Fall 2026 Newsletter

Open Funding Opportunities

Graphic: $250k available for non-capital projects via the Speaker Adrienne A. Jones African American Heritage Program.

Speaker Adrienne A. Jones African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP)

The newly renamed AAHPP is now offering non-capital grants. Applications for the FY27 non-capital grant round open TOMORROW, October 1. Before you begin, applicants should review grant guidelines, watch the general overview webinar, and contact program staff with questions. All of this, in addition to information on how to apply for a grant, can be found on the program webpage. You can read more about the program's name change and the new non-capital grant program on our blog. Apply by November 20 at 11:59 PM.

Museum Assistance Program

The Museum Assistance Program provides funding to help eligible Maryland historical and cultural museums strengthen operations, build professional capacity, and improve long-term sustainability. Applications close on October 6, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply on the program webpage.

Close-up of intricate black and tan standing rigging, deadeyes, and wooden blocks on the USS Constellation ship.

Maritime Heritage Grant Program

MHT is soliciting interest in funding from its Maritime Heritage Grant Program. Maryland tribal, state, or local governments and nonprofits are eligible to apply. Projects require a 1:1 non-federal match, a clear public benefit, and completion by December 15, 2028 (no extensions). Eligible activities must involve National Register-eligible or -listed properties related to maritime heritage and could include archaeological site identification, maritime property inventories, repair work, increasing public access, and research or planning activities. Contact Troy Nowak at troy.nowak@maryland.gov for more information.

Historic Preservation Loans Program

The Historic Preservation Loan Program is always accepting loan applications to help with the acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation of historic properties across Maryland. With up to $300,000 available, the program offers competitive interest rates often more favorable than financing available through a private lender. If a grant isn’t an good option for your project, this program could be another possibility. For more information about eligibility, how to apply, and contact details explore the program webpage.

By Dr. Brenna Spray, MHT/MHAA Outreach & Communications Officer

Whether you're visiting 1930s Art Deco theaters, historic parklands, historic districts, or museums, Maryland’s National Register properties and heritage area sites are hosting a wide range of events offering the chance to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at some of the state's most storied locations. Here are just a few examples.

The American Film Institute (AFI) Silver Theater and Cultural Center in Silver Spring (Heritage Montgomery Heritage Area) hosts the AFI Latin American Film Festival each year at its restored 1938 Streamline Moderne headquarters, listed in the National Register. Running through October 17, it is one of North America’s premier showcases of Latin American cinema with feature films, documentaries, and filmmaker discussions.

Vibrant abstract mixed media piece of red monster-faced flowers, fiery blooms, and whimsical creatures on a textured green background.

Comeupponmygarden by Jonathan Fuentes, a piece from "Unearthing Foundations"

Over in the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area (Prince George's County), Franklin Park hosts Greenbelt Unidos on October 3. This free outdoor festival will have food vendors, live music, and family activities. Throughout the month, you can also visit the "Unearthing Foundations" exhibition at the Montpelier Arts Center, which highlights mixed media and paintings by local Latinx and Hispanic artists through November 1.

Also on Saturday, October 3, Centro Hispano de Frederick presents the Frederick Hispanic Heritage Festival (Frederick County) in the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. Set along Carroll Creek in the Frederick National Historic District, the event fills the historic downtown with traditional folk dancing, regional costumes, interactive youth art projects, and delicious food.

Dancers in traditional attire perform outdoors near a covered concert stage with a banner that reads "Nuestras Raices 2024".

Dancers at Fiesta Baltimore in 2024.

Near the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, on October 10 and 11, Baltimore City hosts Fiesta Baltimore & Parade of Latino Nations. Taking place across the National Register-listed grounds of Patterson Park, this festival wraps up the month with Caribbean and Latin American music, local food vendors, and a colorful community parade.

High-angle view of a person seated on a stair landing inside Riversdale House Museum drawing blueprints on a board.

Architectural Fieldwork Symposium

Save the date for the annual Architectural Fieldwork Symposium! It will be held on Thursday, March 25, 2027 at MHT offices in Crownsville. For the most up-to-date information, visit the event's listing in our Upcoming Events.

Diverse hands reaching around a globe graphic with text promoting MDTwoFifty Statewide Celebration of Service Oct 17.

MD Two Fifty Semiquincentennial Events

In Case You Missed It...

A group of people stands on a brick patio outside a white building for a ceremonial yellow ribbon-cutting.

Ribbon Cutting for the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory Expansion Project

The Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab) recently celebrated a new expansion, a significant milestone many years in the making. The project included a more than 5,000-square-foot curation wing addition, along with new HVAC systems and other critical upgrades and modernization improvements. Together, these enhancements will provide much-needed curation space for both historic and newly acquired archaeological collections.

This ribbon cutting represents not only a major capital project, but also a commitment to preserving, studying, and caring for Maryland’s archaeological collections for generations to come. As JPPM Executive Director Rod Cofield stated,

"Archaeology gives us one chance to recover the past. Once a site is excavated, that moment is gone forever. What remains, what rests in these rooms, in this building, is the only record we have. And decades from now, when new technologies emerge and new questions arise, people will come to the MAC Lab and discover insights we cannot yet imagine. They will find, in these collections, a reminder of what connects us across centuries: our shared humanity, our shared curiosity, our shared desire to build a life of meaning."

Maryland Heritage Areas Program FY27 Grant Awards

Updated National Register Nomination for the Chestertown Historic District! by Dr. Jacqueline Shin, MHT National Register Assistant

Announcing the FY2026 Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program Awardees

New Name, More Funding for African American Sites in Maryland by Stacy Montgomery, Capital Grants Administrator

Hands holding a smartphone displaying the MHT website, surrounded by floating blue digital communication icons.

Reach Out!

There are many ways you can learn more about MHT, its programs, and the work it does. The latest news is updated regularly on our website. You can "like" and "follow" us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube or sign up for our e-blasts to have our quarterly newsletters and other preservation news delivered straight to your inbox! If you are interested in joining the team at MHT, check the most recent job listings.

A historic red covered bridge spanning a stream, framed by vibrant yellow and orange autumn foliage.

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