The Shadow
March 2025, – Staunton, VA (VR) – The American Frontier Culture Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Frontier Culture Museum of
Virginia, is honored to announce its selection as a recipient of the 2025 Preserving America Grant from Americana Corner. This
significant grant, awarded in celebration of George Washington’s birthday, provides essential funding to enhance the museum’s
interpretive storytelling through the addition of permanent architectural signage at two key exhibits: the 1820s American Farm and
the 1850s American Farm.
As the Shenandoah Valley’s largest open-air, living history museum, the Frontier Culture Museum offers memorable experiences that
educate visitors about the diverse cultural influences that shaped early American society. With this grant, the museum will install 15
interpretive signs highlighting the architectural features, cultural heritage, and historical significance of these two farms, offering
deeper insight into the development of American farmsteads before, during, and after the Revolutionary War.
“We are deeply grateful to Americana Corner for recognizing the importance of preserving and sharing America’s founding story,”
said Emmett Hanger, Board President for the American Frontier Culture Foundation. “This grant allows us to enhance our visitors’
experience by providing permanent interpretive signage that connects these historical structures to the larger narrative of America’s
transformation into an independent nation.”
The 1820s American Farm and 1850s American Farm at the Frontier Culture Museum provide tangible examples of how architecture
and agriculture evolved as the United States expanded westward. Scheduled for installation this fall, these new interpretive signs will
feature historical photographs, cultural context, and insights into the families who built and lived in these structures, providing a
more immersive and engaging experience for museum visitors of all ages.
Americana Corner’s Preserving America Grant Program supports projects that promote education and appreciation of America’s
founding principles. As a grant recipient, the Frontier Culture Museum will also participate in a national initiative to rekindle the spirit
of Amor Patriae—love of country—by sharing its work through social media and other outreach efforts.
The American Frontier Culture Foundation and the Frontier Culture Museum invite the public to visit and experience this exciting
enhancement firsthand. For more information about the museum’s exhibits, programs, and upcoming initiatives, visit
frontiermuseum.org.
About the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia
The Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia, located in Historic Staunton, VA, is the largest open-air living history museum in the
Shenandoah Valley. Through interactive exhibits and costumed interpreters, the museum brings to life the stories of the diverse
communities—Indigenous, European, African, and American—that contributed to the development of early America. Visitors
engage with history through reconstructed homesteads, working farms, and demonstrations of traditional trades and crafts.
About the American Frontier Culture Foundation
The American Frontier Culture Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the mission and
programs of the Frontier Culture Museum. Through fundraising and advocacy, the foundation helps fund educational initiatives,
historical preservation efforts, and community outreach programs that keep the spirit of early America alive.
About Americana Corner
Americana Corner is an organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the story of America’s founding and early history.
Through educational resources, grant programs, and digital content, Americana Corner fosters a deeper understanding of the struggles, triumphs, and values that shaped the nation.
