Delaware 250 Announces Spring 2025 Grant Recipients

DOVER, Del. – Delaware 250 announced today that six organizations across the State will receive grants totaling $34,445 as part of the spring cycle of the Delaware 250 grant program.   

 The grant program, offered on a quarterly basis, is designed to provide support to museums, historic sites, and other non-profit organizations throughout Delaware as they plan for the upcoming United States Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, in 2026. That year also marks the 250th anniversary of Delaware’s statehood. With the awards from this most recent grant cycle, Delaware 250 has provided a total of $313,396 in funding to 40 organizations across all three counties. 

 “We’re officially less than a year out from the 250th anniversary of both Delaware and the nation,” said Margaret Hughes, Director of Delaware 250. “It’s very exciting to see and be able to support the fantastic programming being planned by organizations all across the state.” 

 “As these grant recipients demonstrate, there are so many ways to thoughtfully and innovatively honor the 250th in Delaware,” said Dick Carter, Chair of the Delaware Heritage Commission. “It’s wonderful to see the statewide enthusiasm building as we launch the year leading up to this historic anniversary.” 

 

Recipients of the Spring 2025 Delaware 250 grants are:  

Coastal Concerts ($5,400), to support the performance, during their 2026 summer series, of a Jazz Era musical event that both speaks to the unique local history of Lewes and interprets this history on the continuum of US history.  

 

Delaware Museum of Nature and Science ($3,470.20), for the creation of the special exhibit “Revolutionary Stories and Evolutionary Specimens,” which highlights several Delaware state symbols and Delawareans whose stories can be tied to them. 

 

Duck Creek Historical Society ($6,375), for the creation of interpretive signs documenting the Town of Smyrna’s history.  

 

Old Swedes Church / Holy Trinity ($7,500), for the cleaning and repair of twelve Revolutionary War graves, along with the development of interpretive materials for a self-guided walking tour. 

 

Rehoboth Art League ($4,500), for the creation of a juried art exhibit entitled “Art as Revolution,” which asks artists to reflect on “the ways in which art can be revolutionary,” as well as for the creation of an exhibit documenting a multi-century history of the Art League and Rehoboth area. As part of the latter, RAL will produce a video as a permanent record of the exhibition.  

 

Rockwood Park and Museum ($7,200), to support the exhibit “We, the People,” commissioning five contemporary artists to create artworks in dialogue with historical portraiture at Rockwood.  

 

“These six grant awardees will help Delawareans and visitors alike to interact with the First State’s history in fascinating and significant ways,” said Director of the Delaware Public Archives and State Archivist Stephen Marz. “The Semiquincentennial is a chance to learn about parts of Delaware and its history that we may not have considered before.”  

 Applications for the next round of Delaware 250 grants will open in July, with an August 15 application deadline. Visit delaware250.org for more information about grant opportunities, as well as about upcoming Delaware 250 events and programming.   

  

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About Delaware 250 

Delaware 250 is the State’s official entity marking the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence on July 4, 2026. A special project of the Delaware Heritage Commission and the Delaware Public Archives, Delaware 250 seeks to reflect on and celebrate the plurality of histories within the First State and the Nation.  

 

About Delaware Heritage Commission 

Created in 1972 as the Delaware American Revolution Bicentennial Commission to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution in 1776, the Delaware Heritage Commission became one of the principal agencies for the celebration of Delaware history. The celebration of the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution in 1987, the bicentennial of the Bill of Rights, the 500th anniversary of Columbus “Finding the Americas,” the 75th anniversary of the American Revolution Battle of Cooch’s Bridge, were led by the Heritage Commission. Its mission is to celebrate the history and heritage of Delaware.  

 

About Delaware Public Archives 

As the repository for records of Delaware state and local governments, the Delaware Public Archives contains millions of documents and other materials that can help with researching one’s genealogical roots and conduct historical research. Among these records are census materials, vital statistics including birth, death, and marriage records; tax assessments, probate/estate records, land deeds, and military records. The Delaware Public Archives also preserves a large amount of genealogically related materials of private origin. These records include family histories, bible records, church records, manuscript genealogies, and newspapers.