Historic Designations

Across the United States, there are many organizations devoted to the preservation of historic properties and their stories. These organizations exist at federal, state, and local levels. Many are publicly funded while others are not. The following memo is organized into three main sections: Federal, State, and Local. 

Most federal historic designations fall under the purview of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.  The Department of the Interior provides a list of private organizations devoted to the same mission on their website.  https://www.doi.gov/library/internet/historic#Non-Government

Many of the laws concerning designations under the National Park Service are found in Title 54 of the United States Code. The Park Service has published an anthology of federal and related laws concerning preservation of American heritage that can be found here.  They have also compiled a comprehensive list of relevant statutes and regulations on their website with links to relevant portions of the U.S.C or C.F.R. 

The Secretary of the Interior has also developed, for the sake of consistency, standards and guidelines for preservation at national, tribal, state, and local levels.  These guidelines, some of which are regulatory, have also been compiled on the National Park’s website with relevant links.

The National Register of Historic Places is the federal government’s official list of historic places “worthy of preservation.” The Register reviews nominations submitted by states, tribes, and other federal agencies to identify and assist eligible historic properties receive preservation benefits and incentives.  On the Register’s website, the Parks Service has links to instructions on how to list a property, the necessary forms for nomination, and other helpful resources including relevant regulatory information.

The ”How to List a Property” page on the National Park Service’s website explains that nominations must first be submitted to one’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Kentucky’s SHPO is the Kentucky Heritage Council which has a page dedicated to assisting those who wish to nominate a site here. One can either nominate a property themselves or hire a consultant. The first point of contact will be the Heritage Council National Register Coordinator, who will determine whether the property is listed in the Kentucky Historic Resources Inventory database. If the property is not found in the database, the preparer of the nomination will be asked to complete a Kentucky Historic Properties Survey Form to first ensure the property is documented on the statewide survey. A National Register nomination form will then be completed and reviewed by the coordinator. Following a hearing before the Kentucky Historic Preservation Review Board and any recommended edits, the nomination is sent to Washington for federal review.

If approved for listing on the National Register, properties may enjoy grant opportunities, tax benefits, and ordering a bronze plaque distinguishing the property as being listed on the National Register.

All National Historic Landmarks are listed in the National Register.  National Historic Landmarks specifically commemorate or illustrate the history of the United States.  On their website, the National Park Service lists four factors in considering whether a historic site may be eligible to receive designation:

• is the location with the strongest association with a turning point or significant event in American history.
• is the best location to tell the story of an individual who played a significant role in the history of the United States.
• is an exceptional representation of a particular building or engineering method, technique, or building type in the country.
• provides the potential to yield new and innovative information about the past through archeology.

Similar to the nomination process for the National Register, a nomination is required to be designated as a National Historic Landmark. An overview of the nomination process, which can take two to five years, can be found here. A State Historic Preservation Officer, historic expert, or member of the general public may write a letter of inquiry to the National Park Service.  If the National Historic Landmark staff determine the property is eligible, the staff will provide the nomination preparer with detailed guidance as the nomination is written. Ultimately, the Secretary of the Interior will make the final determination whether the property will receive designation.

If a property is designated as a National Historic Landmark, it may receive grants, tax incentives, and assistance with preservation.  The National Park Service, as the legally responsible agency for monitoring Landmark conditions, may request permission to visit and document any potential threats to the landmark’s preservation.  This information assists the Park Service in making decisions concerning assistance programs and grants.

The National Park Service also has a variety of other programs dedicated to historic preservations. These include the American Battlefield Protection Program and Heritage Documentation Programs. Additionally, the Historic Preservation Fund provides competitive grants and implements the Historic Preservation Planning Program which works with communities to “make sense of the planning process and ensure it is useful and effective.”  The U.S. Department of the Interior provides a comprehensive list of historic preservation programs, services, and publications here.  Preservation Directory, preservationdirectory.com is a user-friendly hub for navigating the many avenues for obtaining federal support for historic preservation.

Yes and many of these organizations are listed on the Department of the Interior website.  Some of the more well-known organizations are:  National Trust for Historic Preservation, Partners for Sacred Places, and Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation.

Yes! A variety of programs in Kentucky, publicly and privately funded, are available for supporting  historic preservation: 

The Kentucky Historical Society is the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet’s agency for educating and engaging the public through the commonwealth’s history. Perhaps one of their most well-known and commonly spotted programs is the Historical Marker Program. The Program’s goal is “to educate Kentuckians about important historical topics near the meaningful sites connected to them.” To nominate a topic for the Historical Marker Program, nominators must submit a letter of interest and submitted per the instructions on the Historical Marker webpage.

The Kentucky Heritage Council assists with preservation by overseeing tax incentive programs, preservation easements, and more. The Council also engages with Kentucky’s local communities and governments in promoting historic preservation through programs like the Kentucky Main Street Program, the Certified Local Government Program, and preservation planning generally.  The Council also works with several commissions dedicated to specific communities such as the Kentucky African American Heritage Commission and the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission.  Sites and objects with military-specific significance to the history of the Commonwealth are under the Kentucky Military Heritage Commission.

Preservation Kentucky is a public charity nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of “Kentucky’s historic buildings, rural landscapes and archaeological sites through advocacy and education.” In addition to lobbying and educational efforts, Preservation Kentucky also provides opportunities for a variety of preservations grants. The Kentucky Preservation Fund, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Kentucky Heritage Council, may be used for community revitalization efforts, studies, planning, research, and more. Information about these grants can be found on the Preservation Kentucky website.  Preservation Kentucky also provides a list of federal and Kentucky-specific links helpful in looking for historic recognition and funding.

Yes! There are also a variety of local organizations dedicated to preserving the Commonwealth’s history. For example, the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation is a private organization dedicated to preservation efforts in Central Kentucky. website.  The city of Lexington also has a team dedicated to Historic Preservations website.  In Louisville, the Historic Preservation and Urban Design team is responsible for providing guidance to citizens and business-owners who seek to preserve their historic properties. The city also recognizes Local Preservation Districts website.