Dr. Kim Sumner, Dr. Matt Jennings, and Mr. Tyler Austin have been awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant for their proposal, An American History Botanical Trail at the Waddell Barnes Botanical Garden, as part of the Celebrate America! Chairman’s Grants in Honor of America’s 250th Anniversary program.
The American History Botanical Trail will offer a self-guided, QR-enabled walking experience that interprets U.S. history through plants across five chronological garden sections from 1776 to the present. Each section will feature 10–15 historically significant plant species, with on-site interpretation and linked digital content.
The project commemorates the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026 by exploring how plants contributed to survival, settlement, innovation, war mobilization, reform, and modern stewardship, connecting visitors to the living materials that helped shape the United States.
The grant was made possible through the generous cost-matching support of the MGA Foundation. This cross-disciplinary initiative will engage the community and enrich understanding of American history in a uniquely interactive way.