National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the USA's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. As of 2004, the list includes approximately 78,000 entries, including many icons of American culture, history, engineering, and architecture.

Process for listing a building, site or district

Any individual can prepare a National Register nomination although historians and historic preservation consultants are often employed for this work. The nomination contains basic information on the type of significance embodied in the building, district, or site:

Related Topics:
Historian - Historic preservation

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• Association with a person(s) in history
• Association with historical event(s)
• Architectural significance (design)
• Informational value (primarily archaeology)

Information on architectural styles, association with various aspects of social history and commerce, and ownership is part of the nomination. A narrative section describes the site or building in detail and justifies why it is historically significant.

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The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) receives National Register nominations and supplies feedback to the individual preparing the nomination. Once the SHPO approves the nomination, it is passed to the state's historic preservation advisory board which then approves or denies the nomination. From there the nomination is sent to the National Park Service which then approves or denies the nomination. If approved it is officially entered by the Keeper into the National Register of Historic Places.

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