NATIONAL REGISTERBULLETIN

Technical information on the the National Register of Historic Places:survey, evaluation, registration, and preservation of cultural resources

National Park ServiceCultural ResourcesNational Register, History and Education

How to Apply the National RegisterCriteria for Evaluation

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The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provideaccess to our Nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor our trustresponsibilities to tribes.

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and culturalresources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education,and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperateswith partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resourceconservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

This material is partially based upon work conducted under a cooperativeagreement with the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officersand the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Date of publication: 1990; revised 1991,1995,1997. Revised for Internet 1995.

Cover

(Top Left) Criterion B - Frederick Douglass Home, Washington, D.C. From 1877-1899, this was the home of Frederick Douglass, the former slave who rose to become aprominent author, abolitionist, editor, orator, and diplomat. (Walter Smalling, Jr.)

(Top Right) Criterion D - Francis Canyon Ruin, Blanco vicinity, Rio ArribaCounty, New Mexico. A fortified village site composed of 40 masonry-walled roomsarranged in a cluster of four house blocks. Constructed ca. 1716-1742 for protectionagainst raiding Utes and Comanches, the site has information potential related to Na-vajo, Pueblo, and Spanish cultures. (Jon Samuelson)

(Bottom Left) Criterion C - Bridge in Cherrytree Township, Venago County,Pennsylvania. Built in 1882, this Pratt through truss bridge is significant for engi-neering as a well preserved example of a type of bridge frequently used in northwesternPennsylvania in the late 19th century. (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation)

(Bottom Right) Criterion A - Main Street/Market Square Historic District,Houston, Harris County, Texas. Until well into the 20th century this district markedthe bounds of public and business life in Houston. Constructed between the 1870s and1920s, the district includes Houston's municipal and county buildings, and served asthe city's wholesale, retail, and financial center. (Paul Hester)

PREFACE

Preserving historic properties asimportant reflections of our Americanheritage became a national policythrough passage of the AntiquitiesAct of 1906, the Historic Sites Act of1935, and the National Historic Pres-ervation Act of 1966, as amended.The Historic Sites Act authorized theSecretary of the Interior to identifyand recognize properties of nationalsignificance (National Historic Land-marks) in United States history andarcheology. The National HistoricPreservation Act of 1966 authorizedthe Secretary to expand this recogni-tion to properties of local and Statesignificance in American history, ar-chitecture, archeology, engineering,and culture, and worthy of preserva-tion. The National Register of His-toric Places is the official list of theserecognized properties, and is main-tained and expanded by the NationalPark Service on behalf of the Secretaryof the Interior.1

The National Register of HistoricPlaces documents the appearance andimportance of districts, sites, build-ings, structures, and objects signifi-

cant in our prehistory and history.These properties represent the majorpatterns of our shared local, State,and national experience. To guide theselection of properties included in theNational Register, the National ParkService has developed the NationalRegister Criteria for Evaluation.These criteria are standards by whichevery property that is nominated tothe National Register is judged. Inaddition, the National Park Servicehas developed criteria for the recogni-tion of nationally significant proper-ties, which are designated NationalHistoric Landmarks and prehistoricand historic units of the National ParkSystem. Both these sets of criteriawere developed to be consistent withthe Secretary of the Interior's Stan-dards and Guidelines for Archeology andHistoric Preservation, which are uni-form, national standards for preserva-tion activities.2

This publication explains how theNational Park Service applies thesecriteria in evaluating the wide rangeof properties that may be significantin local, State, and national history.

It should be used by anyone whomust decide if a particular propertyqualifies for the National Register ofHistoric Places.

Listing properties in the NationalRegister is an important step in a na-tionwide preservation process. Theresponsibility for the identification,initial evaluation, nomination, andtreatment of historic resources lieswith private individuals, State historicpreservation offices, and Federal pres-ervation offices, local governments,and Indian tribes. The final evalua-tion and listing of properties in theNational Register is the responsibilityof the Keeper of the National Register.

This bulletin was prepared by staffof the National Register Branch, Inter-agency Resources Division, NationalPark Service, with the assistance of theHistory Division. It was originally is-sued in draft form in 1982. The draftwas revised into final form by PatrickW. Andrus, Historian, National Regis-ter, and edited by Rebecca H.Shrimpton, Consulting Historian.

Beth L. Savage, National Registerand Sarah Dillard Pope, National Reg-ister, NCSHPO coordinated the latestrevision of this bulletin. Antionette J.Lee, Tanya Gossett, and Kira Badamocoordinated earlier revisions.

'Properties listed in the National Register receive limited Federal protection and certain benefits. For more information concerning the effects oflisting, and how the National Register may be used by the general public and Certified Local Governments, as well as by local, State, and Federalagencies, and for copies of National Register Bulletins, contact the National Park Service, National Register, 1849 C Street, NW, NC400, Washington,D.C., 20240. Information may also be obtained by visiting the National Register Web site at www.cr.nps.gov/nr or by contacting any of the historicpreservation offices in the States and territories.

2The Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation are found in the Federal Register, Vol. 48, No. 190(Thursday, September 29,1983). A copy can be obtained by writing the National Park Service, Heritage Preservation Services (at the address above).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface i

I. Introduction 1

II. National Register Criteria for Evaluation 2

III. How to Use this Bulletin to Evaluate a Property 3

IV. How to Define Categories of Historic Properties 4

Building 4Structure 4Object 5Site 5District 5

Concentration, Linkage, & Continuity of Features 5Significance 5Types of Features 5Geographical Boundaries 6Discontiguous Districts 6

V. How to Evaluate a Property Within its Historic Context 7

Understanding Historic Contexts 7How to Evaluate a Property Within Its Historic Context 7

Properties Significant Within More Than on Historic Context 9Comparing Related Properties 9

Local, State, and National Historic Contexts 9

VI. How to Identify the Type of Significance of a Property 11

Introduction 11Criterion A: Event 12

Understanding Criterion A 12Applying Criterion A 12

Types of Events 12Association of the Property with the Events 12Significance of the Association 12Traditional Cultural Values 13

Criterion B: Person 14Understanding Criterion B 14Applying Criterion B 15

Significance of the Individual 15Association with the Property 15Comparison to Related Properties 15Association with Groups 15Association with Living Persons 16Association with Architects/Artisans 16Native American Sites 16

Criterion C: Design/Construction 17Understanding Criterion C • 17Applying Criterion C 18

Distinctive Characteristics of Type, Period, and Method of Construction 18Historic Adaptation of the Original Property 19Works of a Master .....20Properties Possessing High Artistic Values 20

Criterion D: Information Potential 21Understanding Criterion D 21Applying Criterion D 21

Archeological Sites 21Buildings, Structures, and Objects 21Association with Human Activity 22Establishing a Historic Context 22Developing Research Questions 22Establishing the Presence of Adequate Data 23Integrity 23Partly Excavated or Disturbed Properties 23Completely Excavated Sites 24

VII. How to Apply the Criteria Considerations 25

Introduction 25Criteria Consideration A: Religious Properties 26

Understanding Criteria Consideration A 26Applying Criteria Consideration A 26

Eligibility for Historic Events , 26Eligibility for Historic Persons 27Eligibility for Architectural or Artistic Distinction 28Eligibility for Information Potential 28Ability to Reflect Historic Associations 28

Criteria Consideration B: Moved Properties 29Understanding Criteria Consideration B 29Applying Criteria Consideration B 29

Eligibility for Architectural Value 29Eligibility for Historic Associations 30Setting and Environment 30Association Dependent on the Site 30Properties Designed to Be Moved 31Artificially Created Groupings 31Portions of Properties 31

Criteria Consideration C: Birthplaces and Graves 32Understanding Criteria Consideration C 32Applying Criteria Consideration C 32

Persons of Outstanding Importance 32Last Surviving Property Associated with a Person 32Eligibility for Other Associations 33

Criteria Consideration D: Cemeteries 34Understanding Criteria Consideration D 34Applying Criteria Consideration D 34

Persons of Transcendent Importance 34Eligibility on the Basis of Age 35Eligibility for Design 35Eligibility for Association with Events 35Eligibility for Information Potential 35Integrity 36National Cemeteries 36

