Mifflin, Juniata historical societies receive state grants

Central Pa. museums, historical organizations among 182 receiving nearly $4 million

LEWISTOWN -- Historical organizations in Mifflin and Juniata counties are among 182 museums and historical societies across Pennsylvania receiving nearly $4 million in state grants.

The Mifflin County Historical Society and Juniata County Historical Society will each receive $9,500 through the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission’s Cultural and Historical Support Grant program.

Several other organizations in the region also received funding.

In Centre County, the Centre County Historical Society was awarded $9,500, while Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania will receive $30,000. The Columbus Chapel & Boal Mansion Museum in Boalsburg was awarded $6,000.

Two Huntingdon County organizations received grants. The Huntingdon County Historical Society was awarded $9,500, while the William E. Swigart Jr. Automobile Museum will receive $6,000.

The Historical Society of Perry County was awarded $9,500. The release did not list a recipient in Snyder County.

Elsewhere in the region, the Northumberland County Historical Society received $9,500. In Union County, the Lewisburg Children’s Museum was awarded $15,000 and the Union County Historical Society received $9,500.

The grants provide unrestricted operating support to qualifying museums and official county historical societies. Museums must have an annual operating budget of more than $100,000, excluding capital and in-kind contributions, and employ at least one full-time professional or an approved equivalent to qualify for the 2026-27 grant cycle.

Awards are determined using a formula based on a percentage of each organization’s annual operating budget and range from $4,000 to $47,000. This is the 15th year the commission has worked with the state Legislature to provide funding through the program.

In all, nearly $4 million was awarded to 182 institutions in 60 counties.