American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced today 11 historic and culturally significant sites in the Puget Sound area will receive grants for historic preservation projects.

When the Puget Sound Partners in Preservation initiative launched in April, the public voted online over a four-week period for their favorite historic places from a slate of 25 candidates across the region to receive a portion of $1 million being given away in preservation grants from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

On May 13, the Schooner Adventuress was announced as the winner of the popular public vote, with 20 percent of all votes cast. A grant of $125,000 will be given to the nearly 100-year-old vessel to address damage caused by natural wear and tear. In recognition of the unparalleled photo-finish, Partners in Preservation also awarded Town Hall, runner up in the public vote with 19 percent, a grant of $125,000.

The nine additional historic sites announced Tuesday were chosen by an advisory committee. Factors that were considered in the selection process included public voting results and community support for the project, the preservation needs of the site, historic significance, project completion ability, and the role the site plays in the community.

The nine additional historic sites receiving funding are:

— Skansie Brothers Net Shed, Gig Harbor: $100,000 to stabilize the net shed by repairing and replacing failing wood piling and structural supports;

— Orting Soldiers Home-Garfield Hall, Orting: $70,000 to restore Garfield Hall’s elegant but seriously deteriorated portico;

— Point No Point Lighthouse, Hansville: $100,000 to rehabilitate the lighthouse, including repairs to the lantern room, roofing & decking, stucco & brickwork and windows & doors;

— Washington Hall, Seattle: $90,000 to install new electrical service to allow the safe operation of the theater;

— Japanese Cultural & Community Center, Seattle: $75,000 to rehabilitate the Center’s primary facades, including siding, windows and entry porticos;

— Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks, Kent: $70,000 to restore the Earthworks’ sculptural landscape elements to their original design;

— Ferry House at Ebey’s Landing, Whidbey Island: $65,000 to reconstruct the Ferry House’s front porch and provide seismic and structural improvements;

— University Heights Community Center, Seattle: $60,000 to repair the Community Center’s deteriorated historic wood windows;

— Chapel Car 5 “Messenger of Peace,” Snoqualmie: $50,000 to rehabilitate Chapel Car 5’s deteriorated structural components, replace missing windows and seating, and restore damaged interior appointments.

In addition, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized the remaining 14 sites participating in the initiative by granting them each $5,000 in preservation funding. These grant recipients include:

— Spanish Steps, Tacoma;

— Titlow Park Lodge, Tacoma;

— Anderson Island Historical Society, Anderson Island;

— The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle;

— King Street Station, Seattle;

— Port Townsend U.S. Customs House, Port Townsend;

— Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland;

— Horiuchi’s Seattle Mural, Seattle;

— Naval Reserve Armory–MOHAI, Seattle;

— Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Building, Seattle;

— Tugboat Arthur Foss, Seattle;

— Keewaydin Clubhouse, Mercer Island;

— Theodor Jacobsen Observatory, Seattle;

— Bowman Bay Kitchen Shelter, Deception Pass State Park.

Launched in 2006, Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, pledged $5.5 million over a five-year period toward preserving historic places throughout the United States. American Express has already allocated all of the $5.5 million in preservation grants, which has allowed recipients to make significant progress in achieving their preservation goals. American Express has also given $1.1 million to the National Trust for Historic Preservation to support its work helping people save the places that matter to them all across the country.

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For related Tacoma Daily Index coverage, click on the following links:

Contractor selected for Spanish Steps rehab (05/20/10) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1773674&more=0

Opening doors to history (05/03/10) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1762408&more=0

Open Houses this weekend for historic sites competing for preservation grants (04/28/10) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1760463&more=0

Tacoma’s Spanish Steps to vie for $125K historic preservation grant (04/15/10) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1752778&more=0

Tacoma moves closer to Spanish Steps rehab (04/10/10) — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1744240&more=0