WILLIAMSBURG— In recognition of their dedication to saving, sharing, and studying history in Virginia, the City of Williamsburg has received the Commonwealth History Fund grant from the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC).
In 2026, the VMHC is awarding $345,000 to 11 Virginia-based museums, municipalities, foundations, historical societies and associations, bringing the five-year total for Commonwealth History Fund grants to over $2 million.
With the support of the VMHC, the City of Williamsburg says it will open the new Williamsburg African American Trail — a 2-mile, walking, self-guided experience that spans city, William & Mary, and Colonial Williamsburg property. The experience features interpretive markers and a mobile app to honor and educate visitors about the city’s rich and complex African American story.
In commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, the city says applications related to America’s semiquincentennial were given special consideration, though this focus was not a requirement. More than 90 competitive applications were submitted with a collective request for more than $5 million in funding.
“This legacy program commemorating America’s 250th anniversary exemplifies the Virginia Museum of History & Culture’s commitment to being a leader in both the Commonwealth and our field,” said VMHC President and CEO Jamie Bosket. “We are grateful to be in the position to share not only resources but also collections and knowledge with our fellow institutions. Later this year, we will announce another exciting, statewide program that includes collaborations with even more historic organizations.”
Other 2026 awardees include:
- The Branch Museum of Design (Richmond)
- Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways History Foundation (Chesapeake)
- James Monroe Memorial Foundation (Colonial Beach)
- Museum of Chincoteague Island (Chincoteague)
- Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (Winchester)
- Norfolk Historical Society (Norfolk)
- Northumberland County Historical Society (Heathsville)
- Patrick Henry’s Red Hill (Brookneal)
- The Valentine (Richmond)
- The Virginia Association of Museums (Richmond)
“The impressive projects chosen come from organizations of all sizes, are spread across every region of the Commonwealth, and span a great deal of historical topics and time periods,” Bosket said.
More information about each recipient and the funded projects is available at virginiahistory.org/historyfund.
