What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources.

Downtown Plainfield Historic District

Courtesy of the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office

What We Do

• Review nominations that Americans believe are worthy of preservation submitted by states, tribes, and other federal agencies and list eligible properties in the National Register
• Offer guidance on evaluating, documenting, and listing different types of historic places through the National Register Bulletin series and other publications
• Help qualified historic properties receive preservation benefits and incentives

Quicklinks

• How to List a Property covers everything from how to determine if your property is eligible, to how to contact your State Historic Preservation Officer to start a nomination, to the listing process, to the effects of listing
• Nomination Forms
• Publications includes National Register Bulletins and other guidance on all aspects of the nomination process
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Sample Nominations
• Federal Preservation Laws and Regulations
• 36CFR60 are the regulations specifically for the National Register of Historic Places

Search the National Register

The National Register of Historic Places is a treasure trove for professional historians, scholars, and anyone curious about American history. Our Research and Database page has more information.

Coatesville Veterans Administration Hospital Historic District

Photograph courtesy of Veterans Administration

Fast Facts

• The more than 98,000 properties listed (as of the end of 2023) in the National Register represent 1.8 million contributing resources - buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects
• Almost every county in the United States has at least one place listed in the National Register
• Listing in the National Register is the first step towards eligibility for National Park Service-administered federal preservation tax credits that have leveraged more than $45 billion in private investment and National Park Service grant programs like Save America's Treasures and Preserve America.
• Program FY23 Accomplishments