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Our Mission

Lock 18 on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal in Maryland.

The National Park Service (NPS) Maritime Heritage Program works to advance awareness and understanding of the role of maritime affairs in the history of the United States.

Our History

During the 1980s, Congress recognized that preservation planning and funding had generally neglected historic maritime properties and archaeological sites. This resulted in a Congressional request to the National Park Service to "conduct a survey of historic maritime resources, recommend standards and priorities for the preservation of those resources; and recommend appropriate Federal and private sector roles in addressing those priorities" (Congressional Record, Oct. 10, 1984, p.11922). In response to this request, the NPS created a special office to survey, evaluate, and recommend preservation methods for historic maritime resources. This office was established in 1987 as the National Maritime Initiative within the NPS History Division.

In 1994, the Initiative's role in maritime preservation expanded with the passage of the National Maritime Heritage Act (Public Law 103-451). Under this legislation the Initiative was named as one of several partners responsible for coordinating a national maritime heritage policy and administering a grants program supporting maritime heritage preservation and education projects. More recently, we'ave been requested to participate in the national historic light station program authorized under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (Public Law 106-355).

Today, we're called the Maritime Heritage Program and are administered by the NPS Park History Program.

Maritime Inventories

Our two historic maritime resources inventories can be found online at 1990 Inventory of Large Preserved Historic Vessels and 1994 Inventory of Historic Light Stations.

Preservation Assistance

The Maritime Heritage Program supports the preservation of historic maritime resources through administration of the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program. The grant program's purpose is to provide funding for a wide range of education and preservation projects about America's extensive maritime heritage.

National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)

• Nominating Historic Vessels and Shipwrecks to the National Register of Historic Places
• Guidelines for Evaluating and Nominating Aids to Navigation
• How to Evaluate and Nominate Designed Historic Landscapes

To see Maritime-related properties listed in the NRHP visit their Database and Research webpage and scroll to the bottom to find their "Search Properties Listed in the National Register of Historic Places" database.

National Historic Landmarks (NHL)

A number of National Historic Landmark theme studies focus on ships and lighthouses. Our National Historic Landmarks nomination page has links to the theme studies as well as lists of maritime properties that have been designated as National Historic Landmarks (NHL).

For an up to date list of Maritime related NHLs please visit the National Historic Landmarks list To read Maritime related NHL nominations, visit the NHL nominations collection online at the National Archives and type in the official name of the NHL from the NHL list webpage.

Contact Information

Mailing Address Maritime Heritage Program National Park Service 1849 C Street NW Mail Stop 7508 Washington, DC 20240-0001

 

The lightship Huron in Port Huron, MI. Photo by Jason Steel Photography. Permission for NPS use granted via entry in the 2012 National Historic Landmark Photo Contest.