Portland, OR — The America 250 Oregon Commission, in partnership with Oregon Heritage and the Oregon Historical Society, is proud to announce the recipients of its second round of grant funding, awarding nearly $75,000 to 25 organizations across Oregon for projects and programs that commemorate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. These grants are in addition to an initial $50,000 in total funding awarded to 13 organizations in October 2025.
“With recipients in communities across all corners of Oregon, these grants represent Oregon’s commitment to commemorating America’s 250th birthday in ways that reflect the unique character of our state,” said America 250 Oregon Commission Chair Kerry Tymchuk. “From highlighting Indigenous histories to honoring the sacrifice of Oregon’s veterans to instilling a love of history in our youth, these initiatives provide an opportunity for Oregonians to engage in our shared story. We are grateful to the Oregon State Legislature for providing the funds that made these grants possible.”
The Oregon 250 Grant Program was established to help organizations create inclusive, community-focused projects that highlight Oregon’s diverse histories, traditions, and cultures. These grant awards of up to $3,000 will support programs that align with the mission of America 250 Oregon and one or more of its seven guideposts.
A third funding cycle will open at 8am on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, and grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible projects. More information about the Oregon 250 Grant Program can be found at oregon250.org.
The following organizations were awarded grants in the Oregon 250 Grant Program’s second funding cycle:
CETI, Multnomah County
Grant funds will support the creation of a bilingual, augmented-reality storybook and community events that preserve, interpret, and honor the erased history of Portland’s Chinese immigrant community buried at Lone Fir Cemetery’s Block 14.
City of Monmouth, Polk County
Grant funds will support the purchase and installation of a permanent display case that will be placed in Monmouth’s City Hall and used for exhibitions acknowledging the Indigenous peoples of this region that encourage visitors to consider diverse perspectives while reflecting on the past.
Civics Learning Project, Statewide
Grant funds will provide support for We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, a comprehensive curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school students covering the history and principles of constitutional democracy in the United States that culminates with simulated congressional hearings where students testify before a panel of judges acting as members of Congress.
Crossroads Creative and Performing Arts Center, Baker County
Grant funds will support the production of a film showing diverse Baker County residents sharing the Declaration of Independence in locations across the county, meant to serve as a reminder of the power of the charge to create a more perfect union.
ClearPath Healthcare/Hospice of Redmond, Deschutes County
Grant funds will support programs for local veterans, including the creation of a Wall of Memory, monthly Taps memorial gatherings, pinning ceremonies, and programs bringing veterans in connection with one another.
Dayton Community Development Program, Yamhill County
Grant funds will support the digitization of historical Dayton newspapers that are currently held on microfilm. The project will build on a previous digitization project, adding papers from 1929 to 1947 to the University of Oregon Digital Newspaper Program.
Douglas County Historical Society, Douglas County
Grant funds will support “Your Heritage: Douglas County Oregon Through the Ages,” a student essay and art contest increasing youth awareness of county history.
Gresham Historical Society, Multnomah County
Grant funds will support production and marketing of Gresham History Week (June 13–21), a festival commemorating the semiquincentennial as well as GHS’s 50th anniversary.
Hellenic-American Cultural Center and Museum, Statewide
Grant funds will support HACCM staff and volunteers traveling to four locations around Oregon to document, collect, and archive stories of the Greek American experience through oral history interviews, meetings, and community gatherings. These stories will serve as source material for future special exhibitions and other public programs.
High Desert Museum, Deschutes County
Grant funds will support a community conversation series and a public lecture series that will examine the legacies of America 250 through the lens of the American West, bringing together scholars, Indigenous knowledge holders, artists, and the broader public to explore themes such as patriotism, citizenship, voting rights, the American Dream, and the layered cultural narratives that define the High Desert.
