The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources .

The Michigan Central Station or then known as Penn Central Station is record #157236 on the register.

Listing in the National Register of Historic Places provides formal recognition of a property’s historical, architectural, or archeological significance based on national standards used by every state. Two of the more important for our purposes to save the station are:

• Providing opportunities for specific preservation incentives, such as:
  > Federal preservation grants for planning and rehabilitation
  > Federal investment tax credits
  > Preservation easements to nonprofit organizations
  > International Building Code fire and life safety code alternatives
• Possible State tax benefit and grant opportunities.

What does this mean?  It means if the station were to be restored, some of the cost could be covered by a grant from the government.  Also, from what I read, Michigan could receive a tax-benefit for restoring it.

With the recent news of U.S. cities possibly being linked via high-speed rail, this could be of huge benefit.  Many tracks from many cities already run to the rear of the station, including one under the Detroit river to Canada.

To contact the National Register of Historic Places:

Phone: (202) 354-2211
Fax: (202) 371-6447

To contact the Michigan Department of History:

Phone: (517) 241-2236