Nineteen properties in Michigan were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2023, joining the nearly 2,000 historic designations already active in the state.
Administered in Michigan by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the National Register of Historic Places is the United States federal government’s official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance.
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“The SHPO has the distinct honor to be able to work with so many communities and individuals across the state to help elevate Michigan sites to the National Register of Historic Places,” said State Historic Preservation Officer Ryan Schumaker. “These 19 historic properties listed in 2023 help to tell a more complete history at the local, state, and national levels. Listing in the National Register not only provides a way to celebrate this important history, it also provides opportunities for economic investment in these properties and communities.”
To be considered for listing in the National Register, a property must generally be at least 50 years old, and must also be significant when evaluated in relationship to major historical events or trends in the history of their community, the state, or the nation. A property must also possess historic integrity – the ability to convey its significance.
The following Michigan properties were listed in the National Register in 2023:
“Each of these historic places is significant on its own, but what is all the more impressive is the story they tell together. Through these historic places – and so many others in our state – we can expand our understanding of where we call home as well as the stories, struggles, and accomplishments of those who came before us,” said SHPO National Register Coordinator Todd Walsh. “In the pages of each nomination, the people and places of our past come alive. I encourage everyone to learn more about their community, our state, and our shared history through the National Register program.”
Listing of a property in the National Register is honorary and places no restrictions on what a property owner may do. They are not required to open the site to the public nor to display a plaque acknowledging the listing, although many companies offer plaques to recognize the hard work and effort to get a property officially listed. In addition, listing in the National Register provides opportunities for promotion, makes available certain incentives like grants and tax credits that foster investment in our cities, towns, and villages, and allows for the consideration of historic resources when federal funding or permits are involved.
For more information about the National Register of Historic Places program in Michigan, and how to learn if your property might be eligible for listing in the National Register, visit https://www.michigan.gov/nrhp.