DEARBORN – Five Michigan museums including the Arab American National Museum will receive more than a half million dollars in federal money total through the Museums for America grant program.

The announcement was made by the office of U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Detroit) on Tuesday. 

The AANM will get $150,000, the maximum amount and the largest of all museums in the state. The museum raised $285,887 in a program obligating the government to pledge matching dollars. 

Other winners were the Detroit Science Center, Michigan State University Museum, University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, and the American Museum of Magic. 

The AANM fund will benefit its “Understanding Arabs, Arab Americans and Islam” initiative which was created to educate students throughout the Midwest through traveling exhibits in various states.

State Rep. George Darany (D-Dearborn) praised the allocation of the funds. 

 “It is so important that our young people have a better understanding of different cultures,” Darany said. “The Arab American National Museum will use these funds to increase the appreciation and awareness of the Arab American culture that enriches cities like Dearborn and other communities across the Midwest and our nation.”