Local churches, Cemetery Receive African American History Grants
The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, and the Maryland Historical Trust have awarded $5 million in grants to 31 organizations, according to a news release.
The African American Heritage Preservation Program grants range from $10,000 to $250,000 and are designed to support projects that preserve buildings, sites or communities significant to Black history in Maryland.
The grants aim to assist organizations and private citizens in acquiring, constructing or improving sites related to African American heritage.
“The African American experience is essential to Maryland’s history,” said Elizabeth Hughes, director of the Maryland Historical Trust. “This funding ensures a future for important community anchors that have often been marginalized, helping us all understand the full story of our past.”
Some of the recipients include:
- Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church, Brunswick, Frederick County — $195,000
- Asbury Methodist Church, City of Frederick, Frederick County — $36,000
- Quinn Chapel AME Church, City of Frederick, Frederick County — $250,000
- Catoctin Furnace African American Cemetery, Thurmont, Frederick County — $150,000
- St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Lappans, Boonsboro, Washington County — $75,000
- Tyree African Methodist Episcopal Church, Berlin, Worcester County — $250,000
- Freetown, Education, Research and Cultural Museum, Snow Hill, Worcester County — $250,000
The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture is dedicated to discovering, documenting, preserving, collecting and promoting Maryland’s African American heritage. The commission also provides technical assistance to institutions and groups with similar objectives.
The Maryland Historical Trust is a state agency dedicated to preserving and interpreting the legacy of Maryland’s past. Through research, conservation and education, the trust assists the people of Maryland in understanding their historical and cultural heritage.
The African American Heritage Preservation Program is a joint effort between the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, and the Maryland Historical Trust. The program is designed to identify projects and organizations that work to preserve buildings, sites or communities that share the story of Black history in Maryland.
The grants are awarded annually and are open to nonprofit organizations, local governments and private citizens. The program is funded through the Maryland Department of Planning and the Maryland Historical Trust.
The grants are intended to help preserve historically and culturally significant sites that are often overlooked or forgotten. The program aims to ensure that these sites remain a part of Maryland’s history and are accessible to future generations.
The African American Heritage Preservation Program is part of a broader effort to preserve and promote Maryland’s African American history and culture. The program is one of several initiatives aimed at preserving the state’s diverse cultural heritage and ensuring that all Marylanders have the opportunity to learn about and appreciate the contributions of African Americans to the state’s history.
The program is an important tool for preserving Maryland’s African American heritage and ensuring that the stories and experiences of African Americans are not lost to history. The grants provide much-needed funding for projects that might otherwise go unfunded and help ensure that Maryland’s African American history is preserved for future generations.
For more information about the African American Heritage Preservation Program and the 2025 award recipients, go to the Maryland Historical Trust’s blog at mdhistoricaltrust.wordpress.com.
This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.
