Bizzarro, Harkins, Merski: Nearly $20,000 in grants awarded to fund historical society, children’s museum
Rep. Patrick J. Harkins March 4, 2020 | 3:07 PM
ERIE, Mar. 4 – Two state grants totaling $19,528 will benefit the Erie County Historical Society and the expERIEnce Children’s Museum, state Reps. Ryan Bizzarro, Pat Harkins and Bob Merski, all D-Erie, announced today.
The lawmakers said that the Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Society grants include $12,029 to the historical society and $7,499 to the museum.
“Securing this funding for the Erie County Historical Society is so important because it’s an investment in preserving our shared history,” Bizzarro said. “With these resources, our region’s dedicated historians can continue preserving the documents, artifacts, structures and other historical items that keep Erie’s unique history alive for future generations.”
Harkins said that he agreed and added, “Our historical society’s invaluable work preserving the past gives us insight into how our community has changed and evolved over time. It also gives us a way to pass that history and shared knowledge on from generation to generation so that we don’t lose touch with our past.”
Merski added that the funding will bring educational benefits, as well.
“Keeping the link to our past alive through physical exhibits is critically important from a learning perspective because real-life objects that can be seen and touched form an impression on kids in ways that textbooks can’t,” he said. “In much the same way, the funding to our children’s museum will allow the museum to continue providing the interactive displays and hands-on exhibits that make learning so much more meaningful.”
The grants are part of a package awarded to applicants under the Cultural and Historical Support Grant Program. The program is designed to provide general operating support to Pennsylvania museums and county historical societies that are not directly supported by other state agency programs.