Criteria Consideration E: Reconstructed Properties 37Understanding Criteria Consideration E 37Applying Criteria Consideration E 37

Accuracy of the Reconstruction 37Suitable Environment 37Restoration Master Plans 38

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Last Surviving Property of a Type 38Reconstructions Older than Fifty Years 38

Criteria Consideration F: Commemorative Properties 39Understanding Criteria Consideration F 39Applying Criteria Consideration F 39

Eligibility for Design 39Eligibility for Age, Tradition, or Symbolic Value 40Ineligibility as the Last Representative of an Event or Person 40

Criteria Consideration G: Properties that Have Achieved Significance Within the Past Fifty Years 41Understanding Criteria Consideration G 41Applying Criteria Consideration G 42

Eligibility for Exceptional Importance 42Historical Perspective 42National Park Service Rustic Architecture 42Veterans Administration Hospitals 42Comparison with Related Properties 42World War II Properties 42Eligibility for Information Potential 43Historic Districts 43Properties Over Fifty Years in Age, Under Fifty Years in Significance 43Requirement to Meet the Criteria, Regardless of Age 43

VIII. How to Evaluate the Integrity of a Property 44

Introduction 44Understanding the Aspects of Integrity 44

Location 44Design 44Setting 44Materials 45Workmanship 45Feeling 45Association 45

Assessing Integrity in Properties 45Defining the Essential Physical Features 46Visibility of the Physical Features 46Comparing Similar Properties 47Determining the Relevant Aspects of Integrity 48

IX. Summary of the National Historic Landmarks Criteria for Evaluation 50

X. Glossary 53

XL List of National Register Bulletins 54

IV

I. INTRODUCTION

The National Register is thenation's inventory of historic placesand the national repository of docu-mentation on the variety of historicproperty types, significance, abun-dance, condition, ownership, needs,and other information. It is the begin-ning of a national census of historicproperties. The National Register Cri-teria for Evaluation define the scopeof the National Register of HistoricPlaces; they identify the range of re-sources and kinds of significance thatwill qualify properties for listing inthe National Register. The Criteriaare written broadly to recognize thewide variety of historic properties as-sociated with our prehistory and his-tory.

Decisions concerning the signifi-cance, historic integrity, documenta-tion, and treatment of properties canbe made reliably only when the re-source is evaluated within its historiccontext. The historic context serves asthe framework within which the Na-tional Register Criteria are applied tospecific properties or property types.(See Part V for a brief discussion of

historic contexts. Detailed guidancefor developing and applying historiccontexts is contained in National Reg-ister Bulletin: How to Complete the Na-tional Register Registration Form andNational Register Bulletin: How to Com-plete the National Register MultipleProperty Documentation Form )

The guidelines provided here areintended to help you understand theNational Park Service's use of the Cri-teria for Evaluation, historic contexts,integrity, and Criteria Considerations,and how they apply to properties un-der consideration for listing in theNational Register. Examples are pro-vided throughout, illustrating specificcircumstances in which properties areand are not eligible for the NationalRegister. This bulletin should be usedby anyone who is:

•Preparing to nominate a propertyto the National Register,

• Seeking a determination of aproperty's eligibility,

• Evaluating the comparable sig-nificance of a property to thoselisted in the National Register, or

• Expecting to nominate a propertyas a National Historic Landmarkin addition to nominating it tothe National Register.

This bulletin also contains a sum-mary of the National Historic Land-marks Criteria for Evaluation (seePart IX). National Historic Land-marks are those districts, sites, build-ings, structures, and objects desig-nated by the Secretary of the Interioras possessing national significance inAmerican history, architecture, arche-ology, engineering, and culture. Al-though National Register documenta-tion includes a recommendationabout whether a property is signifi-cant at the local, State, or nationallevel, the only official designation ofnational significance is as a result ofNational Historic Landmark designa-tion by the Secretary of the Interior,National Monument designation bythe President of the United States, orestablishment as a unit of the NationalPark System by Congress. Theseproperties are automatically listed inthe National Register.

II. THE NATIONALREGISTER CRITERIA FOREVALUATION

CRITERIA FOREVALUATION:3

The quality of significance inAmerican history, architecture, arche-ology, engineering, and culture ispresent in districts, sites, buildings,structures, and objects that possess in-tegrity of location, design, setting, ma-terials, workmanship, feeling, and as-sociation, and:

A. That are associated with events thathave made a significant contribu-tion to the broad patterns of ourhistory; or

B. That are associated with the lives ofpersons significant in our past; or

C. That embody the distinctivecharacteristics of a type, period, ormethod of construction, or thatrepresent the work of a master, orthat possess high artistic values, orthat represent a significant anddistinguishable entity whosecomponents may lack individualdistinction; or

D. That have yielded, or may be likelyto yield, information important inprehistory or history.

CRITERIACONSIDERATIONS:

Ordinarily cemeteries, birthplaces,or graves of historical figures, proper-ties owned by religious institutions orused for religious purposes, structuresthat have been moved from theiroriginal locations, reconstructed his-toric buildings, properties primarilycommemorative in nature, and prop-erties that have achieved significancewithin the past 50 years shall not beconsidered eligible for the NationalRegister. However, such propertieswill qualify if they are integral parts ofdistricts that do meet the criteria or ifthey fall within the following catego-ries:

a. A religious property derivingprimary significance from architec-tural or artistic distinction orhistorical importance; or

b. A building or structure removedfrom its original location but whichis significant primarily for architec-tural value, or which is the surviv-ing structure most importantlyassociated with a historic person orevent; or

c. A birthplace or grave of a historicalfigure of outstanding importanceif there is no appropriate site orbuilding directly associated withhis or her productive life; or

d. A cemetery which derives itsprimary significance from gravesof persons of transcendent impor-tance, from age, from distinctivedesign features, or from associationwith historic events; or

e. A reconstructed building whenaccurately executed in a suitableenvironment and presented in adignified manner as part of arestoration master plan, and whenno other building or structure withthe same association has survived;or

f. A property primarily commemora-tive in intent if design, age, tradi-tion, or symbolic value has in-vested it with its own exceptionalsignificance; or

g. A property achieving significancewithin the past 50 years if it is ofexceptional importance.

3The Criteria for Evaluation are found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Part 60, and are reprinted here in full.

III. HOW TO USE THISBULLETIN TO EVALUATE APROPERTY

For a property to qualify for theNational Register it must meet one ofthe National Register Criteria forEvaluation by:

• Being associated with an impor-tant historic context and

• Retaining historic integrity ofthose features necessary to con-vey its significance.

Information about the propertybased on physical examination anddocumentary research is necessary toevaluate a property's eligibility for theNational Register. Evaluation of aproperty is most efficiently madewhen following this sequence:

1. Categorize the property (Part IV).A property must be classified as

a district, site, building, structure,or object for inclusion in theNational Register.

2. Determine which prehistoric orhistoric context(s) the propertyrepresents (Part V). A propertymust possess significance inAmerican history, architecture,archeology, engineering, orculture when evaluated withinthe historic context of a relevantgeographic area.

3. Determine whether the propertyis significant under the NationalRegister Criteria (Part VI). Thisis done by identifying the links toimportant events or persons,design or construction features,or information potential thatmake the property important.

4. Determine if the property repre-sents a type usually excluded fromthe National Register (Part VII).If so, determine if it meets any ofthe Criteria Considerations.

5. Determine whether the propertyretains integrity (Part VIII).Evaluate the aspects of location,design, setting, workmanship, ma-terials, feeling, and associationthat the property must retain toconvey its historic significance.

If, after completing these steps, theproperty appears to qualify for the Na-tional Register, the next step is to pre-pare a written nomination. (Refer toNational Register Bulletin: How toComplete the National Register Registra-tion Form.)

IV. HOW TO DEFINECATEGORIES OF HISTORICPROPERTIES

The National Register of HistoricPlaces includes significant properties,classified as buildings, sites, districts,structures, or objects. It is not used tolist intangible values, except in so faras they are associated with or re-flected by historic properties. The Na-tional Register does not list culturalevents, or skilled or talented individu-als, as is done in some countries.Rather, the National Register is ori-ented to recognizing physically con-crete properties that are relativelyfixed in location.

