All funds have been allocated.





wyoming governor mark gordon




*For Immediate Release:*

*Governor Gordon Announces Final Round of Awardees for Semiquincentennial Grant Program*

"All funds have been allocated."

*CHEYENNE, Wyo. **- Jan. 15, 2026 **-* The Wyoming Semiquincentennial Planning Task Force has announced the eighth and final round of awardees for the Semiquincentennial Grant Program. 

The grants program was launched last year and is supported with a $2 million appropriation from the Wyoming Legislature. The grants program allows communities to recognize and celebrate Wyoming’s unique role in American history and to explore both Wyoming’s lasting legacy and future potential. The projects will take place in conjunction with the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. 

Twenty entities were awarded grants for this final time around, totaling *$260,988.82*. They include:

*Converse County/Itty Bitty 250 Committee, Douglas: Converse County Uncovered: Land Life & Legacy*

The Itty-Bitty 250 Committee will install a series of interpretive signage for key historic sites, museums, and key places in Converse County. There will be nine signs including: Camp Douglas, Washington Park, the Mammoth Dig, the Coal Creek Train Derailment site, Downtown Douglas, Wyoming State Fair Grounds, Fort Fetterman, Ayres Natural Bridge, and Railroad Museum and Visitor's Center ("Locomotive Park"). 

*Veterans Memorial Committee, Newcastle: Traveling Vietnam War Memorial *

Newcastle and Weston County plan to host the Traveling Vietnam War Memorial in summer 2026 at the high-visibility intersection of U.S. Highways 16 and 85, honoring Wyoming veterans whose service exemplifies the ideals commemorated during the nation’s 250th anniversary.

*Wyoming State Fair, Douglas: Wyoming State Fair Great American Fair Initiative*

The Wyoming State Fair’s Great American Fair Initiative will celebrate America’s 250th birthday by integrating patriotic exhibits, educational programming, contests, and community events into the fairgrounds. The project will engage youth, families, and communities across Wyoming, highlighting the state’s agricultural heritage, civic values, and contributions to national history. 

*Sons of the American Revolution, Lander: Color Guard*

The Wind River Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution plans to acquire uniforms and equipment for a proper five-man color guard represented at Independence parades, commemorations and educational programs.

*WY Daughters of the American Revolution, Laramie: George Washington Tree*

Currently, an elm sits on the grounds of the Capitol which was from a sapling of a tree under which George Washington took command of the American Army in Cambridge, MA on July 3, 1775. This tree was donated to Wyoming by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in the 1930s. Before the tree reaches its end of life, the DAR plans to take cuttings from the tree to propagate and distribute across Wyoming to continue the legacy and celebration of George Washington. DAR will also conduct a presentation on the tree July 4, 2026, on the State Capitol Grounds.

*Cody Music Club, Cody: A Star-Spangled Celebration*

The Cody Music Club, in collaboration with local schools and community groups, will present a one-time performance at the Wynona Thompson Auditorium in Cody in March 2026. The program will feature musical selections representing cultural traditions from Wyoming and other regions across the United States. 

*Platte County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, Wheatland: Hartville Heritage Project Interpretive Hike Motion and Memory*

This project will create an interpretive walking trail through historic Hartville - linking the downtown core, mining landmarks, and the cemetery, with durable panels and digital media telling the stories of early settlers, miners, Indigenous peoples, and veterans. Each marker will include QR codes connecting visitors to archival photos, oral histories, and educational resources curated in partnership with local schools, historians, and tribal representatives. 

*Sheridan County 250**th** Committee, Sheridan: Sheridan County Flag Design Contest, Banners, Time Capsule, Public Art*

Sheridan County will host a flag design contest representing the communities in Sheridan County; one flag for community display, one for use in the Sheridan WYO Rodeo parade, and one for a time capsule. The project also supports pole and street banners for Sheridan, Dayton, Clearmont, Big Horn, and Ranchester to display semiquincentennial messaging and complimentary branding in each respective downtown. The County will also prepare a public art piece to memorialize the 2026 Time Capsule Project. The proposed location for this public art piece is the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library; in addition to the art, there will be an accompanying plaque stating the significance of the collection and the community.

*Sweetwater Events Complex Foundation, Rock Springs: The Legacy Silo: Honoring the Past and Inspiring the Future*

The Legacy Silo at the Sweetwater Events Complex will serve as a community gathering space that celebrates Sweetwater County's rich agricultural heritage while inspiring future generations. This reimagined grain silo will be an interactive educational landmark, featuring historic photographs and QR-coded stories that bring to life the region's ranching, farming, and homesteading past.

