The Ohio History Connection has announced the latest round of Ohio History Fund awards, directing nearly $200,000 into community-based preservation and history initiatives across Ohio. In total, 15 organizations will share $194,657 in grants supporting projects that range from building rehabilitation and artifact protection to digital access and public programming.
Now in its 14th year, the Ohio History Fund continues to serve as one of the state’s most accessible preservation tools, funded largely through voluntary donations on Ohio income tax returns. Since its launch in 2012, the program has awarded more than $1.8 million through over 160 grants statewide, reinforcing its role in sustaining local history efforts.
“Local history helps us understand where we came from and gives us a sense of identity and place,” said Executive Director Megan Wood, emphasizing the program’s impact across communities large and small.
How the Ohio History Fund Works
At its core, the Ohio History Fund is a competitive, matching-grant program designed to support the preservation and sharing of Ohio’s heritage.
What the fund supports
The program backs a wide range of history-related work, including:
- Rehabilitation of National Register-listed buildings
- Museum collection storage and conservation
- Digitization of archives, photographs, and records
- Educational programs, exhibits, and public interpretation
- Oral history projects and community surveys
- Organizational development and strategic planning
Projects can operate at the local, regional, or statewide level, with a consistent focus on making Ohio’s past more visible and accessible.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants include:
- Historical societies and museums
- Public libraries and genealogical organizations
- University archives and special collections
- Archaeological and preservation groups
- County records offices and “friends” organizations
- Other nonprofit and public entities
Ineligible applicants include for-profit businesses, private individuals, and the Ohio History Connection itself.
Grant structure and funding
The program requires a local match, which can include cash and eligible in-kind contributions. This structure ensures community investment alongside state-level support.
Funding is driven largely by Ohio taxpayers, who can designate a portion of their state income tax refund to the Ohio History Fund. Individual contributions are typically modest, often in the low teens, but collectively they generate meaningful statewide impact.
A Diverse Portfolio of 2026 Projects
This year’s awards reflect the program’s three core categories—Organizational Development, Programs & Collections, and Bricks & Mortar—each represented in the 2026 cycle.
Historic preservation and rehabilitation projects include:
- Accessibility upgrades at Euclid’s Shore Cultural Centre
- Continued restoration of the Emanual Hoover House in Dayton
- Structural stabilization of Worthington’s Old Rectory
Collections care and museum improvements feature:
- Artifact protection measures at Sauder Village
- Fire suppression system upgrades at Camp Manatoc
Digital access and interpretation initiatives highlight:
- Large-scale document digitization in Cleveland Heights
- Interactive exhibit development in Loveland
- Virtual reality storytelling at Campus Martius Museum
Community engagement and storytelling efforts include:
- Restoration of Chillicothe’s historic Mail Pouch mural
- Creation of the Millworkers Trail in McDonald
- Expanded Native history programming in Fort Recovery
Together, these projects demonstrate how relatively small investments can support both the preservation of historic places and the expansion of public understanding.
A complete list of recipients with details on each can be found here.
Building Capacity, Not Just Projects
Several grants go beyond physical work, focusing instead on strengthening the organizations behind the projects. Strategic planning at America’s Packard Museum and expanded interpretive work at the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum reflect a growing emphasis on long-term sustainability.
This approach recognizes that preservation success depends not only on saving structures or collections, but on ensuring that local institutions have the capacity to manage and interpret them.
Why It Matters for Preservation Ohio and for preservation in Ohio
For groups like Preservation Ohio and its partners, the Ohio History Fund represents a critical entry point into preservation work. The program’s scale allows smaller organizations and communities to undertake projects that might otherwise remain out of reach. Just as importantly, it reinforces a broader principle: that preservation is most effective when it is locally driven, widely supported, and publicly accessible.
Looking Ahead
As Ohio approaches major milestones such as America’s 250th anniversary, programs like the Ohio History Fund will continue to shape how communities document, interpret, and share their stories.
With consistent annual funding cycles, clear eligibility pathways, and accessible application materials available through the Ohio History Connection, the program remains an open invitation for communities across the state to invest in their own history—and in the future of preservation itself.
Source, Photo: Ohio History Connection
