The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. The NRHP includes buildings, districts, structures, objects and sites recognized by the National Park Service on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior for their importance to local, state, or national history. 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. Properties listed in the National Register are significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering and culture. These important resources contribute to an understanding of the historical and cultural foundation of the Nation.
In each state the National Register program is handled through the State Historic Preservation Office. The Federal regulations that govern the National Register of Historic Places Program can be found here.
Currently approximately 26,316 of the state’s historic resources are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, either as individual resources or contributing to a historic district.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are common questions about the National Register Program:
What does listing in the National Register of Historic Places do?
Designation to the National Register is a recognition of a property’s significance in history, architecture, archaeology, engineering or culture.
What criteria must a property meet in order to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places?
In order to be considered eligible for addition to the National Register of Historic Places a property must meet one at least of the following criteria:
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 in prehistory or history. (Archaeology should be evaluated with a site visit or field work by a professional.)
Are there properties that are not eligible to be added to the National Register of Historic Places?
Ordinarily cemeteries, the birthplaces or 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 can qualify if they meet special extra requirements.
Does National Register of Historic Places designation limit what I can do to my property?
No, listing on the National Register does not restrict the use of the property. (For example, an owner can continue to live in a listed house; convert a listed property to another use, continue to farm ground where a listed archaeological site may be located, conduct new construction on the site, etc.). It also does not restrict the sale of a property; unless under the jurisdiction of a state or federal agency. Listing on the National Register does not even require continued maintenance of private property.
What are the benefits of a property being listed in the National Register?
A property being listed in the National Register of Historic Places provides the owner with opportunities to apply for a variety of state and federal grants, as well as take advantage of our Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit program. Funding for restoration is not guaranteed.
In addition to these funding opportunities, National Register designation does provide limited protection when a property is endangered by a state or federally funded or licensed action.
Am I allowed to list a property that I don’t own?
Yes, people are allowed to research and writing a National Register nomination for properties that they don’t own. However, owner consent for the listing of a private property is REQUIRED.
Am I required to meet specific guidelines when working on my listed property?
No, property owners are not required to follow any specific guidelines when rehabilitating their property. However, if the owner is using state or federal funds or receiving a historic rehabilitation tax credit to rehab their property they will be required to following the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
Can I get a historic marker for my property?
The West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office does not provide historic markers for listed properties. You may privately fund and install a historic marker, or research if there is a marker program in your community.
The Process for Listing Properties to the National Register of Historic Places
Determining Eligibility
The first step in a National Register nomination is to determine whether the resource in question is eligible. Generally, SHPO requires the applicant to complete a Historic Property Inventory (HPI) form (Word document, PDF document, and directions). This is a preliminary document that enables our office to acquire a better understanding of the property and develop an informed opinion as to whether it would qualify for the National Register.
When completed, an HPI form should be submitted to SHPO’s National Register and Architectural Survey Historian. The SHPO will review the form to determine if the resource is potentially eligible for listing. SHPO has 30 days upon receipt of an HPI form to review it and issue a formal Determination of Eligibility (DOE) letter to the applicant. SHPO may also request to conduct a site visit of the property to get a better sense of its condition, although that is not always the case.
Nominating the Historic Property
If determined to be potentially eligible, the SHPO will provide the property owner or nomination preparer with a packet of information to help them prepare a National Register nomination. Nominations include a registration form, a descriptive narrative, a narrative history/justification of significance, archival photos, digital photos, mapping, and floor plans. Once received, the SHPO has 60 days to review each draft nomination. Staff will provide comments to preparer. Nominations are considered finalized when SHPO staff has approved content and received all necessary attachments.
After the nomination is finalized, staff will schedule it for presentation to the WV Archives and History Commission (AHC) at the earliest possible meeting. The Commission meets three times per year. Before the AHC meeting, SHPO will: send notifications of the property being nominated to the NRHP are sent out to property owner(s); notify elected state officials and elected local officials; and if property is located within a Certified Local Government, SHPO will forward nomination to the Historic Landmarks Commission for comment. These activities take place between 30-60 days prior to the scheduled AHC meeting. Resources owned privately cannot be listed in the NRHP if the owner objects. The National Park Service will not list the resource but will provide an official determination of eligibility. If approved by the AHC, the SHPO will forward the nomination to the National Park Service within 90 days of their approval. After receipt, the National Park Service has 45 days to list the resource in the National Register, return the nomination for changes, or determine that the resource is not eligible for listing.
For more information see National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
State Register of Historic Places
In West Virginia, all properties listed in the National Register are automatically listed in the State Register of Historic Places. Properties that are eligible for the State Register must also be eligible for the National Register. Currently there is no process for listing a property solely to the State Register.