Historic Jacksonville, Inc., Jackson County
Grant funds will support the “Museum without Walls” project to convert Jacksonville’s 1881 Old City Hall into the ADA accessible physical base of a citywide museum that shares the history of Jacksonville’s Historic Landmark District through onsite exhibits and introduces guests to the many ways they can explore the town including physical and virtual tours.
Jackson County Expo Center, Jackson County
Grant funds will support the creation of a new exhibition featuring a series of exhibits created by local organizations that will together share the history of the Rogue Valley.
Klamath Falls School District, Klamath County
Grant funds will support exhibitions and programs relating to 250 Years of Exploration: From Pioneers to Space, a community-wide celebration that connects America’s 250th anniversary to the enduring spirit of exploration that has shaped both the nation and the Klamath Basin.
Lane County, Lane County
Grant funds will support the preservation and digitization of historically significant original ledgers, ordinances, and record books of Lane County.
League of Women Voters of Lane County, Lane County
Grant funds will support Democracy at the Grange, a free public civic education event in Cottage Grove offering clear, accessible explanations of how Oregon’s civic systems work, including ballot measures, Oregon’s open primary, resolutions, and how residents can access trusted election information through Vote411.
Milwaukie Historical Society, Clackamas County
Grant funds will support an online exhibit and public event sharing the history of the Milwaukie Pastry Kitchen, the first Black-owned bakery in the state of Oregon.
Oregon ArtsWatch, Multnomah County
Grant funds will support the publication of 20 stories highlighting America 250 Oregon projects, increasing knowledge about events and encouraging engagement.
Oswego Heritage Council, Clackamas County
Grant funds will support the publication of Oswego: People, Places, and Events, a historical publication sharing stories from the past 150 years in the Lake Oswego area through photographs, quotations, newspapers, and a timeline.
Restore Oregon, Statewide
Grant funds will support Restore Oregon’s efforts to gather and share a collection of Oregon’s preservation history, highlighting losses (intentional and natural) and celebrating what has been saved through future exhibits and storytelling.
Southern Oregon Historical Society, Jackson County
Grant funds will support two projects; first, a crowd-sourced photo collection project centered on peoples’ personal sense of America, with a goal of collecting 250 captioned photo submissions from Southern Oregonians; second, SOHS will consult with Grand Ronde basket maker Stephanie Craig on its Native American basketry collection, working on basket identifications, information, and best practices for museum storage.
Tangent Together, Linn County
Grant funds will support the Tangent Harvest Festival and the creation of Oregon Harvest Games within its Kids’ Village, offering children interactive, age-appropriate activities that demonstrate how agricultural tasks were performed historically and how they are carried out today.
Twin Oaks Elementary School, Lane County
Grant funds will provide immersive, place-based learning experiences for students in grades K–5 as well as purchase a collection of books to extend learning beyond these excursions.
Warm Springs Community Action Team, Jefferson County
Grant funds will support the production of A Bridge to the Future, the first-ever film to tell the story of the Warm Springs Reservation and its people into the present. Written, filmed, and edited by and with tribal members, the film uses the metaphor of the Commissary to explore how Warm Springers use the tools of the colonizer to dismantle oppression and build something new and powerful, shaped by tribal hands and invested in a tribal future.
Warren Community Foundation, Columbia County
Grant funds will support facility improvements to the Grange Farm Museum in St. Helens that will significantly enhance the museum’s usability and overall visitor experience.
Willamette Heritage Center, Marion County
Grant funds will support the creation of an immersive exhibit examining what the events of 1776 meant and mean to people living in Mid-Willamette Valley.
About the America 250 Oregon Commission
The America 250 Oregon Commission was created through Senate Bill 1531, which was signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek on March 27, 2024. Chaired by the Oregon Historical Society’s executive director, Kerry Tymchuk, the mission of the America 250 Oregon Commission is to coordinate, provide guidance, and ensure that Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States is inclusive and shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations, including the histories of the Indigenous peoples who have resided here since time immemorial. Learn more at oregon250.org.
