National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

There’s a special magic that happens when visiting a National Historic Landmark. Whether it’s gazing across a grand vista to Pikes Peak in Colorado, or standing on a busy city street admiring the ornate façade of Chicago’s Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company Store – suddenly one is rooted in history. You stand where people of the past lived, worked, and made important decisions. A connection is made – between their stories and our own. One important purpose of the annual National Historic Landmark Photo Contest is to encourage people to discover and explore landmark sites across the country and be inspired by our past. Based on this year’s pool of exceptional photographs, connections were made. This year’s entries provide a vicarious cross-country tour and capture the essence of these special places. This was the 13th annual National Historic Landmark Photo Contest, and the portfolio of entries – almost 265 from all over the country - was the best we’ve seen in the history of the contest. Perhaps this year’s winning entries will spark the urge to explore the country’s vast array of more than 2,500 National Historic Landmarks, to seek out the stories that connect our rich history, and share your own views in next year’s contest. To see this year's winner and honorable mention photographs, visit the contest gallery on Flickr. WINNER Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Saugus, Massachusetts Photographer: Don Woods, North Clarendon, Vermont HONORABLE MENTIONS (Images are featured in the slideshow above; click to view full image.) Holy Assumption Orthodox Church, Kenai, Alaska Photographer: Dawn Wilson, Fort Collins, Colorado Bodie Historic District, Bodie, California Photographer: Joe Wenninger, Laguna Niguel, California Manzanar War Relocation Center, Inyo County, California Photographer: Bill Griswold, San Diego, California Schooner Alma, San Francisco, California Photographer: John Conway, Vallejo, California Pikes Peak (as seen from Garden of the Gods National Natural Landmark), El Paso County, Colorado Photographer: Dawn Wilson, Fort Collins, Colorado Bear River Massacre Site, Preston, Idaho Photographer: Roxie Crouch, Willard, Utah Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company Store, Chicago, Illinois Photographer: Cate Bainton, Richmond, California Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky Photographer: Sayre Hutchison, Lakewood, CO Old State House, Boston, Massachusetts Photographer: Roxie Crouch, Willard, Utah Lightship No. 103, Huron, Port Huron, Michigan Photographer: Jason Steel, New Baltimore, Michigan Stanton Hall, Natchez, Mississippi Photographer: Mike Talplacido, Houston, Texas Nevada Northern Railway, East Ely Yards, Ely, Nevada Photographer: Jen Dalley, Ely, Nevada Charleston Market Hall and Sheds, Charleston, South Carolina Photographer: Steven Hyatt, Mount Pleasant, SC National Historic Landmarks National Historic Landmarks are nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. A National Historic Landmark may be a historic building, site, structure, object, or district. Approximately 2,500 historic places bear this national distinction. Working with citizens throughout the nation, the National Historic Landmarks Program draws upon the expertise of National Park Service staff to identify and nominate new landmarks and to provide assistance to existing landmarks. Learn more by visiting the National Historic Landmarks Program page.