History Foundation announces 2020 grants

The Montana History Foundation announces its 2020 grant cycle will put $164,800 into 29 historic preservation projects in 27 communities this year. That brings the total funding from the History Foundation for historic preservation across the state since 2012 to just over $1 million.

"The projects we fund through our grant program are vital in order to continue telling Montana's story for generations to come," says History Foundation President/CEO Charlene Porsild. "We are thrilled to be able to provide these grants and enable our partners in history to do the work on the ground in their communities."

For the first time, the History Foundation is granting awards up to

$10,000. Some of those projects include:

• J.C. Adams Stone Barn, Sun River, $10,000: The J.C. Adams Stone Barn, built in 1885 and on the National Register of Historic Places, will receive a fresh coat of red paint on its wood surfaces.

• Matt King House, Lincoln, $10,000: A concrete foundation will be laid on property centrally located in Lincoln, upon which the Matt King House, which was built in the 1880's, can be raised and restored as a museum of local history and culture.

• Two Medicine Dinosaur Building Upgrade, Bynum, $10,000: Two Medicine Dinosaur Center in Bynum houses the first baby dinosaur bones discovered in North America and the first single adult Maiasaura skeleton known. Funds from the History Foundation will install a climate control system to help protect their collections.

• Central Montana Métis Oral History Project, Lewistown, $8,700: An oral historian will interview ten descendants of original Central Montana Metis settlers. The history, transcription, and pictures will be uploaded to the Montana Memory Project and will also be available at the Lewistown Public Library.

• Pierre Wibaux House Restoration, Wibaux, $4,000: The Pierre Wibaux Museum is the only museum in Wibaux County.  It's comprised of four buildings, including the Pierre Wibaux house.  The house was built in 1892 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   With funds from MHF, the walls will be washed, scraped and painted.