The National Law Enforcement Museum announced on September 23 that it has been selected as a recipient of the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ (IMLS) 2026 Museums for America grant. The Museum will receive $147,182 over the next three years to improve the organization, accessibility and use of its collection.
The IMLS grant will fund the Museum’s Collections Data Migration and Improvement Project (CDMIP), a three-year initiative that will move tens of thousands of digital records into a new database, create new photographs of artifacts and centralize the Museum’s digital holdings within a single access portal.
Led by Museum staff, the project will improve access to collection information while supporting exhibit planning, research and the Museum’s online collection presence.
“We are so honored to have been awarded this funding from IMLS,” said Lauren Sydney, director of Exhibits and Collections at the National Law Enforcement Museum. “The collection is the heart of the Museum, and improving how we access and use it will help us better preserve these important stories and advance our mission to tell the story of American law enforcement to our visitors.”
IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. It advances America’s museums, libraries and related organizations through grantmaking, research and policy development.
The National Law Enforcement Museum, located at 444 E Street NW in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to telling the story of American law enforcement by providing visitors a “walk in the shoes” experience. The Museum works to expand and enrich the relationship shared by law enforcement and the community through educational journeys, immersive exhibitions and insightful programs. The Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Tickets can be purchased on site or in advance at NLEOMF.org/Museum.
—www.NLEOMF.org—
