Check made out to Grand River Historical Society & Museum
Address to send check: 
1401 Forest Drive
Chillicothe, MO 64601

We are overjoyed to announce that we have received a Major Grant Award from the Missouri Humanities Council that, when combined with our match of funds and in-kind volunteer hours, will total $30,000.00. We have pre-fundraised $6,000--mostly from you, our loyal museum community of dedicated friends--but we still have $7,964 to fundraise to reach our matching goal. Can you help us? Please consider donating online: or by sending a check made payable to the Grand River Historical Society &amp; Museum, 1401 Forest Drive, Chillicothe, MO 64601 This grant will help &quot;Undergird&quot; our Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Black History Church Museum through music and the traditional arts.&nbsp; This grant is five-fold: 1. Shoring up some accessibility concerns including more supportive handrails to the basement and outdoor hand rails for our new concrete steps as well as shoring up our 100+ year old pews for visitors&#39; safety. 2. Honoring the local Black History of Chillicothe, MO, in alignment with our museum mission to tell the stories of the people from the northwest region of Missouri, also known as the Grand River Area. This includes a new permanent exhibit featuring more local Black History while still keeping the best of our national Black History such as the John Dyess artwork from the Blind Boone Foundation entitled: The Civil Rights Walk of Fame. 3. Adding rotating exhibits to the Bethel AME Black History Church Museum including loaned traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian Institute 4. Adding professional sound system (including secure off-site storage), performance equipment, projector &amp; screen, etc. to be able to host more art programming as well as offering the space as a rental option for small venue public events&nbsp; 5. Antique storage solutions, event tables and chairs, and updated exhibit design for our Ron Wilder Traditional Arts Center on the lower level to update our space into a more modern exhibit hall that also functions as a working studio for our in-house artists-in-residence, the Fiber Gals.&nbsp; We have until early 2027 to complete our goals listed above, but we can&#39;t spend the &quot;match&quot; part of our funds until we receive them, so we hope to fundraise the outstanding $7,964.00 before Labor Day 2026 so we won&#39;t need to stop midway through the project to continue fundraising. Please consider a donation. Every $25 or $50, or more really helps our progress.&nbsp;

<span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, We truly appreciate your generous donation to our Undergird campaign at The Grand River Historical Society and Museum. Your gift keeps local Black History at the forefront of our minds while also keeping the arts alive in a building that has always celebrated through music and the arts. Every dollar helps us create new and care for existing exhibits and allows us to present new and exciting programs.&nbsp; Thank you for standing with us as we protect and share our community&rsquo;s past. With heartfelt gratitude,Dustin Rennells, Curator

We are overjoyed to announce that we have received a Major Grant Award from the Missouri Humanities Council that, when combined with our match of funds and in-kind volunteer hours, will total $30,000.00. We have pre-fundraised $6,000--mostly from you, our loyal museum community of dedicated friends--but we still have $7,964 to fundraise to reach our matching goal. Can you help us? Please consider donating online: or by sending a check made payable to the Grand River Historical Society &amp; Museum, 1401 Forest Drive, Chillicothe, MO 64601 This grant will help "Undergird" our Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Black History Church Museum through music and the traditional arts.  This grant is five-fold: 1. Shoring up some accessibility concerns including more supportive handrails to the basement and outdoor hand rails for our new concrete steps as well as shoring up our 100+ year old pews for visitors' safety. 2. Honoring the local Black History of Chillicothe, MO, in alignment with our museum mission to tell the stories of the people from the northwest region of Missouri, also known as the Grand River Area. This includes a new permanent exhibit featuring more local Black History while still keeping the best of our national Black History such as the John Dyess artwork from the Blind Boone Foundation entitled: The Civil Rights Walk of Fame. 3. Adding rotating exhibits to the Bethel AME Black History Church Museum including loaned traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian Institute 4. Adding professional sound system (including secure off-site storage), performance equipment, projector &amp; screen, etc. to be able to host more art programming as well as offering the space as a rental option for small venue public events  5. Antique storage solutions, event tables and chairs, and updated exhibit design for our Ron Wilder Traditional Arts Center on the lower level to update our space into a more modern exhibit hall that also functions as a working studio for our in-house artists-in-residence, the Fiber Gals.  We have until early 2027 to complete our goals listed above, but we can't spend the "match" part of our funds until we receive them, so we hope to fundraise the outstanding $7,964.00 before Labor Day 2026 so we won't need to stop midway through the project to continue fundraising. Please consider a donation. Every $25 or $50, or more really helps our progress.

Undergird: Our Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Black History Church Museum Through Music & the Traditional Arts

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The Grand River Historical Society And Museum

### Context Profile for The Grand River Historical Society And Museum

1. **Organization Mission & Cause:**
   - The Grand River Historical Society and Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Chillicothe area and the broader Grand River region. Their mission focuses on educating the public about local history through exhibitions, programs, and community engagement. They aim to foster a sense of pride and connection to the community's past.

2. **Type of Activities:**
   - The organization engages in various activities, including:
     - **Exhibitions:** Showcasing local artifacts and historical narratives.
     - **Educational Programs:** Offering workshops and lectures to educate the community about historical topics.
     - **Community Events:** Hosting events that encourage community participation and awareness of local history.
     - **Fundraising Campaigns:** Engaging the community to support the museum's operational needs and special projects.

3. **Tone of Voice:**
   - The tone of the website is friendly and inviting, aiming to engage visitors with a sense of warmth and community spirit. The language is accessible and straightforward, making historical content relatable to a broad audience. There is an emphasis on storytelling, which enhances the connection to the community's heritage.

4. **Emoji Usage:**
   - The website does not prominently feature emojis in its content. The communication style remains professional and straightforward, focusing on clarity and historical significance rather than informal or playful elements.

5. **Key Facts:**
   - **Founding Info:** The organization is newly established, reflecting a fresh commitment to local history.
   - **Scale:** Limited content suggests a small-scale operation, likely relying on community support and volunteer involvement.
   - **Impact Metrics:** Specific impact metrics are not detailed on the website, but the organization likely measures success through community engagement and attendance at events.
   - **Volunteer Info:** There is an indication that volunteers play a crucial role in the museum's operations, although specific details are not provided.

6. **Writing Guidelines:**
   - Content should maintain a friendly and inviting tone, using clear and accessible language.
   - Emphasize storytelling to connect with the audience's sense of community and history.
   - Avoid overly formal language; instead, focus on creating a welcoming atmosphere that encourages participation.
   - Highlight community involvement and the importance of preserving local history in all communications.

This context profile provides a foundational understanding of The Grand River Historical Society and Museum, enabling the creation of tailored content that resonates with their mission and audience.

The Grand River Historical Society And Museum

Undergird: Our Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Black History Church Museum Through Music & the Traditional Arts

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