[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 36, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 36CFR65.4]

[Page 363-365]
 
              TITLE 36--PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
 
      CHAPTER I--NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 
PART 65_NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  65.4  National Historic Landmark criteria.

    The criteria applied to evaluate properties for possible designation 
as National Historic Landmarks or possible determination of eligibility 
for National Historic Landmark designation are listed below. These 
criteria shall be used by NPS in the preparation, review and evaluation 
of National Historic Landmark studies. They shall be used by the 
Advisory Board in reviewing National Historic Landmark studies and 
preparing recommendations to the Secretary. Properties shall be 
designated National Historic Landmarks only if they are nationally 
significant. Although assessments of national significance should 
reflect both public perceptions and professional judgments, the 
evaluations of properties being considered for landmark designation are

[[Page 364]]

undertaken by professionals, including historians, architectural 
historians, archeologists and anthropologists familiar with the broad 
range of the nation's resources and historical themes. The criteria 
applied by these specialists to potential landmarks do not define 
significance nor set a rigid standard for quality. Rather, the criteria 
establish the qualitative framework in which a comparative professional 
analysis of national significance can occur. The final decision on 
whether a property possesses national significance is made by the 
Secretary on the basis of documentation including the comments and 
recommendations of the public who participate in the designation 
process.
    (a) Specific Criteria of National Significance: The quality of 
national significance is ascribed to districts, sites, buildings, 
structures and objects that possess exceptional value or quality in 
illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States in 
history, architecture, archeology, engineering and culture and that 
possess a high degree of integrity of location, design, setting, 
materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and:
    (1) That are associated with events that have made a significant 
contribution to, and are identified with, or that outstandingly 
represent, the broad national patterns of United States history and from 
which an understanding and appreciation of those patterns may be gained; 
or
    (2) That are associated importantly with the lives of persons 
nationally significant in the history of the United States; or
    (3) That represent some great idea or ideal of the American people; 
or
    (4) That embody the distinguishing characteristics of an 
architectural type specimen exceptionally valuable for a study of a 
period, style or method of construction, or that represent a 
significant, distinctive and exceptional entity whose components may 
lack individual distinction; or
    (5) That are composed of integral parts of the environment not 
sufficiently significant by reason of historical association or artistic 
merit to warrant individual recognition but collectively compose an 
entity of exceptional historical or artistic significance, or 
outstandingly commemorate or illustrate a way of life or culture; or
    (6) That have yielded or may be likely to yield information of major 
scientific importance by revealing new cultures, or by shedding light 
upon periods of occupation over large areas of the United States. Such 
sites are those which have yielded, or which may reasonably be expected 
to yield, data affecting theories, concepts and ideas to a major degree.
    (b) Ordinarily, cemeteries, birthplaces, graves of historical 
figures, properties owned by religious institutions or used for 
religious purposes, structures that have been moved from their original 
locations, reconstructed historic buildings and properties that have 
achieved significance within the past 50 years are not eligible for 
designation. Such properties, however, will qualify if they fall within 
the following categories:
    (1) A religious property deriving its primary national significance 
from architectural or artistic distinction or historical importance; or
    (2) A building or structure removed from its original location but 
which is nationally significant primarily for its architectural merit, 
or for association with persons or events of transcendent importance in 
the nation's history and the association consequential; or
    (3) A site of a building or structure no longer standing but the 
person or event associated with it is of transcendent importance in the 
nation's history and the association consequential; or
    (4) A birthplace, grave or burial if it is of a historical figure of 
transcendent national significance and no other appropriate site, 
building or structure directly associated with the productive life of 
that person exists; or
    (5) A cemetery that derives its primary national significance from 
graves of persons of transcendent importance, or from an exceptionally 
distinctive design or from an exceptionally significant event; or
    (6) A reconstructed building or ensemble of buildings of 
extraordinary national significance when accurately executed in a 
suitable environment and presented in a dignified manner as part of a 
restoration master plan, and when

[[Page 365]]

no other buildings or structures with the same association have 
survived; or
    (7) A property primarily commemorative in intent if design, age, 
tradition, or symbolic value has invested it with its own national 
historical significance; or
    (8) A property achieving national significance within the past 50 
years if it is of extraordinary national importance.