For purposes of National Registernominations, small groups of proper-ties are listed under a single category,using the primary resource. For ex-ample, a city hall and fountain wouldbe categorized by the city hall (build-ing), a farmhouse with two outbuild-ings would be categorized by thefarmhouse (building), and a city parkwith a gazebo would be categorizedby the park (site). Properties withlarge acreage or a number of re-sources are usually considered dis-tricts. Common sense and reasonshould dictate the selection of catego-ries.

BUILDING

A building, such as a house, barn,church, hotel, or similar construc-tion, is created principally to shelterany form of human activity. "Build-ing" may also be used to refer to ahistorically and functionally relatedunit, such as a courthouse and jail ora house and barn.

Buildings eligible for the NationalRegister must include all of their basicstructural elements. Parts of build-ings, such as interiors, facades, orwings, are not eligible independent ofthe rest of the existing building. The

whole building must be considered,and its significant features must beidentified.

If a building has lost any of its basicstructural elements, it is usually con-sidered a "ruin" and is categorized asa site.

Examples of buildings include:

administration buildingcarriage housechurchcity or town hallcourthousedetached kitchen, barn, and privydormitoryfortgaragehotelhouselibrarymill buildingoffice buildingpost officeschoolsocial hallshedstablestoretheatertrain station

STRUCTURE

The term "structure" is used todistinguish from buildings thosefunctional constructions made usu-ally for purposes other than creatinghuman shelter.

Structures nominated to theNational Register must include all ofthe extant basic structural elements.Parts of structures can not be consid-ered eligible if the whole structureremains. For example, a truss bridgeis composed of the metal or woodentruss, the abutments, and supporting

piers, all of which, if extant, must beincluded when considering theproperty for eligibility.

If a structure has lost its historicconfiguration or pattern of organiza-tion through deterioration or demoli-tion, it is usually considered a "ruin"and is categorized as a site.

Examples of structures include:

aircraftapiaryautomobilebandstandboats and shipsbridgecairncanalcarouselcorner ibdamearthworkfencegazebograin elevatorhighwayirrigation systemkilnlighthouserailroad gradesilotrolley cartunnelwindmill

OBJECT

The term "object" is used todistinguish from buildings andstructures those constructions thatare primarily artistic in nature or arerelatively small in scale and simplyconstructed. Although it may be, bynature or design, movable, an objectis associated with a specific settingor environment.

Small objects not designed for aspecific location are normally noteligible. Such works include trans-portable sculpture, furniture, andother decorative arts that, unlike afixed outdoor sculpture, do notpossess association with a specificplace.

Objects should be in a settingappropriate to their significanthistoric use, roles, or character.Objects relocated to a museum areinappropriate for listing in the Na-tional Register.

Examples of objects include:boundary markerfountainmilepostmonumentscupturestatuary

SITE

A site is the location of a signifi-cant event, a prehistoric or historicoccupation or activity, or a buildingor structure, whether standing,ruined, or vanished, where thelocation itself possesses historic,cultural, or archeological valueregardless of the value of any exist-ing structure.

A site can possess associativesignificance or information potentialor both, and can be significant underany or all of the four criteria. A siteneed not be marked by physicalremains if it is the location of aprehistoric or historic event or patternof events and if no buildings, struc-tures, or objects marked it at the timeof the events. However, when thelocation of a prehistoric or historicevent cannot be conclusively deter-mined because no other culturalmaterials were present or survive,documentation must be carefullyevaluated to determine whether thetraditionally recognized or identifiedsite is accurate.

A site may be a natural landmarkstrongly associated with significantprehistoric or historic events orpatterns of events, if the significanceof the natural feature is well docu-mented through scholarly research.Generally, though, the NationalRegister excludes from the definitionof "site" natural waterways or bodiesof water that served as determinantsin the location of communities orwere significant in the locality'ssubsequent economic development.While they may have been "avenuesof exploration," the features mostappropriate to document this signifi-cance are the properties built inassociation with the waterways.

Examples of sites include:battlefieldcampsitecemeteries significant for information

potential or historic associationceremonial sitedesigned landscapehabitation sitenatural feature (such as a rock formation)

having cultural significancepet ro glyphrock carvingrock shelterruins of a building or structureshipwrecktrailvillage site

DISTRICT

A district possesses a significantconcentration, linkage, or continuityof sites, buildings, structures, orobjects united historically or aes-thetically by plan or physical devel-opment.

CONCENTRATION, LINKAGE, &CONTINUITY OF FEATURES

A district derives its importancefrom being a unified entity, eventhough it is often composed of a widevariety of resources. The identity of adistrict results from the interrelation-ship of its resources, which canconvey a visual sense of the overallhistoric environment or be an ar-rangement of historically or function-ally related properties. For example, adistrict can reflect one principalactivity, such as a mill or a ranch, or itcan encompass several interrelatedactivities, such as an area that in-cludes industrial, residential, or

commercial buildings, sites, struc-tures, or objects. A district can also bea grouping of archeological sitesrelated primarily by their commoncomponents; these types of districtsoften will not visually represent aspecific historic environment.

SIGNIFICANCE

A district must be significant, aswell as being an identifiable entity. Itmust be important for historical,architectural, archeological, engineer-ing, or cultural values. Therefore,districts that are significant willusually meet the last portion ofCriterion C plus Criterion A, CriterionB, other portions of Criterion C, orCriterion D.

TYPES OF FEATURES

A district can comprise bothfeatures that lack individual distinc-tion and individually distinctivefeatures that serve as focal points. Itmay even be considered eligible if allof the components lack individualdistinction, provided that the group-ing achieves significance as a wholewithin its historic context. In eithercase, the majority of the componentsthat add to the district's historiccharacter, even if they are individu-ally undistinguished, must possessintegrity, as must the district as awhole.

A district can contain buildings,structures, sites, objects, or openspaces that do not contribute to thesignificance of the district. Thenumber of noncontributing propertiesa district can contain yet still conveyits sense of time and place andhistorical development depends onhow these properties affect thedistrict's integrity. In archeologicaldistricts, the primary factor to beconsidered is the effect of any distur-bances on the information potential ofthe district as a whole.

GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES

A district must be a definablegeographic area that can be distin-guished from surrounding propertiesby changes such as density, scale,type, age, style of sites, buildings,structures, and objects, or by docu-mented differences in patterns ofhistoric development or associations.It is seldom defined, however, by thelimits of current parcels of ownership,management, or planning boundaries.The boundaries must be based upon ashared relationship among theproperties constituting the district.

DISCONTIGUOUS DISTRICTS

A district is usually a single geo-graphic area of contiguous historicproperties; however, a district canalso be composed of two or moredefinable significant areas separatedby nonsignificant areas. Adiscontiguous district is most appro-priate where:

• Elements are spatially discrete;

• Space between the elements isnot related to the significance ofthe district; and

• Visual continuity is not a factorin the significance.

In addition, a canal can be treatedas a discontiguous district when thesystem consists of man-made sectionsof canal interspersed with sections ofriver navigation. For scatteredarcheological properties, adiscontiguous district is appropriatewhen the deposits are related to eachother through cultural affiliation,period of use, or site type.

It is not appropriate to use thediscontiguous district format toinclude an isolated resource or smallgroup of resources which were onceconnected to the district, but havesince been separated either throughdemolition or new construction. Forexample, do not use the discontiguousdistrict format to nominate individualbuildings of a downtown commericaldistrict that have become isolatedthrough demolition.

