Press Release
May 28, 2026
Contact: Jessica Brogdon
Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-967-9487
[email protected]
okhistory.org/grants
Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society, Inc. Awarded $25,000 Through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Historical Society is pleased to announce that the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society, Inc. has been awarded $25,000 through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program. This grant will help replace the roof of the Edward Richardson building, located at the intersection of Main Street and Route 66, next door to the Arcadia Round Barn.
“The Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society, Inc. is most grateful for the support of the Oklahoma Historical Society to replace the roof on the National Register-listed Richardson Building next to the Round Barn in Arcadia,” said Ann Young, Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society, Inc. grants officer. “Built by an African American grocer, Edward Richardson, and his wife in 1922, the building is a rare surviving example of commercial architecture fronting on Route 66 that catered to travelers and locals alike.”
“I am grateful to the Oklahoma Historical Society for this investment and the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society for their work to protect and promote our local history for future generations,” said Rep. Preston Stinson of Edmond. “The Edward Richardson building is an important part of Arcadia’s history, and this grant will help ensure it remains a visible and lasting piece of our Route 66 heritage.”
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.
###