*Sheridan County Historical Society, Sheridan: All American Indian Days Exhibit*

The July - December 2026 All American Indian Days exhibit honors and reflects Wyoming's contribution to national heritage by presenting a unique Sheridan history regarding a three-day event. The Museum at the Bighorns will partner with the Miss Indian America Collective to present a variety of perspectives concerning the event from Miss Indian America contestants, community members' memories, and other supporters of the event. The exhibit will include community programs.

*Town of Mountainview: Mountainview Art Underground Murals*

This grant will support murals painted by Mountain View Art Underground students as well as members of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe, whose ancestors once inhabited this area. The murals will depict elements of Bridger Valley and Wyoming history-traveling through time from Native Americans to pioneers, trains, highways, and agriculture. These murals will be located in Lyman, Mountain View, and Fort Bridger.

*Uinta County Fair, Evanston: Uinta County Fair*

The Uinta County Fair plans to include special features to celebrate America 250, including a military presentation, patriotic themes and color schemes. The grant aids in advertising the theme, “Stars, Stripes and Uinta Nights.”

*Little Snake River Museum, Savery: Mountain Man Digital Interactive*

The Little Snake River Museum plans to honor the vital role Mountain Men played in the exploration and settlement of the American West, particularly in the Little Snake River Valley. Using digital technology to depict routes and trails in the area, as well as a timeline of the area in relation to the rest of the US, will educate visitors about the Little Snake River Valley’s exploration and settlement. 

*Evanston Cowboy Days PRCA Rodeo Committee, Evanston: Evanston Cowboy Days*

This grant will support a 3-day event over Labor Day with skydivers, kids games, military tribute and display of one of the largest American flags ever flown.

*Lincoln Community Center, Laramie: Cinco de Mayo Community and Cultural Celebration *

The Lincoln Community Center, located in the heart of Laramie's historic West Side neighborhood, will take the lead in organizing a lively celebration of Latino/Hispanic culture and traditions in Laramie and southeast Wyoming. In the spirit of the year-long commemoration of the nation's founding, this event will take place on May 2, 2026. The event will feature workshops, food, traditional Mexican folkloric dancers from Cheyenne, a life-size historical mural, Show 'n Shine car show, children's parade and pinata, and live music. Hourly announcements from the DJ will feature family shoutouts and local history.

*Diamondville: Freedom Fest 2026: From Independence to Identity: A Children's Play Celebrating Wyoming and Diamondville*

This grant supports a children's play that brings to life the Declaration of Independence, Wyoming's path to statehood, and Diamondville's 125-year history. By engaging children in the performance, and celebrating these stories, the production honors our past while inspiring our future. 

*Wind River Story Project, Lander: Voices of Service, Wind River Veteran’s Oral History*

The Voices of Service project will document, preserve, and publicly share the stories of Vietnam-era veterans and family members from the Wind River Reservation in partnership with community leaders and WyoHistory.org. The Wind River Story Project will record high-quality on-camera interviews with veterans and, when appropriate, their families. The project will be made available on WyoHistory.org, touchscreen kiosks on the Wind River Reservation, and through QR-code rack cards distributed on the Wind River Reservation and in Wyoming museums and visitor centers.

*Alpine: Alpine America 250 Commemorative Arts and Heritage Initiative*

This grant supports the installation of a large-scale mural through a public art contest at LV Substation featuring four artists.

*Town of Meeteetse: Meeteetse Cattle Drive, Dinner, Street Dance and Outdoor Movie*

The Town of Meeteetse will host a community-wide event to celebrate American 250 including a traditional cattle drive, historic boardwalk stroll, outdoor picnic, street dance, and movie night on June 29, 2026. 

*Cokeville Beautification Committee, Cokeville: From Trails to Tomorrow’s Mural*

From Trails to Tomorrows is a community mural project that celebrates Cokeville's heritage and honors America's 250th anniversary through a professionally designed public artwork. Inspired by Minerva Teichert, the mural will highlight key chapters of local history while engaging residents, students, and educators through workshops and community paint days. Interpretive signage, QR-linked digital content, and solar lighting will ensure the mural is accessible, educational, and visible year-round. The project will strengthen community pride, beautify Main Street, and create a lasting cultural asset for future generations. 

*All grant funds have been allocated. State Parks will be in contact with grant recipients regarding their awards. *

Governor Gordon established the Wyoming Semiquincentennial Planning Task Force to develop and coordinate events and activities that honor this significant milestone. More information on the celebration will be made available on the dedicated Semiquincentennial celebration website at [link removed] [ [link removed] ].

*For more information: *

Nick Neylon, Deputy Director of State Parks, [email protected] 

Amy Edmonds, Communications Director, [email protected]  

Janelle Collins, Strategic Communications Director, [email protected]  

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