Why Should We Preserve Historic Places?

If we wish to have a future with greater meaning, we must concern ourselves...with the total heritage of the nation and all that is worth preserving from our past as a living part of the present.

-- With Heritage So Rich, 1966

There are a variety of programs to identify and assist in preserving historic properties as living parts of communities, States, and the Nation. In 1992, the U.S. Congress reaffirmed the reasons for enacting these programs:

• The spirit and direction of the Nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage.
• The historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people.
• Historic properties significant to the Nation's heritage are being lost or substantially altered, often inadvertently, with increasing frequency.
• The preservation of this irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest so that its vital legacy of cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, economic, and energy benefits will be maintained and enriched for future generations of Americans.

Fred C. Aiken House, Boca Raton, Florida (Florida Division of Historic Resources)

Established under the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, the national historic preservation program is a partnership between the Federal, State, and local governments; private, non-profit organizations; and the public. The Act and its provisions establish the framework within which citizens plan, identify, evaluate, register, and protect significant historic and archeological properties throughout the Nation.

How Does the Federal Government Designate Properties as Historic?

Listing in the National Register of Historic Places

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 assigns the National Register of Historic Places a central role in recognizing buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects significant in American history, archeology, architecture, engineering, or culture, and identifying them as worthy of preservation. Anyone can prepare a nomination to the National Register, working with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) in their State. State and Federal Historic Preservation Officers (FPOs) also survey and evaluate properties in their jurisdictions, determine which of these properties are eligible for listing, and prepare nominations to the Register. Nominations submitted through the States must first be approved by a Review Board appointed by the Governor before being reviewed by the National Register staff. If the professional staff at the National Register concludes that the property meets the criteria for evaluation, it is recommended for listing to the Keeper of the National Register.

• Federal agencies request a determination of eligibility to assist in their planning.
  Frequently, consensus is achieved between the Federal agency, a State, and the Advisory Council that the property is considered eligible for listing in the National Register. When consensus cannot be achieved between the parties, the Keeper will determine whether or not the property is eligible. The agency then seeks the Advisory Council's comments on a project that may affect the property.
• The Secretary of the Interior makes a unilateral determination of eligibility, after an investigation and onsite inspection, when this action will assist in the preservation of a historic property. The Secretary may make this determination in unusual circumstances.
• The private property owner, or for properties with more than one owner, a majority of private property owners, objects to listing in the National Register.
• National Park Service regional offices certify that State or local districts meet the National Register criteria for purposes of Federal investment tax credits for rehabilitation.

Designation as a National Historic Landmark

To recognize the national significance of properties that possess exceptional values or qualities in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States, the Secretary of the Interior designates some historic places as National Historic Landmarks. National Park Service historians and archeologists study and evaluate these properties within the context of major themes of American history. Properties judged to be nationally significant are nominated by the National Park Service and forwarded to the National Park System Advisory Board, which may recommend to the Secretary of the Interior that the property be designated a National Historic Landmark. When designated, National Historic Landmarks are listed in the National Register.

Landmark designation recognizes that properties are important to the entire nation. National Historic Landmarks are afforded the benefits of all listings in the National Register. Owners of landmarks are free to manage their property as they choose, provided no Federal license, permit, or funding is involved. As with other National Register listings, Federal agencies whose projects affect a landmark must give the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation an opportunity to comment on the project and its effects on the property. Owners of landmarks may be able obtain Federal historic preservation funding, when funds are available. Federal investment tax credits for rehabilitation and other provisions may apply. A bronze plaque bearing the name of the landmark and attesting to its national significance is presented to the owner if requested.

Henry C. Bowen House (Roseland Cottage), Woodstock, Connecticut (David Bohl)

What Can I Do If I Don't Agree With A Federal Designation?

By law, a property cannot be formally listed in the National Register of Historic Places or designated as a National Historic Landmark if the private owner of the property, or a majority of private owners, has filed a notarized objection prior to its listing or designation.

In addition, if you believe that any State and Federal decision regarding historic properties

• was made in error,
• did not follow appropriate procedures, or
• should be reevaluated in light of significant new information regarding the property's historic significance,

you may appeal the decision by contacting the appropriate State or Federal Historic Preservation Officer.

