National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance. Out of more than 80,000 places on the National Register of Historic Places only about 2,430 are NHLs.
A National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) is a historic district that is recognized as a NHL. It may include contributing properties that have buildings, structures, sites or objects, and it may include non-contributing properties.
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[edit] History
On October 9, 1960, 92 properties were announced as designated NHLs by Secretary of the Interior Fred Andrew Seaton. The first of these was a political nomination, Sergeant Floyd Grave and Monument in Sioux City, Iowa as officially designated on June 30 of that year, but for various reasons the public announcement of the first several NHLs was delayed.
[edit] Criteria
NHLs are designated by the United States Secretary of the Interior because they are:
- Sites where events of national historical significance occurred;
- Places where prominent persons lived or worked;
- Icons of ideals that shaped the nation;
- Outstanding examples of design or construction;
- Places characterizing a way of life; or
- Archeological sites able to yield information.
[edit] Overview of current NHLs
Of the 2,442 or so current NHLs, more than 10 percent are located in New York State, which has 256. There are NHLs in all 50 states. There are 74 in the District of Columbia, 15 in Puerto Rico and other U.S. commonwealths and territories, five in U.S.-associated states such as Micronesia, and two in a foreign state (Canada and Morocco).[1] [2]
There are 128 ships or shipwrecks that are NHLs.
[edit] Other
About half of the National Historic Landmarks are privately owned.[3] The National Historic Landmarks Program relies on suggestions for new designations from the National Park Service, which also assists in maintaining the landmarks. A friends' group of owners and managers, the National Historic Landmark Stewards Association, works to preserve, protect and promote National Historic Landmarks.
If not already listed on the National Register of Historic Places, an NHL is automatically added to the Register upon designation. About three percent of Register listings are NHLs.[4]
[edit] See also
- American Water Landmark
- List of National Historic Landmarks by state
- List of National Register of Historic Places entries
- Listed building, a similar designation in the UK
- National Natural Landmark
- United States Memorials
[edit] External links
- National Historic Landmarks Program Official website
- National Historic Landmarks: Archaeological Properties
[edit] References
- ^ National Park Service (November 2007). "National Historic Landmarks Survey: List of National Historic Landmarks by State" (PDF). http://www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/designations/Lists/LIST07.pdf. Retrieved 2008-07-01
- ^ The counts and locations of NHLs are described most accurately in List of National Historic Landmarks by state. This extends, and corrects errors from, the National Park Service's "National Historic Landmarks Survey List of National Historic Landmarks by State", also referenced.
- ^ National Historic Landmarks Update, National Park Service, October 2004
- ^ "Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 65". US Government Printing Office. http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_98/36cfr65_98.html. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
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