Maloney Announces Local Historical Museum Trust Grants

December 18, 2025

HARRISBURG - Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks) today announced that the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) has awarded a total of $76,200 in Cultural and Historical Support Grants to four eligible museums in the 130th Legislative District.

"These grants bolster efforts and popular projects that I have been personally involved with and which strengthen efforts in Berks County to preserve and share history," Maloney said. "We have true jewels here with the Colebrookdale Railroad, the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles and the General Spaatz Museum that are enjoyed by many."

The following is a list of Cultural and Historical Support Grant awards in the 130th District:

Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust will receive $40,000 to retain staff and enable its artifact critical care functions, including weatherization (sealing roofs/windows) and other ongoing stabilization of PA-significant historic artifacts, including the former private railcars of famed Pennsylvanians - steel magnate Charles M. Schwab and American Thoroughbred horse race owner, breeder, and racetrack owner Joseph Widener.

The railroad's workforce development and education programs have been recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities, George H.W. Bush Foundation, National Association of Counties, Trip Advisor and USA Today, which named it the No. 2 heritage railroad experience in North America.

Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles will receive $30,000 to be used toward the museum's insurance premium through The Hagerty Group, LLC, which tailors its program to vehicle museums. Specifically, funds will be used to support coverage for facilities, collection, furnishings, computers, truck and trailer.

The mission of the museum is to collect and preserve examples of Pennsylvania-built road vehicles. The museum houses a collection of over 150 examples of early automotive technology and is open to the public seven days a week. Educational programming includes monthly television programs and webisodes produced by the museum, blacksmithing demonstrations in the 1872 Carriage Factory, Hoods Up events that highlight engineering and mechanical elements of the collection, and creation of interpretive vehicle signs that incorporate primary sources.

General Carl Spaatz USAAF Museum will receive $6,200 to replace the worn out 'High Traffic Floor Protection System" materials in order to maintain customer security and safety. Additional funds are needed to defray rising energy/utility (heating) costs as well as personnel expenses.

The Spaatz Museum offers fully interactive exhibits that include a live mission briefing, donning gear and equipment used during World War II, a B-17 experience film, and two award-winning escape rooms, all entirely scenario driven to obtain full effect, using "practical application" directed to today's youth as the educational focus.

The goal of the Cultural and Historical Support Grant program is to strengthen Pennsylvania's museum community by supporting the general operations of eligible museums and official county historical societies that are not supported by other state agency funding programs.

Grants are awarded on a formula based on a percentage of the organization's annual operating budget with a maximum grant of $50,000 and a minimum grant of $4,000.

Representative David Maloney
130th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Charles Lardner
717.260.6161
[email protected]