Applications for Historic Preservation Grants are being requested by the Gallatin County Historic Preservation Board. The Gallatin County Historic Preservation Board is a volunteer organization appointed by the Gallatin County Commission to help preserve the heritage of Gallatin County by recognizing, promoting and publicizing the significance of the historic districts, sites and structures within the county.   The board is not connected to the City of Bozeman Preservation Board, which documents historic properties in Bozeman only.

Grant awards can range from $100- $3,500, and the individual or organization must be able to demonstrate that they have available matching funds (the match varies with the amount requested). Other grants can be considered matching funds, and volunteer labor in lieu of cash can be considered matching funds.

Funds must be used to restore historic structure or to interpret historic events, or to provide public information about the Gallatin Valley. Projects may include such activities as publication of historic materials or research in the areas of local history. Funds will not be awarded for financial gain of any individual, group of individuals, corporations, etc, but can be awarded to registered non-profits.
Projects must be located in Gallatin County, and must provide for

restoration preventing decay and deterioration of preservable existing structures or items, while retaining the original historic architecture, appearance, or mission of the structure, site or artifact. The site must be open to the public at least once a year, or the information from research available to the public.

Past awards have been used to support a variety of projects including several area museums, historic   homes, and buildings which have been adapted to other purposes which have preserved the original structures.
In 2011 the board awarded grants to four of the original seventy seven rural one-room school houses built around the turn of the century. These schools had not been used as schools for over fifty years, and had been maintained by volunteers since the 1950’s. (see photos of before and after). One of the four schools given an award in 2011, Lower Bridger, will be one of the sites featured on the Preservation Tour fund-raiser scheduled for
Oct 6, 2012.

Deadlines for submitting an application has been extended to May 15, and grants will be awarded by June 1. Full rules and additional information is available on the Gallatin County website at www.gallatin.mt.gov