Museum of Appalachia cantilever barn preservation will be supported by a grant. Image submitted

Grants will be used for Independence Day programming and preservation of historic Cantilever Barn

NORRIS, TN - The Museum of Appalachia has been awarded two Tennessee America 250 grants from the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial, totaling $29,500. These grants will support expanded educational programming and the preservation of one of the Museum’s most iconic historic structures.

A $9,500 grant will allow the Museum to expand its annual Independence Day Anvil Shoot Celebration from a one-day event into a two-day celebration, incorporating new educational programming, historical interpretation, and hands-on experiences for visitors of all ages. The enhanced event will feature a Revolutionary War encampment, musket demonstrations, and historical storytelling in partnership with Tennesseans for Living History and the Clinch Bend Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Additional elements will include the distribution of educational Betsy Ross style flags and interpretive programming highlighting Tennessee’s role in the American Revolution, including the story of the Battle of Kings Mountain.

A second $20,000 grant will support preservation work on the Museum’s historic Cantilever Barn, one of the most recognizable architectural forms in Southern Appalachia. This project will help ensure the long-term stability of the structure while preserving an important example of regional craftsmanship and agricultural history.

The State of Tennessee made available $6,435,000 to the Tennessee State Museum to administer on behalf of the Commission, with the majority of funding to be regranted to Tennessee communities to support statewide America 250 activities.

“These grants allow us to both preserve and share Appalachian history in meaningful ways,” said Lindsey Gallaher, President of the Museum of Appalachia. “From expanding our Independence Day celebration to preserving the Cantilever Barn, this support helps ensure that the stories, structures, and traditions of this region continue to be experienced by future generations.”

The Tennessee America 250 Project Support Grants and Community Support Grants had maximum request amounts of $20,000 and $25,000, respectively. All projects funded in the first round must be completed by April 30, 2027.

The Museum of Appalachia is a Smithsonian Affiliate located in Norris, Tennessee. The Museum preserves and interprets the history and culture of Southern Appalachia through historic log structures, artifacts, and daily demonstrations of traditional skills and music.