Michigan State Historic Preservation Office

10/12/2026

Today is Indigenous Peoples' Day, where we reflect upon the ongoing struggles of Indigenous Peoples on this land and celebrate the thriving cultures and values that the Odawa, Ojibwe, Bodéwadmi, and other Indigenous Peoples contribute to society in Michigan and beyond. At MISHPO we are honored to work with Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, tribal cultural representatives, and others to better recognize and celebrate this heritage.

We encourage you to learn more about Michigan's tribal nations and their connections to the land we all share in this Michigan Archaeology Poster from 2024: https://www.miplace.org/historic-preservation/archaeology/2024-michigan-archaeology-poster/

10/10/2026

Have you been following along with the ABC's of Michigan Architecture on our Instagram channel? (Almost) every day this month, we’re sharing a new ABC’s post focusing on a specific architectural term or style relating to the built environment of the Great Lakes State. Check back every day to learn something new, and be sure to share your newfound knowledge with a friend!

I is for Instagram. It's also for Italianate!

The Italianate style was inspired by the architecture of Italy and was popularized in part by influential house pattern books by Andrew Jackson Downing in the 1840s-50s. The style was widespread and popular until the 1870s for domestic (house) architecture and into the 1890s for commercial. This was the period when America was rapidly expanding west, and fires were devastating and common. Although there are examples of Italianate in wood, it was most commonly constructed of brick or stone. Therefore it's no surprise there are plenty of Italianate homes and storefronts to be found across Michigan!

Common stylistic features include two or three story construction, low pitched hipped or gabled roof with wide eaves supported by brackets, decorative lintels or hoods (remember window hoods from yesterday??) over windows and doors, and narrow, single pane double hung windows throughout. Homes often have a wooden front porch with a roof and might have a bay window. The largest examples may have a tower or cupola. Commercial examples always have a cornice along the roofline which may be highly decorated. Check out this selection of Italianate buildings from across Michigan!

Do you have a favorite Italianate? Reply back and let us know where it is!

1. Superior Township
2. Manistee
3. Constantine
4. Dearborn
5. Ypsilanti
6. White Pigeon Township

10/09/2026

We love hearing about an old building getting a second chance at life, serving the neighborhood in a new way! Froebel School in Muskegon was listed in the National Register of Historic Places earlier this year as a preliminary step toward this conversion project into needed housing. The school is notable for its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and originally included a branch of the public library - which both students and residents could use!

A vacant Muskegon school that has sat unused for more than two decades is getting a second life.

10/08/2026

Mark your calendar - Saturday, October 24 is Michigan Archaeology Day!

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be an archaeologist? Attend Michigan Archaeology Day at the Michigan History Center in Lansing for your chance to talk with archaeologists about investigations and artifacts that tell the story of 14,000 years of Michigan history! From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., archaeologists and experts in related fields will be stationed throughout the first and second floors of the museum where they will tell you about their research, show you some artifacts they have found and answer your questions.

Plus, there will be many hands-on activities, including:
• Try throwing a spear using an atlatl
• Watch archaeologists demonstrate new survey technologies
• Join a scavenger hunt
• Make a clay pinch pot
• Show an artifact to our Archaeology Roadshow experts
• Attend two special afternoon presentations
• Pick up a free archaeology poster

This all-ages annual event is free, and parking is too!

Learn more details at https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/events/2026/10/24/michigan-history-museum---michigan-archaeology-day-2026

Michigan Archaeology Day is brought to you in partnership by the Michigan History Center-DNR, the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office and Mackinac State Historic Parks.

10/06/2026

📣 New month, new grant opportunity! CLG GRANT APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE!

MISHPO is now accepting applications for the fiscal year 2027 round of Certified Local Government (CLG) grant awards! Every year, SHPO passes through federal Historic Preservation Fund money to our CLG partner communities. These grant funds help support and enhance local historic preservation initiatives and can be used for a variety of activities, from architectural surveys, planning documents, and new nominations to the National Register Historic Places, to public education, outreach, and training. They can also be used for rehabilitation ("bricks and mortar" work) of certain categories of properties.

Grants are only available to the 42 Michigan municipalities that participate in the CLG program. Grant applications are due February 5, 2027. See our website for a list of CLG communities, grant application materials, FAQ's, and other helpful information to plan your application today: https://www.miplace.org/historic-preservation/programs-and-services/certified-local-government-program/clg-grants/.

If your community is not currently part of the CLG program but might be interested in learning about it and how you may be eligible for future grant rounds, let us know! Additional program information and contact info can be found on our website at the link above.

10/05/2026

REMINDER! Please join us Tuesday, October 6 in Detroit at 6:00pm for a community information meeting for our Architecture of Nathan Johnson project! Details below, see you there! 👇👇

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 6 at 6:00 pm! Join MISHPO, Noir Design Parti, and Loggia Preservation for a public information meeting about our new project to study the architecture of Nathan Johnson!

