Ordinarily cemeteries, birthplaces, graves of historical figures, properties owned by religious institutions or used for religious purposes, structures that have been moved from their original locations, reconstructed historic buildings, and properties that have achieved significance within the last fifty years are not eligible for designation. If such properties fall within the following categories that may, nevertheless, be found to qualify:

1. a religious property deriving its primary national significance from architectural or artistic distinction or importance in historical fields other than religion; or
2. a building or structure removed from its original location but which is nationally significant primarily for its architectural merit, or for association with persons or events of transcendent importance in the nation's history and the association consequential; or
3. a site of a building or structure no longer standing but the person or event associated with it is of transcendent importance in the nation's history, and the association consequential; or
4. a birthplace, grave, or burial site if it is of a historical figure of transcendent national significance and no other appropriate site, building, or structure directly associated with the productive life of that person exists, or
5. a cemetery that derives its primary national significance from graves of persons of transcendent importance, or from an exceptionally distinctive design or an exceptionally significant event; or
6. a reconstructed building or ensemble of buildings of extraordinary national significance when accurately executed in a suitable environment and presented in a dignified manner as part of a restoration master plan, and when no other buildings or structures with the same association have survived; or
7. a property primarily commemorative in intent if design, age, tradition, or symbolic value has invested it with its own national historical significance; or
8. a property achieving national significance within the past fifty years if it is of extraordinary national importance.

For information about any of the programs described on this site, write the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Michigan Historical Center, P.O. Box 30740, 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48909-8240, or call us at (517) 373-1630.

Tuesday, October 1, 2002
Michigan Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
© 2002 Michigan Historical Center
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