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Michigan State Historic Preservation Office

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Michigan State Historic Preservation Office

MISHPO promotes historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and the celebration of Michigan's history.

06/04/2026

Two iconic and historic Michigan lighthouses have been awarded $120,000 in lighthouse preservation grants! Find out which ones in the comment below 👇👇

- with The City of Grand Haven and Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

06/01/2026

June is Pride Month in Michigan! 🏳️‍🌈 For generations, LGBTQ+ residents have contributed to make Michigan the great place it is today. MISHPO is committed to better recognizing the history of the state’s LGBTQ+ population and celebrating places that have historic significance to this community. But few specific places have been identified or designated in Michigan for their significance in LGBTQ+ heritage.

Michigan’s Statewide Historic Preservation Plan acknowledges this as an area of need. If there’s a special place that matters to you, even if it’s not historic, we’d love to know about what makes it significant or memorable. Drop us a message via the button above, or send an email to [email protected].

You can also participate in a community LGBTQ+ history zine event, such as this one coming up soon near downtown Lansing: https://arts-council-of-greater-lan.locable.com/2026/06/20/555227/lgbtq-zine/

05/30/2026

May is Historic Preservation Month! Today we highlight one of our 2026 Governor's Award for Historic Preservation winners, the Rural Survey and National Register Project, Northfield Township, Washtenaw County!

Northfield Township (north of Ann Arbor) was established in 1832 and has long been known for its productive agricultural industry and rural character. Preserving these assets is a key part of the Township’s master plan.

In 2018, the Northfield Township Historical Society completed an extensive survey of more than 1,300 properties in the township. The next year, Washtenaw County received a Certified Local Government grant from MISHPO to research historic contexts for agriculture and other themes in a survey report. Completed in 2021, the goal of this phase was to identify and prioritize farmsteads and other properties for preservation and provide a foundation for historic designation efforts.

In 2022, the County received a second CLG grant to build upon these efforts by completing a Multiple Property Documentation Form, and up to five individual nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. The nominations recognized several properties for their early architectural significance and two properties for their association with the Township’s German ethnic heritage. The project concluded in early 2026 with the completion of the form and listing of five new rural properties in the National Register. These property owners are now eligible for historic preservation tax credits, among other benefits.

This multi-phase project to survey and designate rural properties is a model which could be followed in other townships across the state.

Governor's Awards were bestowed to Washtenaw County Government, Northfield Township Historical Society, and Preservation Consulting. Congratulations!

Learn more about Northfield Township Rural Preservation and watch the project video at https://www.miplace.org/historic-preservation/programs-and-services/governors-awards-for-historic-preservation/northfield-township-survey-and-national-register-project/

05/27/2026

May is Historic Preservation Month! Today we highlight one of our 2026 Governor's Award for Historic Preservation winners, the rehabilitation of the Walter French School into The Residences at Walter French, Lansing, Ingham County!

Walter French School was built in 1925 to offer a modern, state-of-the-art school for the young scholars of south Lansing. After the school closed in 2004, it spiraled into disrepair. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 as the first step in an adaptive reuse journey that would eventually span more than 10 years.

Starting in 2023, the interior was strategically redesigned into 76 affordable apartment units, while retaining character-defining features such as terrazzo floors, large window openings, and wide interior stairways. Ceiling skylights were reconstructed to illuminate the third floor. The $40 million rehabilitation effort was funded in part by Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, an award from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Revitalization and Placemaking program, and several other sources.

The Residences at Walter French opened in September 2025 and has full residential occupancy. The property also provides office and commercial space, and is home to an on-site children’s daycare. The renewed Walter French School addresses several needs in the Lansing community, which will keep the future bright long into its second century.

Governor's Awards were bestowed to Capital Area Housing Partnership, Quinn Evans, Rohde Construction, and Housing Links, LLC. Congratulations!

Learn more about Walter French School and watch the project video at https://www.miplace.org/historic-preservation/programs-and-services/governors-awards-for-historic-preservation/the-residences-at-walter-french/

05/26/2026

Do you know of a historic building that needs some love, located in a rural area, and already listed in the National Register of Historic Places? If so, the Michigan's Rural Heritage Partnership Grant Program might be for you!

Deadline to apply is coming up quick: 5:00 p.m. June 8, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.

This is a competitive grant program intended to support long-term investment in the irreplaceable heritage assets of Michigan’s small, rural communities. Program funding is specifically for building rehabilitation (i.e., “bricks and mortar”) projects and associated pre-development (e.g., plans and specifications) work. Local units of government, non-profits, and public entities are eligible to apply for funding.

Eligible entities may also sponsor a project on behalf of a private property or business owner, so long as the project meets grant program eligibility. Eligible properties must already be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as a contributing property to a historic district. Other eligibility criteria also apply.