Examples of districts include:

business districtscanal systemsgroups of habitation sitescollege campusesestates and farms with large acreage/

numerous propertiesindustrial complexesirrigation systemsresidential areasrural villagestransportation networksrural historic districts

Ordeman-Shaw Historic District, Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama.Historic districts derive their identity from the interrationship of their resources. Partof the defining characteristics of this 19th century residential district in Montgomery,Alabama, is found in the rhythmic pattern of the rows of decorative porches. (Frank L.Thiermonge, III)

V. HOW TO EVALUATE APROPERTY WITHIN ITSHISTORIC CONTEXT

UNDERSTANDINGHISTORICCONTEXTS

To qualify for the National Regis-ter, a property must be significant;that is, it must represent a significantpart of the history, architecture,archeology, engineering, or culture ofan area, and it must have the charac-teristics that make it a good represen-tative of properties associated withthat aspect of the past. This sectionexplains how to evaluate a propertywithin its historic context.4

The significance of a historicproperty can be judged and explainedonly when it is evaluated within itshistoric context. Historic contexts arethose patterns or trends in history bywhich a specific occurrence, property,or site is understood and its meaning(and ultimately its significance)within history or prehistory is madeclear. Historians, architecturalhistorians, folklorists, archeologists,and anthropologists use differentwords to describe this phenomenasuch as trend, pattern, theme, orcultural affiliation, but ultimately theconcept is the same.

The concept of historic context isnot a new one; it has been fundamen-tal to the study of history since the18th century and, arguably, earlierthan that. Its core premise is thatresources, properties, or happeningsin history do not occur in a vacuumbut rather are part of larger trends orpatterns.

In order to decide whether aproperty is significant within itshistoric context, the following fivethings must be determined:

• The facet of prehistory or historyof the local area, State, or the na-tion that the property represents;

• Whether that facet of prehistoryor history is significant;

• Whether it is a type of propertythat has relevance and impor-tance in illustrating the historiccontext;

• How the property illustrates thathistory; and finally

• Whether the property possessesthe physical features necessary toconvey the aspect of prehistoryor history with which it is associ-ated.

These five steps are discussed indetail below. If the property beingevaluated does represent an impor-tant aspect of the area's history orprehistory and possesses the requisitequality of integrity, then it qualifiesfor the National Register.

HOW TO EVALUATEA PROPERTYWITHIN ITSHISTORIC CONTEXT

Identify what the property repre-sents: the theme(s), geographicallimits, and chronological period thatprovide a perspective from which toevaluate the property's significance.

Historic contexts are historicalpatterns that can be identified throughconsideration of the history of theproperty and the history of the sur-rounding area. Historic contexts mayhave already been defined in your areaby the State historic preservation office,Federal agencies, or local governments.In accordance with the National Regis-ter Criteria, the historic context mayrelate to one of the following:

• An event, a series of events or ac-tivities, or patterns of an area's de-velopment (Criterion A);

• Association with the life of an im-portant person (Criterion B);

• A building form, architectural style,engineering technique, or artisticvalues, based on a stage of physicaldevelopment, or the use of a mate-rial or method of construction thatshaped the historic identity of anarea (Criterion C); or

• A research topic (Criterion D).

4 For a complete discussion of historic contexts, see National Register Bulletin: Guidelines for Completing National Register of Historic PlacesRegistration Forms.

Determine how the theme of thecontext is significant in the history ofthe local area, the State, or thenation.

A theme is a means of organizingproperties into coherent patternsbased on elements such as environ-ment, social/ethnic groups, transpor-tation networks, technology, orpolitical developments that haveinfluenced the development of an areaduring one or more periods of prehis-tory or history. A theme is consideredsignificant if it can be demonstrated,through scholarly research, to beimportant in American history. Manysignificant themes can be found in thefollowing list of Areas of Significanceused by the National Register.

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE

AgricultureArchitectureArcheology

PrehistoricHistoric—AboriginalHistoric—Non-Aboriginal

ArtCommerceCommunicationsCommunity Planning and DevelopmentConservationEconomicsEducationEngineeringEntertainment/RecreationEthnic Heritage

AsianBlackEuropeanHispanicNative AmericanPacific IslanderOther

Exploration/SettlementHealth/MedicineIndustryInventionLandscape ArchitectureLawLiteratureMaritime HistoryMilitaryPerforming ArtsPhilosophyPolitics/GovernmentReligionScienceSocial HistoryTransportationOther

Determine what the property typeis and whether it is important inillustrating the historic context.

A context may be represented by avariety of important property types.For example, the context of "CivilWar Military Activity in NorthernVirginia" might be represented bysuch properties as: a group of mid-19th century fortification structures;an open field where a battle occurred;a knoll from which a general directedtroop movements; a sunken transportship; the residences or public build-ings that served as company head-quarters; a railroad bridge that servedas a focal point for a battle; andearthworks exhibiting particularconstruction techniques.

Because a historic context for acommunity can be based on a distinctperiod of development, it mightinclude numerous property types.For example, the context "Era ofIndustrialization in Grand Bay,Michigan, 1875 -1900" could berepresented by important propertytypes as diverse as sawmills, papermill sites, salt refining plants, flourmills, grain elevators, furniturefactories, workers housing, commer-cial buildings, social halls, schools,churches, and transportation facilities.

A historic context can also be basedon a single important type of prop-erty. The context "Development ofCounty Government in Georgia,1777 -1861" might be representedsolely by courthouses. Similarly,"Bridge Construction in Pittsburgh,1870 - 1920" would probably onlyhave one property type.

Determine how the propertyrepresents the context throughspecific historic associations, archi-tectural or engineering values, orinformation potential (the Criteriafor Evaluation).

For example, the context of countygovernment expansion is representedunder Criterion A by historic districtsor buildings that reflect populationgrowth, development patterns, therole of government in that society,and political events in the history oithe State, as well as the impact ofcounty government on the physicaldevelopment of county seats. UnderCriterion C, the context is representedby properties whose architecturaltreatments reflect their governmentalfunctions, both practically andsymbolically. (See Part VI: How toIdentify the Type of Significance of aProperty.)

Determine what physical featuresthe property must possess in orderfor it to reflect the significance of thehistoric context.

These physical features can bedetermined after identifying thefollowing:

• Which types of properties are as-sociated with the historic context,

• The ways in which properties canrepresent the theme, and

• The applicable aspects of integ-rity.

Properties that have the definedcharacteristics are eligible for listing.(See Part VIII: How to Evaluate theIntegrity of a Property.)

PROPERTIES SIGNIFICANTWITHIN MORE THAN ONEHISTORIC CONTEXT

A specific property can be signifi-cant within one or more historiccontexts, and, if possible, all of theseshould be identified. For example, apublic building constructed in the1830s that is related to the historiccontext of Civil War campaigns in thearea might also be related to thetheme of political developments in thecommunity during the 1880s. Aproperty is only required, however, tobe documented as significant in onecontext.

COMPARING RELATEDPROPERTIES

Properties listed in the NationalRegister must possess significancewhen evaluated in the perspective oftheir historic context. Once thehistoric context is established and theproperty type is determined, it is notnecessary to evaluate the property inquestion against other properties if:

• It is the sole example of a prop-erty type that is important in il-lustrating the historic context or

• It clearly possesses the definedcharacteristics required tostrongly represent the context.

If these two conditions do notapply, then the property will have tobe evaluated against other examplesof the property type to determine itseligibility. The geographic level(local, State, or national) at which thisevaluation is made is the same as thelevel of the historic context. (See PartV: How to Evaluate a Property WithinIts Historic Context.)

LOCAL, STATE,AND NATIONALHISTORICCONTEXTS

Historic contexts are found at avariety of geographical levels orscales. The geographic scale selectedmay relate to a pattern of historicaldevelopment, a political division, or acultural area. Regardless of the scale,the historic context establishes theframework from which decisionsabout the significance of relatedproperties can be made.

LOCAL HISTORICCONTEXTS

A local historic context representsan aspect of the history of a town,city, county, cultural area, or region,or any portions thereof. It is definedby the importance of the property, notnecessarily the physical location of theproperty. For instance, if a propertyis of a type found throughout a State,or its boundaries extend over twoStates, but its importance relates onlyto a particular county, the propertywould be considered of local signifi-cance.

The level of context of archeologi-cal sites significant for their informa-tion potential depends on the scope ofthe applicable research design. Forexample, a Late Mississippian villagesite may yield information in aresearch design concerning onesettlement system on a regional scale,while in another research design itmay reveal information of localimportance concerning a singlegroup's stone tool manufacturingtechniques or house forms. It is aquestion of how the available infor-mation potential is likely to be used.

