National Register of Historic Places

Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect our historic and archaeological resources.

Inclusion on the National Register is honorary in nature, serving as an acknowledgement of a historic place's significance to the community, state or the nation. Under federal law, owners of private property listed in the National Register are free to maintain, manage or dispose of their property as they choose, provided that there is no federal involvement. Owners are not legally obligated to open their properties to the public, to restore them or even to maintain them, if they choose not to do so.

Properties listed in the Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects that are significant in American history. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.