U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Bramble One of 7 Nominations to the National Register of Historic Places

LANSING, Mich., June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bramble, a bridge, a factory, and four historic districts were recently approved by the State Historic Preservation Review Board for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110419/MM85741LOGO)

Built in 1943 and commissioned in 1944, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bramble (WAGL/WLB-392) is one of a class of 39 Seagoing Buoy Tenders designed, constructed and commissioned in the early 1940s. Bramble is significant as one of the first American vessels to successfully circumnavigate the North American continent through the Northwest Passage, a route that had eluded explorers for more than 400 years. While its career began as an ocean-going vessel, Bramble spent its later years in the Great Lakes tending buoys and ice-breaking. It was decommissioned in 2003 and remains moored in Port Huron.

"Bramble is a nationally significant ship that is one of the last surviving ships to have participated in the major post-World War II atomic testing at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific's Marshall Islands," said State Historic Preservation Officer Brian Conway. "This is just one of the many significant roles Bramble played in the history of navigation. We are pleased to nominate the vessel to the National Register of Historic Places."

Bramble is currently for sale by the owner, the Port Huron Museum.

The six additional resources to be nominated to the register include:

• Island City Historic District, Eaton Rapids, Eaton County
• Upper Twin Falls Bridge, Breitung Township, Dickinson County, and the Town of Florence, Florence County, Wisconsin
• J. J. Deal and Son Carriage Factory, Jonesville, Hillsdale, County
• Center Avenue Neighborhood Historic District, Bay City, Bay County
• Joseph Campau Street Historic District, Hamtramck, Wayne County
• Grand Circus Park Historic District, Detroit, Wayne County

Michigan has more than 1600 listings in the National Register of Historic Places. To read the nominations of these properties and see photographs, visit Michigan.gov/nrhp. Click on "Review Board."

The State Historic Preservation Review Board considers nominations to the register three times per year. The review board forwards nominations to the keeper of the National Register, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The State Historic Preservation Office coordinates the National Register Program in Michigan.  For information on the National Register of Historic Places and other programs of the State Historic Preservation Office, visit www.michigan.gov/shpo or call (517) 373-1630.

The State Historic Preservation Office is part of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) , which provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents and to engage in community economic development activities to revitalize urban and rural communities.*

*MSHDA's loans and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds as well as notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. Proceeds are loaned at below-market interest rates to developers of rental housing, and help fund mortgages and home improvement loans. MSHDA also administers several federal housing programs. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mshda

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is financed in part by a grant from the National Park Service, Department of Interior. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of the Interior. The Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on its federally funded assistance programs.  If you believe you've been discriminated against please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C. St. NW, Washington DC 20240.

SOURCE Michigan State Housing Development Authority