Who is Eligible
Maritime Heritage funding opportunities are available for State Historic Preservation Offices and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. There are 59 State Historic Preservation Offices, which include one in each of the 50 states, the 5 territories, the District of Columbia, and the 3 Freely Associated States of Micronesia.
Recipients of National Maritime Heritage grants will be responsible for conducting in-house projects and/or creating and managing competitive subgrant programs. Grant applicants are required to describe proposed in-house activities and/or competitive subgrant programs in their grant applications.
The National Maritime Heritage Grant program supports prime recipients in conducting in-house projects and/or subgrant programs, however prime recipients are responsible for deciding the focus, criteria, monitoring, and reporting for their subgrant programs.
Instructions on applying for a grant can be found here on our Apply for a Maritime Heritage Grant page,
National Park Service, 2012
What is Funded
The National Maritime Heritage Grant program supports different projects related to maritime heritage education and preservation. These projects focus on three main categories of historic maritime resources: Historic Maritime Properties, Maritime Heritage Collections, and Traditional Maritime Skills.
Historic Maritime Properties
These properties are defined based on criteria established by the National Register of Historic Places. They include properties located near or along the sea or inland waters, as well as those connected to sea navigation or commerce. Historic Maritime Properties consist of Maritime Districts, Maritime Archaeological Sites, Maritime Buildings, Maritime Structures, and Maritime Objects.
Maritime Collections
These collections consist of objects, documents, and archaeological resources that are relevant to understanding the maritime heritage of the United States. The collections are gathered based on a systematic plan and are maintained to be studied, interpreted, and shared with the public. Examples of Maritime Collections include Objects, Documents, and Archaeological Resources.
Traditional Maritime Skills
These skills encompass activities associated with naval, commercial, and navigational aspects of the sea or inland waters. They are passed down through generations, either orally or through practical training. Traditional maritime skills are recognizable practices that are transmitted across at least two successive generations. They include various manual or specialized activities, arts, crafts, trades, techniques, or occupations.
The National Maritime Heritage Grant program aims to support projects that fall within these three categories and contribute to the education and preservation of maritime heritage.
Examples of projects funded in previous grant cycles can be found here on our Grant Recipients page.
For those ineligible for a Maritime Heritage Grant, the National Park Service offers almost 20 different grant programs. Depending on the nature of the project you have in mind, you may be able to locate or apply for alternative funding sources through our other programs or your local National Heritage Area.
Last updated: April 18, 2024