Nathan Johnson (1926-2021) was a pioneer African American architect in Michigan. Johnson arrived in Detroit in 1950 and worked in the offices of Donald White, Michigan's first licensed Black architect in Michigan, before starting his own firm in 1956 on West Grand Boulevard. He first rose to prominence through his commissions for small Black congregations in Detroit. Into the 1960s, Johnson's firm received increasingly larger commissions, including churches, offices, businesses, housing, and more. His affinity for Modern design was a hallmark of his work. Through it all, Johnson was a proactive voice in helping to shape the mid-twentieth century landscape of the city and supported other Black professionals in the city, serving as a mentor for many Black architects of the period.

No formal catalog of all known places Nathan Johnson designed exists - which is the point of this project. Whether you were a client of Nathan Johnson, knew him personally or professionally, or just have an interest in the architectural heritage of metro Detroit, please join us at the meeting! If you can't attend, there will be an option to electrically submit information you know to the project - with more details to be announced soon.

We'll see you at Oak Grove AME Church, 19801 Cherrylawn Ave., Detroit, MI 48221 on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 6:00 pm!

Learn more about the project at https://www.miplace.org/historic-preservation/programs-and-services/mi-civil-rights-project/nathan-johnson-architecture/

10/02/2026

We've gone digital! The first step in preparing a National Register of Historic Places nomination in Michigan is to complete the National Register Preliminary Questionnaire (NRPQ). As of October 1, Preliminary Questionnaires can be submitted digitally via Smartsheet submission portal. A handy Instructions document is also provided to help you know what to put where. Find them both and more information about the National Register process at www.michigan.gov/nrhp.

Already have an NRPQ underway? Not to worry - we'll gladly still take your PDF forms, since both versions ask for the same information. Nearly 2,000 historic properties in Michigan are listed in the National Register - which one will be next?

10/01/2026

Let's celebrate! Today MISHPO announces we have awarded $673,000 in grants to support preservation of and reinvestment in historic buildings in rural communities across the state!

Congratulations to the eight communities awarded Rural Heritage Partnership grant funding including Albion, Alpena, Alpha, Benzonia, Berrien Township, Eagle Harbor, Owosso, and Port Sanilac!

The one-time grant funding was awarded to SHPO through the National Park Service's Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program. The Rural Heritage Program was specifically established to strengthen the office’s direct assistance and support to property owners in the state’s rural areas, where funding opportunities may be limited, especially for historic buildings. Funds will support critical work on buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s official list of places deemed worthy of preservation.

09/30/2026

Snaps from our travels! 📸

Earlier this month, several SHPO staff members road tripped across the to visit places where SHPO projects are underway or recently completed, including sites in Alger, Chippewa, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, and Keweenaw counties.

In addition to meeting with stakeholders at each site, we met with staff from Hiawatha National Forest and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore about archaeological considerations when planning for potential timber sales and trail rerouting efforts on their lands. Thanks to our hosts at each site for making arrangements for our visit. Details with each photo. Be sure to scroll all the way to the end!

Want to see even more photos from the trip? Check out MISHPO's Instagram channel at https://www.instagram.com/michiganshpo/

09/28/2026

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 6 at 6:00 pm! Join MISHPO, Noir Design Parti, and Loggia Preservation for a public information meeting about our new project to study the architecture of Nathan Johnson!

Nathan Johnson (1926-2021) was a pioneer African American architect in Michigan. Johnson arrived in Detroit in 1950 and worked in the offices of Donald White, Michigan's first licensed Black architect in Michigan, before starting his own firm in 1956 on West Grand Boulevard. He first rose to prominence through his commissions for small Black congregations in Detroit. Into the 1960s, Johnson's firm received increasingly larger commissions, including churches, offices, businesses, housing, and more. His affinity for Modern design was a hallmark of his work. Through it all, Johnson was a proactive voice in helping to shape the mid-twentieth century landscape of the city and supported other Black professionals in the city, serving as a mentor for many Black architects of the period.

No formal catalog of all known places Nathan Johnson designed exists - which is the point of this project. Whether you were a client of Nathan Johnson, knew him personally or professionally, or just have an interest in the architectural heritage of metro Detroit, please join us at the meeting! If you can't attend, there will be an option to electrically submit information you know to the project - with more details to be announced soon.

We'll see you at Oak Grove AME Church, 19801 Cherrylawn Ave., Detroit, MI 48221 on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 6:00 pm!

Learn more about the project at https://www.miplace.org/historic-preservation/programs-and-services/mi-civil-rights-project/nathan-johnson-architecture/