Appeals of National Historic Landmark decisions should be made to the Director of the National Park Service.

Antietum Furnace Complex, Sharpsburg, Maryland (Susan Winter

What Happens When A Federal Agency Is Planning A Project That May Affect My Property?

There are no Federal designations that place Federal restrictions on private property owners.

Federal agencies, however, must consider the effects of their activities (construction, licensing, or permits) on historic properties. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 directs Federal agencies to take into account the effects of projects on historic or archeological properties that are listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Agencies must consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an independent Federal agency that advises the President and the Congress on matters pertaining to preservation of historic architectural, archeological, and cultural properties. The Advisory Council comments on how the project affects significant properties. In most cases, agreement on how a project will be carried out with the least harm to important properties is written into a Memorandum of Agreement which is signed by the agency, the SHPO, and the Advisory Council.

My State Or Community Says My Property Is Historic. What Does That Mean?

Many States and localities have laws to encourage the preservation of their historic places. Some have enacted their own identification procedures, but many use listing in the National Register as an indicator of historic significance.

State and local historic preservation programs often provide some protection against the possible harmful effects of State funded, licensed, or assisted projects. Some provide limited financial assistance to owners in the form of grants, loans, or tax benefits. They may establish other protections for preservation purposes. Programs differ from State to State, and within States; your State Historic Preservation Officer or local planning department can give you more information.

What Can I Do To Help Protect My Historic Property?

I. Use These Tools When Available In Your Community:

• land use planning mechanisms
• zoning
• local preservation ordinances
• historic district commissions
• easements donated in perpetuity
• protective covenants
• financial assistance

II. Use These Tools When Available at the State Level:

• State laws that help preserve historic properties or environmental quality
• financial assistance such as grants or loans
• tax abatements or deductions

III. Use Applicable Federal Tools:

• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation review of and comment on Federal projects
• tax incentives for the certified rehabilitation of income-producing properties listed in the National Register
• tax incentives for charitable contributions for conservation purposes
• Historic Preservation Fund matching grants provided through your State Historic Preservation Officer.

Where Can I Get More Information?

National Register of Historic Places
National Register, History, and Education
National Park Service
1849 C. St., NW, #2280
Washington, DC 20240
(202) 354-2213
www.cr.nps.gov/nr

This office maintains the National Register and can provide information on the National Register program, including computerized lists of properties, copies of National Register documentation, and information on preparing nominations. The office can also provide names, addresses, and telephone numbers of State Historic Preservation Officers, Federal Historic Preservation Officers and Tribal Preservation Officers.

National Historic Landmarks
National Register, History, and Education
National Park Service
1849 C. St., NW, #2280
Washington, DC 20240
(202) 354-2210
www.cr.nps.gov/nhl

Through the combined efforts of the National Historic Landmarks Survey and the National Historic Landmarks Initiative, the National Park Service conducts the National Historic Landmarks program for the Secretary of the Interior. It is a cooperative endeavor of government agencies, professionals, and independent organizations sharing knowledge with the Service and working jointly to identify and preserve National Historic Landmarks.

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
The Old Post Office Building
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Suite 809
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 606-8503

The Council can provide further information on Section 106 review.

List of National Register Bulletins

State Historic Preservation Officers

link to SHPOs

Authorities

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation: Regulations of the National Register of Historic Places (36 CFR 60) under authority of the national Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended; Regulations regarding Federal agency Determinations of Eligibility (36 CFR 63) under authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and Executive Order 11593; Regulations for historic preservation certifications pursuant to section 48(g) and section 170(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (36 CFR 67); Regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (36 CFR 800) under authority of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq. and Executive Order 11593; Regulations of the National Historic Landmarks Program (36 CFR 65) under the authority of the Historic Sites Act of 1935.

Copies of these documents are available from the National Register of Historic Places.

Acknowledgments

This brochure was developed by Beth L. Savage and Marilyn Harper of the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service. Assistance was provided by Rama Ramakrisha. Lawrence E. Aten, G. Bernard Callan, Lars Hanslin, Antoinette J. Lee, Ben Levy, Carol D. Shull, and David W. Lowe offered valuable comments.