Two local projects included in final round of Semiquincentennial Grant Program awards

(Cheyenne, WY) – The Wyoming Semiquincentennial Planning Task Force has announced the eighth and final round of awardees for the Semiquincentennial Grant Program. 

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

Another award will go to the Wind River Story Project in Lander for “Voices of Service, Wind River Veteran’s Oral History,” a project that 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.

Other awards

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

The other awardees include:

• Converse County/Itty Bitty 250 Committee, Douglas: Converse County Uncovered: Land Life & Legacy
• Veterans Memorial Committee, Newcastle: Traveling Vietnam War Memorial 
• Wyoming State Fair, Douglas: Wyoming State Fair Great American Fair Initiative
• WY Daughters of the American Revolution, Laramie: George Washington Tree
• Cody Music Club, Cody: A Star-Spangled Celebration
• Platte County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, Wheatland: Hartville Heritage Project Interpretive Hike Motion and Memory
• Sheridan County 250th Committee, Sheridan: Sheridan County Flag Design Contest, Banners, Time Capsule, Public Art
• Sweetwater Events Complex Foundation, Rock Springs: The Legacy Silo: Honoring the Past and Inspiring the Future
• Sheridan County Historical Society, Sheridan: All American Indian Days Exhibit
• Town of Mountainview: Mountainview Art Underground Murals
• Uinta County Fair, Evanston: Uinta County Fair
• Little Snake River Museum, Savery: Mountain Man Digital Interactive
• Evanston Cowboy Days PRCA Rodeo Committee, Evanston: Evanston Cowboy Days
• Lincoln Community Center, Laramie: Cinco de Mayo Community and Cultural Celebration 
• Diamondville: Freedom Fest 2026: From Independence to Identity: A Children’s Play Celebrating Wyoming and Diamondville
• Alpine: Alpine America 250 Commemorative Arts and Heritage Initiative
• Town of Meeteetse: Meeteetse Cattle Drive, Dinner, Street Dance and Outdoor Movie
• Cokeville Beautification Committee, Cokeville: From Trails to Tomorrow’s Mural

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

The grants program, which was launched last year and is supported with a $2 million appropriation from the Wyoming Legislature, 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. 

More information on the celebration will be made available on the dedicated Semiquincentennial celebration website.