STATE HISTORICCONTEXTS

Properties are evaluated in a Statecontext when they represent an aspectof the history of the State as a whole(or American Samoa, the District ofColumbia, the Commonwealth of theNorthern Mariana Islands, Guam,Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands).These properties do not necessarilyhave to belong to property types

found throughout the entire State:they can be located in only a portionof the State's present political bound-ary. It is the property's historiccontext that must be importantstatewide. For example, the "cottonbelt" extends through only a portionof Georgia, yet its historical develop-ment in the antebellum period af-fected the entire State. These Statehistoric contexts may have associatedproperties that are statewide orlocally significant representations. Acotton gin in a small town might be alocally significant representation ofthis context, while one of the largestcotton producing plantations mightbe of State significance.

A property whose historic associa-tions or information potential appearsto extend beyond a single local areamight be significant at the State level.A property can be significant to morethan one community or local area,however, without having achievedState significance.

A property that overlaps severalState boundaries can possibly besignificant to the State or local historyof each of the States. Such a propertyis not necessarily of national signifi-cance, however, nor is it necessarilysignificant to all of the States in whichit is located.

Prehistoric sites are not oftenconsidered to have "State" signifi-cance, per se, largely because Statesare relatively recent political entitiesand usually do not correspond closelyto Native American political territo-ries or cultural areas. Numerous sites,however, may be of significance to alarge region that might geographi-cally encompass parts of one, orusually several, States. Prehistoricresources that might be of Statesignificance include regional sites thatprovide a diagnostic assemblage ofartifacts for a particular culturalgroup or time period or that providechronological control (specific datesor relative order in time) for a seriesof cultural groups.

NATIONAL HISTORICCONTEXTS

Properties are evaluated in anational context when they representan aspect of the history of the UnitedStates and its territories as a whole.These national historic contexts mayhave associated properties that arelocally or statewide significantrepresentations, as well as those ofnational significance.

Properties designated as nationallysignificant and listed in the NationalRegister are the prehistoric andhistoric units of the National ParkSystem and those properties that havebeen designated National HistoricLandmarks. The National HistoricLandmark criteria are the standardsfor nationally significant properties;they are found in the Code of Federal

Regulations, Title 36, Part 65 and aresummarized in this bulletin in Part IX:Summary of National Historic Land-marks Criteria for Evaluation.

A property with national signifi-cance helps us understand the historyof the nation by illustrating thenationwide impact of events orpersons associated with the property,its architectural type or style, orinformation potential. It must be ofexceptional value in representing orillustrating an important theme in thehistory of the nation.

Nationally significant propertiesdo not necessarily have to belong to aproperty type found throughout theentire country: they can be located inonly a portion of the present politicalboundaries. It is their historic contextthat must be important nationwide.For example, the American Civil War

was fought in only a portion of theUnited States, yet its impact wasnationwide. The site of a smallmilitary skirmish might be a locallysignificant representation of thisnational context, while the capture ofthe State's largest city might be astatewide significant representationof the national context.

When evaluating properties at thenational level for designation as aNational Historic Landmark, pleaserefer to the National Historic Land-marks outline, History and Prehistoryin the National Park System and theNational Historic Landmarks Program1987. (For more information aboutthe National Historic Landmarksprogram, please write to the Depart-ment of the Interior, National ParkService, National Historic Land-marks, 1849 C Street, NW, NC400,Washington, DC 20240.)

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VI. HOW TO IDENTIFY THETYPE OF SIGNIFICANCE OF APROPERTY

INTRODUCTIONWhen evaluated within its historic

context, a property must be shown tobe significant for one or more of the fourCriteria for Evaluation - A, B, C, or D(listed earlier in Part U). The Criteriadescribe how properties are signifi-cant for their association with impor-tant events or persons, for theirimportance in design or construction,or for their information potential.

The basis for judging a property'ssignificance and, ultimately, itseligibility under the Criteria is historiccontext. The use of historic contextallows a property to be properlyevaluated in a nearly infinite numberof capacities. For instance, CriterionC: Design/Construction can accom-modate properties representingconstruction types that are unusual orwidely practiced, that are innovativeor traditional, that are "high style" orvernacular, that are the work of afamous architect or an unknownmaster craftsman. The key to determin-ing whether the characteristics or associa-tions of a particular property are signifi-cant is to consider the property within itshistoric context.

After identifying the relevanthistoric context(s) with which theproperty is associated, the fourCriteria are applied to the property.Within the scope of the historiccontext, the National Register Criteriadefine the kind of significance that theproperties represent.

For example, within the context of"19th Century Gunpowder Produc-tion in the Brandywine Valley,"Criterion A would apply to thoseproperties associated with importantevents in the founding and develop-ment of the industry. Criterion Bwould apply to those propertiesassociated with persons who aresignificant in the founding of theindustry or associated with importantinventions related to gunpowdermanufacturing. Criterion C wouldapply to those buildings, structures,or objects whose architectural form orstyle reflect important design qualitiesintegral to the industry. And Crite-rion D would apply to properties thatcan convey information important inour understanding of this industrialprocess. If a property qualifies undermore than one of the Criteria, itssignificance under each should beconsidered, if possible, in order toidentify all aspects of its historicalvalue.

NATIONAL REGISTERCRITERIA FOREVALUATION*

The National Register Criteriarecognize different types of valuesembodied in districts, sites, buildings,structures, and objects. These valuesfall into the following categories:

Associative value (Criteria A andB): Properties significant for theirassociation or linkage to events(Criterion A) or persons (Criterion B)important in the past.

Design or Construction value(Criterion C): Properties significantas representatives of the manmadeexpression of culture or technology.

Information value (Criterion D):Properties significant for their abilityto yield important information aboutprehistory or history.

""For a complete listing of the Criteria forEvaluation, refer to Part II oi this bulletin.

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CRITERION A: EVENTProperties can be eligible for the National Register if they are associated with events that have made a significantcontribution to the broad patterns of our history.

UNDERSTANDINGCRITERION A:EVENT

To be considered for listing underCriterion A, a property must beassociated with one or more eventsimportant in the defined historiccontext. Criterion A recognizesproperties associated with singleevents, such as the founding of atown, or with a pattern of events,repeated activities, or historic trends,such as the gradual rise of a port city'sprominence in trade and commerce.The event or trends, however, mustclearly be important within theassociated context: settlement, in thecase of the town, or development of amaritime economy, in the case of theport city. Moreover, the propertymust have an important associationwith the event or historic trends, andit must retain historic integrity. (SeePart V: How to Evaluate a PropertyWithin its Historic Context.)

Several steps are involved indetermining whether a property issignificant for its associative values:

• Determine the nature and originof the property,

• Identify the historic context withwhich it is associated, and

• Evaluate the property's history todetermine whether it is associ-ated with the historic context inany important way.

APPLYINGCRITERION A:EVENTTYPES OF EVENTS

A property can be associated witheither (or both) of two types of events:

• A specific event marking an im-portant moment in American pre-history or history and

• A pattern of events or a historictrend that made a significant con-tribution to the development of acommunity, a State, or the nation.

Refer to the sidebar on the right fora list of specific examples.

ASSOCIATION OF THEPROPERTY WITH THEEVENTS

The property you are evaluatingmust be documented, through ac-cepted means of historical or archeo-logical research (including oralhistory), to have existed at the time ofthe event or pattern of events and tohave been associated with thoseevents. A property is not eligible if itsassociations are speculative. Forarcheological sites, well reasonedinferences drawn from data recoveredat the site can be used to establish theassociation between the site and theevents.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THEASSOCIATION

Mere association with historicevents or trends is not enough, in andof itself, to qualify under Criterion A:the property's specific associationmust be considered important as well.For example, a building historically incommercial use must be shown tohave been significant in commercialhistory.

EXAMPLES OF PROPERTIESASSOCIATED WITH EVENTS

Properties associated with specific events:

• The site of a battle.

• The building in which an importantinvention was developed.

• A factory district where a significantstrike occurred.

• An archeological site at which a ma-jor new aspect of prehistory was dis-covered, such as the first evidence ofman and extinct Pleistocene animalsbeing contemporaneous.

• A site where an important facet ofEuropean exploration occurred.

Properties associated with a pattern ofevents:

• A trail associated with western mi-gration.

• A railroad station that served as thefocus of a community's transporta-tion system and commerce.

