National Register of Historic Places

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National Register of Historic Places is a comprehensive catalog of historic sites, buildings, and districts in the United States that are deemed worthy of preservation due to their historical, architectural, or cultural significance, as recognized by the National Park Service and the United States Department of the Interior. The register is a key component of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The National Register of Historic Places works in conjunction with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to identify and protect historic sites, such as the Statue of Liberty, Mount Vernon, and the Golden Gate Bridge. These sites are often associated with notable figures, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Introduction

The National Register of Historic Places is an authoritative guide to historic sites in the United States, providing a detailed inventory of properties that have been recognized for their historical significance, including the White House, United States Capitol, and Lincoln Memorial. The register includes a wide range of properties, from historic buildings and districts, such as the French Quarter in New Orleans and the Freedom Trail in Boston, to archaeological sites, like Mesa Verde National Park and Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The register also recognizes historic landscapes, including the Grand Canyon National Park and the Yellowstone National Park, which were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978 and 1978, respectively. Notable preservationists, such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lady Bird Johnson, have played a significant role in promoting the conservation of these historic sites.

The National Register of Historic Places was established in 1966, when the National Historic Preservation Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, with the support of Senator Edmund Muskie and Representative Henry Gonzalez. The act created the National Register of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmarks Program, which is administered by the National Park Service. The register was initially populated with sites that had been designated as National Historic Landmarks, including the Independence Hall in Philadelphia and the Alamo in San Antonio. Over time, the register has grown to include thousands of properties, including the Empire State Building in New York City, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and the Space Needle in Seattle. The register has been influenced by the work of notable historians, including David McCullough and Doris Kearns Goodwin, who have written extensively on the history of the United States.

To be included in the National Register of Historic Places, a property must meet certain criteria, including being at least 50 years old and possessing historical, architectural, or cultural significance, as determined by the National Park Service and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The property must also be associated with significant events, people, or cultural movements, such as the American Revolution, the Civil War, or the Civil Rights Movement. Properties that are eligible for inclusion in the register include historic buildings, such as the Fallingwater house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and historic districts, like the Historic District in Savannah, Georgia. The register also recognizes historic landscapes, including the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which were designed by notable landscape architects, including Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.

The registration process for the National Register of Historic Places involves several steps, including nomination, evaluation, and designation, as outlined by the National Park Service and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The process typically begins with a nomination, which is submitted by a state historic preservation officer or a federal agency, such as the National Park Service or the United States Forest Service. The nomination is then evaluated by the National Park Service and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, which consider factors such as the property's historical significance, architectural integrity, and cultural importance. If the property is deemed eligible, it is designated as a historic site and added to the register, joining other notable sites, including the Monticello estate of Thomas Jefferson and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

The National Register of Historic Places includes a wide range of historic sites, from iconic buildings like the Willis Tower in Chicago and the Chrysler Building in New York City to historic districts like the French Quarter in New Orleans and the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego. The register also recognizes historic landscapes, including the Grand Canyon National Park and the Yellowstone National Park, which are managed by the National Park Service and the United States Department of the Interior. Other notable sites on the register include the Statue of Liberty, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which were designed by notable architects and engineers, including Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and Gutzon Borglum.

As of 2022, the National Register of Historic Places includes over 90,000 properties, representing a diverse range of historic sites, buildings, and districts, including the United States Capitol, the White House, and the Lincoln Memorial. The register is divided into several categories, including historic buildings, historic districts, and historic landscapes, which are managed by the National Park Service and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The register also recognizes several types of historic sites, including National Historic Landmarks, National Historic Sites, and National Monuments, which are designated by the National Park Service and the United States Department of the Interior. Notable examples of these sites include the Gettysburg National Military Park, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, which are associated with significant events and figures in American history, including the American Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. Category:National Register of Historic Places