April 21, 2025, Press Release from the Auglaize County Historical Society:
Wapakoneta, Ohio – The Auglaize County Historical Society has announced that it received a grant from the America 250-Ohio Commission for its upcoming project titled, “BARN AGAIN! In Auglaize County.”
Barn Again! in Auglaize County will document and celebrate the barns and historic outbuildings of this western Ohio county, inviting and involving as broad a cross-section of residents as possible in this celebration of farming and rural life, so a key a component of our nation and our state’s history. Its diverse activities will include inventory of historic barn images, speaker series, photography competition, traveling exhibit, oral history collection, driving tour, and development of a website and Facebook page. The Historical Society received its full request of $4800 for the project.
In total, grants were awarded to 57 organizations across the state of Ohio, for a total of $278,834. These grants are dedicated to funding programs and initiatives commemorating Ohio’s important contribution to American history. The grants are administered by Ohio Humanities.
“On behalf of the America 250-Ohio commission, we congratulate the Auglaize County Historical Society on this grant award for its rich contributions to Ohio’s history and significance in our nation,” said Doug Preisse, co-chair of the America 250-Ohio Commission. “This new round of grants will help [Auglaize County discover new and exciting ways to celebrate our state’s role within the founding of our country.”
To learn more about the America 250-Ohio Commission’s grants program visit America250-Ohio.org/grants/. The America 250-Ohio Communities grant program is supported in part by Neighborhood Strategies.
About the Auglaize County Historical Society
Founded in 1963, the Auglaize County Historical Society collects, preserves, interprets, and shares the history of Auglaize County, enriching lives by connecting people and communities to the past and to each other.
About America 250-Ohio
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is to “…to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future.” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.
About Ohio Humanities
Ohio Humanities is a statewide nonprofit that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas by hosting programs and awarding grants that support storytellers statewide, from museums to journalists to documentary filmmakers. For more information, please visit our website at OhioHumanities.org.
