.
Smyth County Historical & Museum Society: The Road to Revolution: Smyth County and the Fincastle Resolutions of 1775 ($5,022.46) | Smyth County
A year-long, county-wide celebration of the Fincastle Resolutions of 1775.
The John Marshall Foundation: John Marshall’s Revolutionary Life and Legacy in Virginia, a 360-Degree Virtual Tour ($10,000) | Richmond
Creation of a 360-degree, 10-stop virtual tour of John Marshall’s life and legacy in Virginia, his journey to and from the American Revolution across the Commonwealth.
Town of Abingdon, VA: Traveling Back to Revolutionary Times ($10,000) | Washington County
An initiative to distribute historical plaques embedded with QR codes to serve as physical gateways to a wealth of historical insights through a dedicated mobile application for IOS and Android devices.
University of Virginia: Cville Puzzle Hunt 2025 ($7,500) | Albemarle County
A free citywide puzzle event for teens and adults of all ages, held annually in downtown Charlottesville celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial by featuring images, stories, and/or character reenactments of actual historical figures from the American Revolution on each of the puzzle pieces.
Watermen’s Museum: The Virginia State Navy Project ($10,000) | York County
This project will highlight the development and history of the Virginia State Navy from 1775 – 1781 by developing and presenting interactive exhibit stations, cross curricular educational programs, 250th anniversary themed special events and public lecture programs that highlight the multi-cultural history of life on the water during the colonial period.
About Virginia Humanities
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We’re headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but we serve the entire state. We aim to share the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we’ll all get to know each other a little better. Founded in 1974, we are one of fifty-six humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org.
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We’re headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but we serve the entire state. We aim to share the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we’ll all get to know each other a little better. Founded in 1974, we are one of fifty-six humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org.