Learn more about the grant, review frequently asked questions and find application materials at https://www.miplace.org/historic-preservation/programs-and-services/rural-heritage-grant/

05/25/2026

Today we honor and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our liberty. We share these photos from a recent site visit to Fort Custer National Cemetery near Augusta, one of two national veterans cemeteries in Michigan. The national cemetery opened here in 1982, but military history at Fort Custer, known as Camp Custer in its earliest years, stretches as far back at World War I.

State of Michigan offices are closed today for Memorial Day, but we’ll be back to work tomorrow.

05/21/2026

May is Historic Preservation Month! Just in time for the unofficial start of summer, today we highlight one of our 2026 Governor's Award for Historic Preservation winners, the long-term stewardship of the Capri Drive-In Theater in Coldwater, Branch County!

Americans were obsessed with car culture in the 1950s and 60s, and drive-in movie theaters boomed. In 1964, John and Mary Magocs opened the Capri along highway US-12. The property included a single screen, folded plate roof ticket building, a concessions stand, a neon sign on the highway, and room for 800 cars.

Although the golden era of the drive-in did not last, the Magocs family invested in the Capri over the decades, making early transitions from speaker boxes to AM radio to FM stereo sound, and investing in digital projection equipment in recent decades. In 1980, the family twinned the theater when they moved and installed a second screen tower from a former drive-in near Detroit.

Three generations of the Magocs family have led the Capri since its inception, nurturing the nostalgic vibe of what has become a regional destination. The Capri bills itself as a community theater and supports many activities in Coldwater, but each night the audience comes from miles around to enjoy the special experience.

The Capri Drive-In was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2024 for its significance in the area’s entertainment and recreational history. Fewer than a dozen drive-in theaters survive in Michigan today, and the Capri stands out for its long-term family ownership and investment.

Learn more about the Capri Drive-In and watch the project video at https://www.miplace.org/historic-preservation/programs-and-services/governors-awards-for-historic-preservation/capri-drive-in-theater/

- with Coldwater Country Tourism

05/20/2026

Each month SHPO is sharing highlights from an Historic Resource Survey conducted as part of our efforts to identify important historic places around Michigan. In May we head to Northfield Township, just north of Ann Arbor.

Beginning in 2019 a partnership between Washtenaw County and the Northfield Township Historical Society began a six year phased effort to document and designate the rural landscapes in the township. This project is an excellent example of preservation in action by starting with a historic resource survey to document what resources and themes are most important. The survey was funded by a Certified Local Government program grant through the SHPO.

The survey identified numerous key resources such as the German Park Recreation Club, the Leland House, and the Zeeb Farm. In 2023, Washtenaw County and Northfield Township Historical Society were awarded a second CLG Grant, this time to continue the earlier work with a Multiple Property Documentation Form and four National Register of Historic Places nominations. These nominations were submitted to the National Park Service in 2025 for listing. This project is a wonderful example of how survey serves as the foundation for preservation work throughout the state.

Explore the survey at this link: Northfield Township Architectural Survey, Washtenaw County: https://www.washtenaw.org/3692/Northfield-Township-Architectural-Survey

Michigan communities that participate in the CLG program can apply for a grant to undertake historic resource survey work! Learn more about the CLG program at www.michigan.gov/clggrants

- with Northfield Township Historical Society, Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development, and Firefly Preservation Consulting

05/18/2026

May is Historic Preservation Month! Today we highlight one of our 2026 Governor's Award for Historic Preservation winners, the rehabilitation of the Piquette Flats apartments in Detroit, Wayne County.

Noted Detroit architect Albert Kahn designed this four-story reinforced concrete building for the Studebaker Corporation in 1920, in an era when car companies were expanding at a feverish pace. After serving in a variety of other industrial uses, it was recently used for storage. A complete rehabilitation project began in 2023 to convert the building into 161 apartments, providing much-needed workforce housing in the historic Milwaukee Junction neighborhood.

The extensive rehabilitation work restored the exterior’s original finishes and converted the interior into a new residential use. The $40 million project involved a complex funding mix, including federal and state historic tax incentives, and a $7 million performance-based loan from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation through the Michigan Community Revitalization Program. Today, new residents at the Piquette contribute to Detroit’s continued rebirth.

Governor's Awards were bestowed to 411 Piquette LLC, Kraemer Design Group, PCI-Dailey Company, Grunwell-Cashero, and Architectural Products . Congratulations!

Learn more about this project and watch the project video at https://www.miplace.org/historic-preservation/programs-and-services/governors-awards-for-historic-preservation/piquette-flats/ .

05/15/2026

Time flies! Already a week has passed since the annual Michigan Historic Preservation Network conference at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate. We're still reveling in the enthusiasm and energy from our colleagues attending from across the state. Enjoy these snaps from the conference venue and tours! 📸

Address

300 N Washington Square
Lansing, MI
48913

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15173359840

Website

http://www.michigan.gov/shpo

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