Indiana Landmarks Primer on the National Register of Historic Places

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THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC Places recognizes properties the federal govern- ment considers worthy of preservation because of their significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. In Indiana, National Register listings range from the prehistoric Angel Mounds in Vanderburgh County to a mid-twentieth-century neighborhood in Carmel. The list includes private homes and courthouses, commercial buildings and factories— to date nearly 2,000 individual sites and more than 270 historic districts. A program of the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Register is administered on the state level by the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA) of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The primary benefit of listing in the National Register is the honor conferred by official federal recognition. When a site is added, the listing appears in the Federal Register, and the owner receives a let- ter and certificate. Owners of income-producing National Register properties may be entitled to tax credits for restora- tion, and not-for-profit owners may be eligible for grants awarded in a competitive annual process. National Register status does NOT limit a private owner’s freedom to alter the property nor impose an approval process. Limitations occur only if a project involving federal funding or licensing would in any way affect a National Register site. In such a case, DHPA acting as an agent of the National Register conducts an analysis—a process called Section 106 review—that can result in measures protective of the site. Common Misconceptions THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT A private owner can do with or to a National Register property, providing no federal or state money is be- ing used. Listing does not mean the federal govern- ment wants to buy the property, nor does it allow the public access to the property. Using strictly private funds, an owner can alter a National Register site—including demolishing it without permission or notification. Restrictions on the treatment of landmarks come from local or city ordinances, not as a result of National Register status. Is the Property Eligible? ANYONE WILLING TO UNDERTAKE THE research and fill out the forms can nominate a struc- ture to the National Register. However, the site must meet demanding criteria, and preparing a nomina- tion is complex and requires specialized knowledge that can be difficult for a novice to master. Among other elements, the nomination must substantiate that the property possesses significance, integrity, and age. Indiana Landmarks teamed up with the Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archeaology (DHPA) to nominate 16 previ- ously unlisted courthouses to the National Register, including the Vermillion County Courthouse in Newport. Though listing does not offer complete protection, it brings practical benefits: publicly-owned properties become eligible for preservation grants, and owners of private properties may qualify for tax credits for restoration. LEE LEWELLEN 1 Indiana Landmarks / National Register / June 2016 www.indianalandmarks.org The National Register of Historic Places MISCONCEPTIONS ELIGIBILITY NOMINATING RESOURCES