• A mill district reflecting the impor-tance of textile manufacturing dur-ing a given period.

• A building used by an important lo-cal social organization.

• A site where prehistoric NativeAmericans annually gathered forseasonally available resources andfor social interaction.

• A downtown district representing atown's growth as the commercial fo-cus of the surrounding agriculturalarea.

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TRADITIONAL CULTURALVALUES

Traditional cultural significance isderived from the role a property playsin a community's historically rootedbeliefs, customs, and practices.Properties may have significanceunder Criterion A if they are associ-ated with events, or series of events,significant to the cultural traditions ofa community.5

Eligible

• A hilltop associated in oral his-torical accounts with thefounding of an Indian tribe orsociety is eligible.

• A rural community can be eli-gible whose organization,buildings, or patterns ofland use reflect the culturaltraditions valued by its long-term residents.

• An urban neighborhood canbe eligible as the traditionalhome of a particular culturalgroup and as a reflection of itsbeliefs and practices.

Not Eligible

• A site viewed as sacred by arecently established Utopian orreligious community does nothave traditional cultural valueand is not eligible.

Criterion A - The Old Brulay Plantation, Brownsville vicinity, Cameron county,Texas. Historically significant for its association with the development of agriculturein southeast Texas, this complex of 10 brick buildings was constructed by George N.Brulay, a French immigrant who introduced commercial sugar production andirrigation to the Rio Grande Valley. (Photo by Texas Historical Commission).

5 For more information, refer to National Register Bulletin: Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Traditional Cultural Properties.

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CRITERION B: PERSONProperties may be eligible for the National Register if they are associated with the lives of persons significant in ourpast.

UNDERSTANDINGCRITERION B:PERSON6

Criterion B applies to propertiesassociated with individuals whosespecific contributions to history canbe identified and documented.Persons "significant in our past"refers to individuals whose activitiesare demonstrably important within alocal, State, or national historiccontext. The criterion is generallyrestricted to those properties thatillustrate (rather than commemorate)a person's important achievements.(The policy regarding commemora-tive properties, birthplaces, andgraves is explained further in PartVIII: How to Apply the Criteria Consid-erations.)

Several steps are involved indetermining whether a property issignificant for its associative valuesunder Criterion B. First, determinethe importance of the individual.Second, ascertain the length andnature of his/her association with theproperty under study and identify theother properties associated with theindividual. Third, consider theproperty under Criterion B, asoutlined below.

EXAMPLES OF PROPERTIESASSOCIATED WITH PERSONSProperties associated with a SignificantPerson:

• The home of an important merchantor labor leader.

• The studio of a significant artist.

• The business headquarters of an im-portant industrialist.

Criterion B - The William Whitney House, Hinsdale, DuPage County, Illinois.This building is locally significant for its historical association with William Whitney,the founder of the town of Hinsdale, Illinois. Whitney, a citizen of New York State,moved to Illinois, established the town, and while living here between 1870 and 1879was a prominent local businessman and politician. (Photo by Frederick C. Cue).

'For further information on properties eligible under Criterion B, refer to National Register Bulletin: Guidelines for Evaluating and DocumentingProperties Associated with Significant Persons.

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APPLYINGCRITERION B:PERSON

SIGNIFICANCE OF THEINDIVIDUAL

The persons associated with theproperty must be individually signifi-cant within a historic context. Aproperty is not eligible if its onlyjustification for significance is that itwas owned or used by a person whois a member of an identifiable profes-sion, class, or social or ethnic group.It must be shown that the persongained importance within his or herprofession or group.

Eligible

• The residence of a doctor, amayor, or a merchant is eli-gible under Criterion B if theperson was significant in thefield of medicine, politics, orcommerce, respectively.

Not Eligible

• A property is not eligible un-der Criterion B if it is associ-ated with an individual aboutwhom no scholarly judgementcan be made because either re-search has not revealed spe-cific information about theperson's activities and theirimpact, or there is insufficientperspective to determinewhether those activities orcontributions were historicallyimportant.

ASSOCIATION WITH THEPROPERTY

Properties eligible under CriterionB are usually those associated with aperson's productive life, reflecting thetime period when he or she achievedsignificance. In some instances thismay be the person's home; in othercases, a person's business, office,laboratory, or studio may best repre-sent his or her contribution. Proper-ties that pre- or post-date anindividual's significant accomplish-ments are usually not eligible. (SeeComparison to Related Properties, below,for exceptions to this rule.)

The individual's association withthe property must be documented byaccepted methods of historical orarcheological research, includingwritten or oral history. Speculativeassociations are not acceptable. Forarcheological sites, well reasonedinferences drawn from data recoveredat the site are acceptable.

COMPARISON TO RELATEDPROPERTIES

Each property associated with animportant individual should becompared to other associated proper-ties to identify those that best repre-sent the person's historic contribu-tions. The best representativesusually are properties associated withthe person's adult or productive life.Properties associated with anindividual's formative or later yearsmay also qualify if it can be demon-strated that the person's activitiesduring this period were historicallysignificant or if no properties from theperson's productive years survives.Length of association is an importantfactor when assessing several proper-ties with similar associations.

A community or State may containseveral properties eligible for associa-tions with the same important person,if each represents a different aspect ofthe person's productive life. Aproperty can also be eligible if it hasbrief but consequential associationswith an important individual. (Suchassociations are often related tospecific events that occurred at theproperty and, therefore, it may also beeligible under Criterion A.)

ASSOCIATION WITHGROUPS

For properties associated withseveral community leaders or with aprominent family, it is necessary toidentify specific individuals and toexplain their significant accomplish-ments.

Eligible

• A residential district in which alarge number of prominent orinfluential merchants, profes-sionals, civic leaders, politi-cians, etc., lived will be eligibleunder Criterion B if the signifi-cance of one or more specificindividual residents is explic-itly justified.

• A building that served as theseat of an important family iseligible under Criterion B if thesignificant accomplishments ofone or more individual familymembers is explicitly justified.

Not Eligible

• A residential district in which alarge number of influential per-sons lived is not eligible underCriterion B if the accomplish-ments of a specific indivi-dual^) cannot be documented.If the significance of the districtrests in the cumulative impor-tance of prominent residents,however, then the districtmight still be eligible underCriterion A. Eligibility, in thiscase, would be based on thebroad pattern of communitydevelopment, through whichthe neighborhood evolved intothe primary residential area forthis class of citizens.

• A building that served as theseat of an important family willnot be eligible under CriterionB if the significant accomplish-ments of individual familymembers cannot be docu-mented. In cases where a suc-cession of family membershave lived in a house and col-lectively have had a demon-strably significant impact onthe community, as a family, thehouse is more likely to be sig-nificant under Criterion A forassociation with a pattern ofevents.

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ASSOCIATION WITHLIVING PERSONS

Properties associated with livingpersons are usually not eligible forinclusion in the National Register.Sufficient time must have elapsed toassess both the person's field ofendeavor and his/her contribution tothat field. Generally, the person'sactive participation in the endeavormust be finished for this historicperspective to emerge. (See CriteriaConsiderations C and G in Part VII:How to Apply the Criteria Consider-ations.)

ASSOCIATION WITHARCHITECTS/ARTISANS

Architects, artisans, artists, andengineers are often represented bytheir works, which are eligible underCriterion C. Their homes and studios,however, can be eligible for consider-ation under Criterion B, because theseusually are the properties with whichthey are most personally associated.

NATIVE AMERICAN SITES

The known major villages ofindividual Native Americans whowere important during the contactperiod or later can qualify underCriterion B. As with all Criterion Bproperties, the individual associatedwith the property must have madesome specific important contributionto history. Examples include sitessignificantly associated with ChiefJoseph and Geronimo.7

7 For more information, refer to National Register Bulletin: Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Traditional Cultural Properties.

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CRITERION C:DESIGN/CONSTRUCTIONProperties may be eligible for the National Register if they embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, ormethod of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent asignificant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction.

Richland Plantation, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. Properties can qualify underCriterion C as examples of high style architecture. Built in the 1830s, Richland is afine example of a Federal style residence with a Greek Revival style portico. (Photo byDave Gleason).

