Press Release
May 28, 2026
Contact: Jessica Brogdon
Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-967-9487
[email protected]
okhistory.org/grants
William Fremont Harn Gardens, Inc. Awarded $25,000 Through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Historical Society is pleased to announce that the William Fremont Harn Gardens, Inc. (aka the Harn Homestead) in Oklahoma City has been awarded $25,000 through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program. This grant will help fund the restoration of the Shinn Barn by replacing the deteriorated roof and repairing the cupola using historically appropriate materials and methods to preserve its integrity and continued use as an interpretive agricultural exhibit.
“The Harn Homestead is honored to have been awarded an Oklahoma Historical Society grant to refurbish the Historic Shinn Dairy Barn, ensuring its structural stability and long-term preservation,” said executive director Kelly Frye. “This support strengthens our ability to safeguard its history while keeping the barn in active use for hands-on educational programming and meaningful public engagement.”
The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is the Oklahoma Historical Society’s primary tool for supporting grassroots history and preservation efforts across the state. Through this year’s competitive grant cycle, the Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors approved $509,439 in awards to 30 eligible organizations, helping communities throughout Oklahoma preserve their unique histories and make them more accessible to the public.
“The organizations receiving these grants are doing essential work to preserve Oklahoma’s history at the local level,” said Trait Thompson, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society. “Whether caring for collections, improving exhibits, or expanding educational programs, these projects help keep our shared history visible, accessible, and relevant across the state.”
The grant program supports tribal and municipal governments and not-for-profit historical organizations throughout the state. Awards range from $1,000 to $25,000 for projects that improve collections stewardship, develop exhibits, expand public programs, and strengthen organizational capacity. Applications for the next grant cycle will open January 1, 2027. 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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