Dear krickett-ga;
Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question. I actually live in the oldest park currently listed with the
National Park system and many of the places here have been declared
historical places. This question is not a new one to me.
In order to have land or a site declared a historical site one must
first establish a historical significance or “provenance” associated
with the place in question. The first step is to find as much
verifiable documentation about this as possible and compile the
information into readable form supported by COPIES of the ORIGINAL
documents.
Next, you will seek to have the location added to the National
Register of Historical Places. Generally, the property must be at
least 50 years old in order to be considered unless it is proven that
the property is exceptionally important. Ultimately, the place must
meet certain criteria. According to the rules of the Register’s the
evaluation will consider “the location’s significance in American
history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. These can
be present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects
that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials,
workmanship, feeling, and association, and:
A. That are associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
B. That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our
past; or
C. 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
D. That have yielded or may be likely to yield, information important
in prehistory or history.”
There are some considerations however. Register rules say:
“Criteria Considerations Ordinarily cemeteries, birthplaces, graves of
historical figures, properties owned by religious institutions or used
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:
a. A religious property deriving primary significance from
architectural or artistic distinction or historical importance; or
b. 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
c. 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
d. A cemetery which derives its primary importance from graves of
persons of transcendent importance, from age, from distinctive design
features, or from association with historic events; or
e. 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
f. A property primarily commemorative in intent if design, age,
tradition, or symbolic value has invested it with its own exceptional
significance; or
g. A property achieving significance within the past 50 years if it is
of exceptional importance.”
(Taken from NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES – FAQ
http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/faq.html)
There are other ways to add property to the National Register of
Historic places that do not require you to do all the work yourself.
According to “The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 80 Stat.
915, 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq., as amended” the rules are explained this
way: (citing law, 36 CFR Part 60)
“Properties are added to the National Register through the following
processes.
(1) Those Acts of Congress and Executive orders which create historic
areas of the National Park System administered by the National Park
Service, all or portions of which may be determined to be of historic
significance consistent with the intent of Congress;
(2) Properties declared by the Secretary of the Interior to be of
national significance and designated as National Historic Landmarks;
(3) Nominations prepared under approved State Historic Preservation
Programs, submitted by the State Historic Preservation Officer and
approved by the NPS;
(4) Nominations from any person or local government (only if such
property is located in a State with no approved State Historic
Preservation Program) approved by the NPS and;
(5) Nominations of Federal properties prepared by Federal agencies,
submitted by the Federal Preservation Officer and approved by NPS.”
Please refer to this document which contains a great deal more than I
can provide here and explains in great detail all areas authorized by
law that can be considered for inclusion into the National Register of
Historic Places. It includes, among many other things, information
about establishing boundaries and surveys, use of photographs of the
proposed location, creating or obtaining maps or GPS coordinates, and
expectations of the application/nomination process. I am certain that
all of your questions will be answered by the information found here:
http://archnet.asu.edu/archnet/topical/crm/usdocs/36cfr60.html
In addition, you can find or form a special interest group
(historical, environmental, etc) and obtain a petition indicating that
a majority would like to have the Register or the Department of the
Interior consider the property for inclusion. The aid of your state
representative, senators or other government officials would only
benefit your cause.
EVERYTHING you would ever want to know about how to make this happen
is offered on this site. Some advanced warning about this document
though – it’s “HUGE”. You can get brochures from the Register from
this site or print the online version to read at your leisure or you
can read them directly online; in which case it is imperative that you
find yourself a very comfortable chair before you get started:
NATIONAL REGISTER PUBLICATIONS
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins.htm
The site provides National Register publications on the following
subjects and many others:
How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation (#15)
How to Complete the National Register Registration Form (#16A)
How to Complete the National Register Multiple Property Documentation
Form (#16B) (A video on the multiple property approach is also
available.)
How to Prepare National Historic Landmark Nominations
Researching a Historic Property (#39)
Below you will find that I have carefully defined my search strategy
for you in the event that you need to search for more information. By
following the same type of searches that I did you may be able to
enhance the research I have provided even further. I hope you find
that that my research exceeds your expectations. If you have any
questions about my research please post a clarification request prior
to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating and your final
comments and I look forward to working with you again in the near
future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga
* INFORMATION SOURCES *
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/faq.html
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
TITLE 36PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
CHAPTER INATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
PART 60NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
http://archnet.asu.edu/archnet/topical/crm/usdocs/36cfr60.html
NATIONAL REGISTER PUBLICATIONS
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins.htm
* SEARCH STRATEGY *
SEARCH ENGINE USED:
Google ://www.google.com
SEARCH TERMS USED:
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
PETITION NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES |
