The National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places was established in 1966 as part of the National Historic Preservation Act. A State Historic Preservation Office, or SHPO was established in each state. The role of these offices were, and continue to be to oversee, and assist in evaluating and nominating sites for inclusion in the National Register. The National Register was placed under the oversight of the National Park Service, and later both were placed under the oversight of the Department of the Interior. In its early years, the National Register struggled to obtain funds to operate. The result led to lax operations, and understaffed SHPOs. By the 1980s, more money became available via grants. SHPOs, thanks to the increase in funds, were able to go out and effectively evaluate potential sites for their historic integrity. Most sites that are evaluated and nominated for the National Register include, but are not limited to:

- Houses
- Commercial Buildings
- Farmsteads
- Battlefields
- Churches
- Historic Districts (Commercial and Residential)

Many of the properties that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places are privately owned. Owners of these historic properties are often eligible for tax incentives. If an owner is needing to rehab their historic property, then they are eligible for a 20% investment tax credit. Grants can also be applied for by the property owners. Having a property listed in the National Register does not protect it from destruction. If a site is deemed eligible and listed, it can be removed if destroyed. The National Register nomination process is very simple. These nominations are often prepared by historians, or historical consultants. The process begins with the filling out of an information form. This form is submitted along with a brief history of the property and photos to the State Historic Preservation Office. The SHPO then provides feedback to the nominating individual(s). In some cases, employees of the SHPO will make a site visit in order to determine eligibility. Once an initial decision is made, the property is then put before the state's historic review board. When evaluating and nominating a property, the historical consultant, the SHPO, and the review board must prove that the site meets one of the following criteria:

- Criteria A: Overall History
- Criteria B: People significant in our past.
- Criteria C: Architecture (Buildings or Landscape in some cases both i.e. a farmstead)
- Criteria D: Information Potential or Archaeology

If approved, the SHPO, will notify the Keeper of the National Register and the property will be listed.   If a property is deemed ineligible, it is usually because it does not meet one of the four criteria. Other cases can be, if the nominated site has been reconstructed, or the site is less then fifty years old. Sites that are usually ineligible include:

- Cemeteries
- Commemorative Properties
- Birthplaces

At the time of this writing, there are over a million properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Of these one million, approximately 80,000 are listed as individual sites, with the rest falling into the category of historic districts. In Tennessee alone, there are over 2,000 sites. There is at least one site listed in every county. At Moore Historical Consulting, I am committed to growing the National Register in Tennessee. If you know of any site that may meet National Register Criteria, contact me today at moorehistoricalconsulting@gmail.com to get started. It is our duty as citizens of this great nation to preserve our historic resources.

When a property is entered into the National Register of Historic Places, usually a plaque like the one above is placed on it. 

In Tennessee, the Cookeville Depot, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Sixteen Tunnel are among historic sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The S.S. Jeremiah O' Brian is a great example of something other then a building, or landform being listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Be sure and come back next week for another installment of Moore Historical Consulting's Throwback Thursday series. At Moore Historical Consulting, my services are not just limited to preservation, I also offer genealogies, business histories, property research, and historic litigation. Contact me today to find out more information and put me to work for you today!!