Press Release
April 1, 2024
Contact: Nicole Harvey
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-5202
nicole.harvey@history.ok.gov
www.okhistory.org/grants
The Edwards Store, Inc. Awarded Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is proud to announce that The Edwards Store, Inc. has been awarded a grant through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program.
“The grant awarded to The Edwards Store for its restoration marks a significant step towards preserving a key piece of our state’s history,” said Sen. Warren Hamilton, McCurtain. “This project not only honors our past but also reinforces the foundation of our community’s cultural heritage for future generations to appreciate and learn from.”
The Edwards Store, Inc. received $20,000 for a project that will support the restoration of the historic Edwards Store/Edwards-Hardaway Homestead and Cemetery, focusing on the foundational restoration of the log cabin’s east and west elevations. This includes critical repairs such as constructing subgrade concrete footings, relaying stone columns, replacing rotten logs, and repairing the firebox.
“We are immensely grateful to the Oklahoma Historical Society for their generous grant, which bolsters our mission to safeguard the legacy of the Edwards-Hardaway homestead,” Chrissy Gray Dickmeyer, executive director of The Edwards Store, Inc. “Their support empowers us to continue preserving this invaluable piece of our shared history for generations to come.”
The OHS will distribute over $520,000 in grant funds, with projects ranging from collections care and strategic planning to exhibit development and educational programming.
“Through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program, we’re not just funding projects; we’re investing in the preservation of Oklahoma’s rich and dynamic history,” said Nicole Harvey, director of strategic initiatives for the Oklahoma Historical Society. “These grants empower communities across the state to uphold their heritage for future generations, ensuring that the stories of Oklahoma continue to inspire and educate for years to come.”
The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is a grants-in-aid program offered by the Oklahoma Historical Society to encourage the collection, preservation, and sharing of Oklahoma history at the grassroots level in all parts of the state. Open to tribal and municipal governments and not-for-profit historical organizations located in Oklahoma and registered with the Oklahoma secretary of state, this grants program offers funding ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 for projects focused on collections, exhibits, and programming. Applications for this annual program open in the fall, and award announcements are made in January. For more information visit okhistory.org/grants.
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.
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