As the nation approaches its 250th Anniversary, the Burlington County Commissioners have reinforced their commitment to preserving and promoting local history by approving a record $78,861 in grants for 17 historic organizations and museums. The funding, allocated for the 2026 calendar year, will support both general operations and specific historic preservation projects, including several tied directly to the upcoming milestone celebration.
“Burlington County is one of the oldest counties in America, and its history is among our most valuable assets,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, liaison to the County Department of Resource Conservation and Parks. “As the 250th Anniversary of our nation approaches, our Board is excited to support more than a dozen organizations that are actively preserving our county’s history and teaching generations why it is important and relevant.”
The grants are part of the New Jersey Historical Commission’s County History Partnership Program, which assists local history organizations and nonprofits in advancing their preservation and educational efforts. A peer panel recommended the 17 recipients, with at least six awards tied directly to 250th anniversary projects.
“From America’s struggle for independence through the Industrial Revolution and the fight for Civil Rights, Burlington County and its people have been at the heart of countless events that helped shape our nation,” said Commissioner Randy Brolo. “These grants will help support several 250th anniversary events while also providing essential funding for other important local history projects.”
2026 Local History Grant Recipients and Projects:
- Armed Forces Heritage Museum, Burlington City – $2,500 for general operating support to offset expenses for the Mobile Museum.
- Bordentown Historical Society, Bordentown – $9,000 to support the Camden & Amboy Railroad Project, including a self-guided walking tour with 15 interpretive signs.
- Chesterfield Historical Society, Chesterfield – $4,500 for development of an agricultural museum featuring equipment, memorabilia, and photographs.
- Delanco Township History Board, Delanco – $6,861 to support stabilization and repairs of a historic early-1900s boat.
- Evesham Historical Society, Evesham – $8,000 for cataloguing, digitizing, and archival storage of the Edna Worth Collection.
- Historical Society of Moorestown, Moorestown – $5,000 for a May 2026 event featuring a replica of General Washington’s tent with historical interpreters.
- Main Street Mount Holly, Mount Holly – $5,000 for the History on Tap 250th Anniversary celebration, including presentations, reenactments, Tavern talks, and exhibits.
- National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, Westampton – $3,000 for general operating support for the part-time director.
- New Jersey Folklife at Perkins, Moorestown – $4,000 for events commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Hart-Celler Act, including panels, artmaking, and community events.
- Revolutionary War Alliance of Burlington County, Eastampton – $4,000 to produce a 3–5 minute film about the Battle of Petticoat Bridge with Rutgers University students.
- Riverside Historical Society, Riverside – $8,000 for America 250th and Riverside 175th anniversary projects, including educational booklets, Fourth of July events, and a digital tour.
- Riverside Township, Riverside – $1,000 to support the town’s 250th anniversary parade.
- St. Andrew’s Graveyard Committee, Mount Holly – $7,000 for preservation and documentation of hundreds of historic headstones.
- Springfield Township Historical Society, Springfield – $1,500 to assist with the Revolutionary War reenactment of the Battle of Petticoat Bridge.
- Tabernacle Historical Society, Tabernacle – $4,000 for general operating support, including office and archival expenses.
- Timbuctoo Historical Society, Westampton – $4,000 for website upkeep, educational material printing, curriculum development, and newspaper digitalization.
- Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County, Eastampton – $2,500 to support the Black Veterans of the Decades event in June 2026.
These grants will help Burlington County organizations preserve its rich historical legacy while providing educational and cultural programming for residents and visitors alike as the nation marks this historic milestone.