UNDERSTANDINGCRITERION C:DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION

This criterion applies to propertiessignificant for their physical design orconstruction, including such elementsas architecture, landscape architec-ture, engineering, and artwork. To beeligible under Criterion C, a propertymust meet at least one of the followingrequirements:

• Embody distinctive characteris-tics of a type, period, or methodof construction.

• Represent the work of a master.

• Possess high artistic value.

• Represent a significant and dis-tinguishable entity whose com-ponents may lack individual dis-tinction.

The first requirement, that proper-ties "embody the distinctive charac-teristics of a type, period, or methodof construction/' refers to the way inwhich a property was conceived,designed, or fabricated by a people orculture in past periods of history."The work of a master" refers to thetechnical or aesthetic achievements ofan architect or craftsman. "Highartistic values" concerns the expres-sion of aesthetic ideals or preferencesand applies to aesthetic achievement.

Resources "that represent a signifi-cant and distinguishable entity whosecomponents may lack individual dis-tinction" are called "districts." In theCriteria for Evaluation (as publishedin the Code of Federal Regulations andreprinted here in Part II), districts are

defined within the context of Crite-rion C. Districts, however, can be con-sidered for eligibility under all the Crite-ria, individually or in any combina-tion, as is appropriate. For this rea-son, the full discussion of districts iscontained in Part IV: How to DefineCategories of Historic Properties.Throughout the bulletin, however,districts are mentioned within thecontext of a specific subject, such asan individual Criterion.

Grant Family House, Saco vicinity,York County, Maine. Propertiespossessing high artistic value meetCriterion C through the expression ofaesthetic ideals or preferences. The GrantFamily House, a modest Federal styleresidence, is significant for its remarkablywell-preserved stenciled wall decorativetreatment in the entry hall and parlor.Painted by an unknown artist ca. 1825,this is a fine example of 19th century NewEngland regional artistic expression.(Photo by Kirk F. Mohney).

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EXAMPLES OF PROPERTIESASSOCIATED WITH DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION

Properties associated with design andconstruction:

• A house or commercial building rep-resenting a significant style of archi-tecture.

• A designed park or garden associatedwith a particular landscape designphilosophy.

• A movie theater embodying high ar-tistic value in its decorative features.

• A bridge or dam representing techno-logical advances.

APPLYINGCRITERION C:DESIGN/CONSTRUCTIONDISTINCTIVECHARACTERISTICS OFTYPE, PERIOD, ANDMETHOD OFCONSTRUCTION

This is the portion of Criterion Cunder which most properties areeligible, for it encompasses all archi-tectural styles and constructionpractices. To be eligible under thisportion of the Criterion, a propertymust clearly illustrate, through"distinctive characteristics/' thefollowing:

• The pattern of features commonto a particular class of resources,

• The individuality or variation offeatures that occurs within theclass,

• The evolution of that class, or

• The transition between classes ofresources.

Distinctive Characteristics: "Dis-tinctive characteristics" are the physi-cal features or traits that commonlyrecur in individual types, periods, ormethods of construction. To beeligible, a property must clearlycontain enough of those characteristicsto be considered a true representativeof a particular type, period, or methodof construction.

Characteristics can be expressed interms such as form, proportion, struc-ture, plan, style, or materials. Theycan be general, referring to ideas ofdesign and construction such as basicplan or form, or they can be specific,referring to precise ways of combiningparticular kinds of materials.

Eligible

• A building eligible under thetheme of Gothic Revival archi-tecture must have the distinc-tive characteristics that makeup the vertical and picturesquequalities of the style, such aspointed gables, steep roofpitch, board and batten siding,and ornamental bargeboardand veranda trim.

• A late Mississippian villagethat illustrates the importantconcepts in prehistoriccommunity design and plan-ning will qualify.

• A designed historic landscapewill qualify if it reflects a his-toric trend or school of theoryand practice, such as the CityBeautiful Movement, evidenc-ingdistinguished design, lay-out, and the work of skilledcraftsmanship.

Not Eligible

• A commercial building withsome Art Deco detailing is noteligible under Criterion C if thedetailing was added merely asan afterthought, rather thanfully integrated with overalllines and massing typical of theArt Deco style or the transitionbetween that and another style.

• A designed landscape that hashad major changes to its his-toric design, vegetation, origi-nal boundary, topography/grading, architectural features,and circulation system will notqualify.

Type, Period, and Method ofConstruction: "Type, period, ormethod of construction" refers to theway certain properties are related toone another by cultural tradition orfunction, by dates of construction orstyle, or by choice or availability ofmaterials and technology.

A structure is eligible as a speci-men of its type or period of construc-tion if it is an important example(within its context) of buildingpractices of a particular time inhistory. For properties that representthe variation, evolution, or transitionof construction types, it must bedemonstrated that the variation, etc.,was an important phase of the archi-tectural development of: the area orcommunity in that it had an impact asevidenced by later buildings. Aproperty is not eligible, however,simply because it has been identifiedas the only such property ever fabri-cated; it must be demonstrated to besignificant as well.

Eligible

• A building that has some char-acteristics of the RomanesqueRevival style and some charac-teristics of the Commercialstyle can qualify if it illustratesthe transition of architecturaldesign and the transition itselfis considered an important ar-chitectural development.

• A Hopewellian mound, if it isan important example ofmound building constructiontechniques, would qualify as amethod or type of construc-tion.

• A building which illustratesthe early or the developingtechnology of particularstructural systems, such asskeletal steel framing, is eli-gible as an example of aparticular method of construc-tion.

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Swan Falls Dam and Power Plant, Murphy vicinity, Ada County, Idaho.Significant works of engineering can qualify under Criterion C. Built between 1900-1907 the Swan Falls Dam and Power Plant across the Snake River is one of the earlyhydroelectric plants in the State of Idaho. (Photo by H.L. Hough).

HISTORIC ADAPTATION OFTHE ORIGINAL PROPERTY

A property can be significant notonly for the way it was originallyconstructed or crafted, but also for theway it was adapted at a later period,or for the way it illustrates changingtastes, attitudes, and uses over aperiod of time.

A district is eligible under thisguideline if it illustrates the evolutionof historic character of a place over aparticular span of time.

Looney House, Asheville vicinity, St. Clair County, Alabama. Examples ofvernacular styles of architecture can qualify under Criterion C. Built ca. 1818, theLooney House is significant as possibly the State's oldest extant two-story dogtrot typeof dwelling. The defining open center passage of the dogtrot was a regional buildingresponse to the southern climate. (Photo by Carolyn Scott).

Eligible

• A Native American irrigationsystem modified for use byEuropeans could be eligible ifit illustrates the technology ofeither or both periods of con-struction.

• An early 19th century farm-house modified in the 1880swith Queen Anne style orna-mentation could be significantfor the modification itself, if itrepresented a local variationor significant trend in buildingconstruction or remodelling,was the work of a local master(see Works of a Master on page20), or reflected the tastes of animportant person associatedwith the property at the timeof its alteration.

• A district encompassing thecommercial development of atown between 1820 and 1910,characterized by buildings ofvarious styles and eras, can beeligible.

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WORKS OF A MASTER

A master is a figure of generallyrecognized greatness in a field, aknown craftsman of consummateskill, or an anonymous craftsmanwhose work is distinguishable fromothers by its characteristic style andquality. The property must express aparticular phase in the developmentof the master's career, an aspect of hisor her work, or a particular idea ortheme in his or her craft.

A property is not eligible as thework of a master, however, simplybecause it was designed by a promi-nent architect. For example, not everybuilding designed by Frank LloydWright is eligible under this portionof Criterion C, although it might meetother portions of the Criterion, forinstance as a representative of thePrairie style.

The work of an unidentifiedcraftsman is eligible if it rises abovethe level of workmanship of the otherproperties encompassed by thehistoric context.

PROPERTIES POSSESSINGHIGH ARTISTIC VALUES

High artistic values may be ex-pressed in many ways, includingareas as diverse as community designor planning, engineering, and sculp-ture. A property is eligible for itshigh artistic values if it so fullyarticulates a particular concept ofdesign that it expresses an aestheticideal. A property is not eligible,however, if it does not expressaesthetic ideals or design conceptsmore fully than other properties of itstype.

