There are a LOT of sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places – even some near you. As people nominate more places, the list grows and grows. You can find historic places in your community -- or anywhere else in the country -- by searching National Register documents at the National Archives.
How to Find our Files
Find National Register nominations through the National Archives and Records Administration. There are a few ways to search the National Archives Catalogue using the options below.
Note: The National Archives and Records Administration holds Register nominations dating from 1966-2012. Not all nominations have been scanned into the online system. Eventually all documents will be available in the National Archives database. If you are looking for material not yet in their system, please reference the National Register Weekly List.
If the nomination has not been posted online yet you can also request a copy from the National Register Office directly. Please include the name of the property, the state, and the reference number (or as much information as you know on the property). See the National Register of Historic Places homepage for more details.
Option 1: Search by Reference Number
Use the National Register searchable table or spreadsheet to find the nomination you are looking for. Once you’ve found the property, visit the National Archives Catalogue and replace the reference number with the one you want.
Option 2: Search by property name
Use the National Register searchable table or spreadsheet to find the nomination you are looking for. Once you’ve found the property, visit the National Archives Catalogue and replace the name of the property with the one you want.
Option 3: Search by state
Visit the National Archives Catalogue. You’ll find a list of finding aids by state and territory. Scroll to find your state. Select your state and click on “Search Within this File Unit.”
Option 4: Search by Keyword
Visit the National Archives Catalogue. Each individual file has text recognition. In addition NARA's search engine will allow you to search across all pdfs for instances of the word/phrase. Sample searches: "national register of historic places" and "Rachel Carson".
Last updated: June 4, 2021