Pax Naval Air Museum Wins Tourism Grant
The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum was awarded a $50,000 grant for exhibits in their new museum from the Southern Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
The Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium awarded four other projects grants for Fiscal Year 2016, a strong regional showing for the statewide authority that successfully combines history, tourism, and economic development.
The Heritage Areas Authority funds are made available to non-profits and government organizations to promote heritage tourism and economic development. Heritage tourism means traveling to the places that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present – including historic, cultural and natural resources.
The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum is committed to preserving the history of naval aviation and helping visitors see and experience the future of naval aviation as well. The Naval Air Museum has a new museum under construction and the grant is earmarked for exhibits in the new building.
A panorama of what will become the main exhibit area in the new Patuxent River Naval Air Museum in Lexington Park, MD
See the future of Naval Aviation today at 22156 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, MD 20653; Open 10 am until 5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday; Sunday, noon until 5 pm – Closed on Mondays. Admission is free. Donations are requested. Something for all age groups.
The mission of the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium (SMHAC) is to enhance the economic activity of Southern Maryland through combining quality heritage tourism and small business development with preservation, cultural and natural resource conservation and education. The SMHAC receives support from the three county Boards of Commissioners, the MHAA, the Tri-County Council for Southern MD and private contributions.
Other grants awarded this fiscal year in Southern Maryland will go to:
The Calvert Marine Museum will receive a $25,000 grant for a Recreational Playground: Maritime Gallery exhibit.
The Calvert Nature Society received a $20,000 grant for its project Rolling Road to Shipping Lane: The Money Crop Trail.
The Southern Maryland Heritage Area will use a $27,910 grant for the: Religious Freedom & Potomac River Corridor Interpretation.
The Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium office also received funding for support of the Heritage Area office in the amount of $57,000 for the year, bringing the total award for the region to $204,910.
Roz Racanello, the Executive Director of the Heritage Area, expressed her appreciation for these awards. “We had an unprecedented number of top notch projects this year and feel fortunate to have gotten this many funded. It’s a significant boost for our progress as a heritage tourism destination and we are honored to receive this support from the MHAA.”
To learn more about membership or future grant offerings contact the Consortium by email, or at 301-274-4083.
Additional information about the Southern Maryland Heritage Area is available here.
