The first round of applications for the America250MI History Grant Program, awarding $2 million to history organizations and their partners across the state between 2025 and 2026, opens Saturday, March 1. It’s an opportunity to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States of America and the American Revolution’s role in Michigan’s history; examine the impact of these and other historic events on the people of Michigan’s past, present and future; and strengthen efforts to protect, interpret and share this vital history.

Composed of two rounds, with $1 million available per round, the grant program will help fund projects of all sizes that interpret, preserve or explore Michigan’s history. Applicants can seek funding for a variety of projects, including but not limited to educational programming, capital improvements, exhibits, collections management and interpretive signs.

Projects may focus on any historical subject that has helped shape the Michigan of today.

Eligible applicants include tribal governments, 501(c)(3) nonprofit history organizations and local units of government. All applications must include at least one organization devoted to history.

The first round opens March 1 and will accept grant applications until April 15. Round 2 opens Nov. 1 and closes Jan. 15, 2026.

All grant details, including requirements, eligibility and scoring, are outlined in the grant booklet, which all prospective applicants should review before beginning the application process. Additional information about the grants and the statewide commemoration is available on America250MI’s website. Questions about the program? Email Grants.America250MI@gmail.com.

We’re hiring! Join our team this summer as an interpreter at one of our museums or historic sites.

We are hiring 14 interpreters across seven of our statewide museums and sites. These positions offer the opportunity to expand skills, gain experience and work independently in a variety of public history contexts in some of Michigan’s most beautiful places. Our summer jobs are perfect for someone with a background in history and/or museum studies who is looking to expand their experience in interpretation, outdoor recreation, education and public outreach.

Hourly pay begins at $15.50 for new hires. Returning staff will be paid based on their time of service.

Learn more about the open positions and apply today >>

If you're looking for a fun, educational activity for your family during spring break, look no further! Explore Michigan history at our two year-round museums. 

The Michigan History Museum, located in downtown Lansing, is a walk through time, beginning with Michigan's first peoples, the Anishinaabe, and ending in the mid-20th century. Visitors will find audio-visual programs, hands-on exhibits, a gift shop and, of course, so much history!

Plan your visit to the Michigan History Museum >>

Located eight miles west of Marquette, the Michigan Iron Industry Museum tells the story of Michigan’s three iron ranges and the people who worked them, through dramatic exhibits, audio-visual programs and outdoor interpretive trails. 

Plan your visit to the Michigan Iron Industry Museum >>

Each Anishinaabe person is part of a doodem, a clan that descends from other-than-human being. Different occupations and community roles are characteristic of various doodemag. The rights and obligations of this extended kinship bind people together across band and village lines.

The doodemags include the following:

• Nmé (sturgeon)
• Mooqua (bear)
• Ajijaak (crane)
• Niimkiid (thunderbird)
• Ma'iingan (wolf)
• Migizi (eagle)
• Mishiikenh (turtle)
• Mooz (moose)
• Waabizheshi (marten) 

You can see paintings of all ten doodemag by David Lee Shananaquet in the Michigan History Museum’s 1st floor gallery. Shananaquet dedicated his life to preserving his people's knowledge and traditions.