National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is an inventory of buildings, structures, sties, areas, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology and culture that is maintained by the National Park Service (NPS). Unlike a National Historic Landmark, the National Register is more encompassing and is the official list of the nation's cultural and historic properties and includes sites in the National Park System, National Historic Landmarks and properties of national, state and local significance.

This is the list, which identifies for government agencies including federal, state and local as well as for private groups and citizens, those properties which should be protected and preserved. In Connecticut, the State Historic Preservation Officer administers the National Register and nominations are reviewed and approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

Listing a property or district on the National Register does not restrict the rights of the private property owner in the use, development or sale of their property. Designation does not mean that the government wants to acquire the property, place restrictions on the land, or dictate the color or materials used on the building. Many people confuse National Register Districts with Local Historic Districts, but they are two distinct designations with very different regulations. The National Register Designation is more of an honorific recognition where as a Local Historic District/Property Designation is much more restrictive in terms of what can be done to a property. These two types of designation are commonly confused.

Although National Register designation does not prevent anyone from altering a property, it does provide other benefits. Each National Register nomination form contains in-depth information on a property's historical and cultural significance and a justification for its preservation. Designation can also encourage the preservation of these properties and enable government agencies to consider them in the early stages of preservation activities. Many states and municipalities use the listings as the backbone of their preservation planning process. Not only does listing provide recognition, it also provides for review of federal and state funded, licensed or sponsored projects that may affect listed historic properties. Some owners, such as non-profit organizations, may be eligible for federal-grants-aid. Designation may also encourage the rehabilitation of income-producing properties, which meet preservation standards through tax incentives. In Connecticut, properties that are eligible or listed on the National Register receive protection from unreasonable destruction, pursuant to the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act.

Criteria:

In order to be nominated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, a property should be at least 50 years old. Those sites less than 50 years old must be exceptionally important to be considered eligible for listing.

The Park Service has developed criteria to guide both state and local governments in evaluating potential entries in the National Register. These standards were developed to recognize the accomplishments of all peoples who have made an important contribution to our nation's heritage. The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association with:

1. that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
2. that are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
3. that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
4. that have yielded or may be likely to yield, information important to prehistory or history.

Generally cemeteries, birthplaces, graves of historical figures, properties owned by religious institutions or use for religious purposes, structures that have been moved from their original locations, reconstructed historic buildings, properties primarily commemorative in nature, and properties that have achieved significance within the past 50 years shall not be considered eligible for the National Register.

However, such properties will qualify if they are integral parts of districts that do meet the criteria or if they fall within the following categories:

1. A religious property deriving primary significance from architectural or artistic distinction or historical importance; or
2. A building or structure removed from its original location but which is primarily significant for architectural value, or which is the surviving structure most importantly associated with a historic person or event; or
3. A birthplace or grave of a historical figure of outstanding importance
if there is no appropriate site or building directly associated with his or her productive life; or
4. A cemetery which derives its primary importance from graves of persons of transcendent importance, from age, from distinctive features, or from association with historic events; or
5. A reconstructed building when accurately executed in a suitable environment and presented in a dignified manner as part of a restoration master plan, and when no other building or structure with the same association has survived; or
6. A property primarily commemorative in intent if design, age, tradition, or symbolic value has invested it with its own exceptional significance; or
7. A property achieving significance within the past 50 years if it is of exceptional importance.

For a more detailed description of the National Register of Historic Places please use the links provided below.

Process in submitting a National Register Nomination Form in Connecticut

A historic site can be nominated by anyone including a staff member of the State Historic Preservation Office, members of the local community or interested citizen.

1. Submit descriptive and historical information on a potential site to the State Historic Preservation Officer.
2. SHPO acknowledges receipt and requests further information if needed. The SHPO evaluates information within 90 days.
3. SHPO determines whether or not to approve a National Register study of property or district. Owners (Individual Property) or Municipality Executive Officer (District) are notified.
4. The National Register form is prepared by the SHPO staff or professionally certified National Register consultant.
5. Public Notification of National Register District and Property Nomination.
6. State Historic Preservation Board Meeting where nomination is evaluated and approved or denied. Approved nomination sent to Washington.
7. Notification of listing to owner or Municipalities Executive Officer.

For more information regarding the submission process in Connecticut, please use the link provided below. Connecticut also has over 40,000 properties have been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. For a listing of those sites, buildings and districts please use the links provided below as well.

CT Listings on National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places NPS -Introduction to the National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, Current info -Current information and Recent Listings on the National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places, NPS, NRIS info -Introduction to using the National Register Information Systerm (NRIS) database. National Register of Historic Places, NRIS database -National Register of Historic Places database. Where you can locate properties on the National Register National Trust for Historic Preservation (NRHP)