A Significant and DistinguishableEntity Whose Components May LackIndividual Distinction. This portionof Criterion C refers to districts. Fordetailed information on districts, referto Part IV of this bulletin.

Eligible

• A sculpture in a town squarethat epitomizes the designprinciples of the Art Deco styleis eligible.

• A building that is a classic ex-pression of the design theorieso^ the Craftsman Style, such ascarefully detailed handwork,is eligible.

• A landscaped park that syn-thesizes early 20th centuryprinciples of landscape archi-tecture and expresses an aes-thetic ideal of environment canbe eligible.

• Properties that are importantrepresentatives of the aestheticvalues of a cultural group,such as petroglyphs andground drawings by NativeAmericans, are eligible.

Not Eligible

• A sculpture in a town squarethat is a typical example ofsculpture design during its pe-riod would not qualify forhigh artistic value, although itmight be eligible if it were sig-nificant for other reasons.

• A building that is a modest ex-ample (within its historic con-text) of the Craftsman Style ofarchitecture, or a landscapedpark that is characteristic ofturn of the century landscapedesign would not qualify forhigh artistic value.

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CRITERION D: INFORMATIONPOTENTIALProperties may be eligible for the National Register if they have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information im-portant in prehistory or history.

UNDERSTANDINGCRITERION D:INFORMATIONPOTENTIAL

Certain important research ques-tions about human history can only beanswered by the actual physicalmaterial of cultural resources. Crite-rion D encompasses the propertiesthat have the potential to answer, inwhole or in part, those types ofresearch questions. The most com-mon type of property nominatedunder this Criterion is the archeologi-cal site (or a district comprised ofarcheological sites). Buildings,objects, and structures (or districtscomprised of these property types),however, can also be eligible for theirinformation potential.

Criterion D has two requirements,which must both be met for a propertyto qualify:

• The property must have, or havehad, information to contribute toour understanding of human his-tory or prehistory, and

• The information must be consid-ered important.

Under the first of these require-ments, a property is eligible if it hasbeen used as a source oi data andcontains more, as yet unretrieveddata. A property is also eligible if ithas not yet yielded information but,through testing or research, is deter-mined a likely source of data.

Under the second requirement, theinformation must be carefully evalu-ated within an appropriate context todetermine its importance. Informa-tion is considered "important" whenit is shown to have a significantbearing on a research design thataddresses such areas as: 1) current

data gaps or alternative theories thatchallenge existing ones or 2) priorityareas identified under a State orFederal agency management plan.

APPLYINGCRITERION D:INFORMATIONPOTENTIAL

ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES

Criterion D most commonlyapplies to properties that contain orare likely to contain informationbearing on an important archeologicalresearch question. The property musthave characteristics suggesting thelikelihood that it possesses configura-tions of artifacts, soil strata, structuralremains, or other natural or culturalfeatures that make it possible to dothe following:

• Test a hypothesis or hypothesesabout events, groups, or pro-cesses in the past that bear on im-portant research questions in thesocial or natural sciences or thehumanities; or

• Corroborate or amplify currentlyavailable information suggestingthat a hypothesis is either true orfalse; or

• Reconstruct the sequence of ar-cheological cultures for the pur-pose of identifying and explain-ing continuities and discontinu-ities in the archeological recordfor a particular area.

BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES,AND OBJECTS

While most often applied toarcheological districts and sites,Criterion D can also apply to build-ings, structures, and objects thatcontain important information. Inorder for these types of properties tobe eligible under Criterion D, theythemselves must be, or must havebeen, the principal source of theimportant information.

Eligible

• A building exhibiting a localvariation on a standard designor construction technique canbe eligible if study could yieldimportant information, such ashow local availability of mate-rials or construction expertiseaffected the evolution of localbuilding development.

Not Eligible

• The ruins of a hacienda oncecontained murals that havesince been destroyed. Histori-cal documentation, however,indicates that the murals weresignificant for their highly un-usual design. The ruins cannot be eligible under CriterionD for the importance of the de-stroyed murals if the informa-tion is contained only in thedocumentation.

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Criterion D - Chantpe-Frentont 1 Archeological Site, Omaha vicinity, DouglasCounty, Nebraska. This archeological site, dating from ca. 1100-1450 A.D., consists ofpit houses and storage pits which have the potential to yield important informationconcerning the subsistence patterns, religious and mortuary practices, and socialorganization of the prehistoric residents of eastern Nebraska. (Nebraska StateHistorical Society)

ASSOCIATION WITHHUMAN ACTIVITY

A property must be associated withhuman activity and be critical forunderstanding a site's historic environ-ment in order to be eligible underCriterion D. A property can be linkedto human activity through events,processes, institutions, design, con-struction, settlement, migration, ideals,beliefs, lifeways, and other facets of thedevelopment or maintenance ofcultural systems.

The natural environment associatedwith the properties was often verydifferent from that of the present andstrongly influenced cultural develop-ment. Aspects of the environment thatare pertinent to human activitiesshould be considered when evaluatingproperties under Criterion D.

Natural features and paleontological(floral and faunal) sites are not usuallyeligible under Criterion D in and ofthemselves. They can be eligible,however, if they are either directlyrelated to human activity or critical tounderstanding a site's historic environ-ment. In a few cases, a natural featureor site unmarked by cultural materials,that is primarily eligible under Crite-rion A, may also be eligible underCriterion D, if study of the feature, orits location, setting, etc. (usually in thecontext of data gained from othersources), will yield important informa-tion about the event or period withwhich it is associated.

ESTABLISHING A HISTORICCONTEXT

The information that a propertyyields, or will yield, must be evalu-ated within an appropriate historiccontext. This will entail consultingthe body of information alreadycollected from similar properties orother pertinent sources, includingmodern and historic written records.The researcher must be able toanticipate if and how the potentialinformation will affect the definitionof the context. The information likelyto be obtained from a particularproperty must confirm, refute, orsupplement in an important wayexisting information.

A property is not eligible if itcannot be related to a particular timeperiod or cultural group and, as aresult, lacks any historic contextwithin which to evaluate the impor-tance of the information to be gained.

DEVELOPING RESEARCHQUESTIONS

Having established the importanceof the information that may berecovered, it is necessary to be explicitin demonstrating the connectionbetween the important informationand a specific property. One ap-proach is to determine if specificimportant research questions can beanswered by the data contained in the

property. Research questions can berelated to property-specific issues, tobroader questions about a largegeographic area, or to theoreticalissues independent of any particulargeographic location. These questionsmay be derived from the academiccommunity or from preservationprograms at the local, regional, State,or national level. Research questionsare usually developed as part of a"research design," which specifies notonly the questions to be asked, butalso the types of data needed tosupply the answers, and often thetechniques needed to recover the data.

Eligible

• When a site consisting of a vil-lage occupation with middendeposits, hearths, ceramics,and stratified evidence of sev-eral occupations is beingevaluated, three possible re-search topics could be: 1) thequestion of whether the siteoccupants were indigenous tothe area prior to the time of oc-cupation or recent arrivals, 2)the investigation of the settle-ment-subsistence pattern ofthe occupants, 3) the questionof whether the region was acenter for the domestication ofplants. Specific questionscould include: A) Do the de-posits show a sequential de-velopment or sudden intro-duction of Ceramic Type X?B) Do the dates of the occupa-tions fit our expectations basedon the current model for thereoccupation behavior ofslash-and-burn agricultural-ists? C) Can any geneticchanges in the food plant re-mains be detected?

Not Eligible

• A property is not eligible if solittle can be understood aboutit that it is not possible to de-termine if specific importantresearch questions can be an-swered by data contained inthe property.

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ESTABLISHING THEPRESENCE OF ADEQUATEDATA

To support the assertion that aproperty has the data necessary toprovide the important information,the property should be investigatedwith techniques sufficient to establishthe presence of relevant data catego-ries. What constitutes appropriateinvestigation techniques woulddepend upon specific circumstancesincluding the property's location,condition, and the research questionsbeing addressed, and could rangefrom surface survey (or photographicsurvey for buildings), to the applica-tion of remote sensing techniques orintensive subsurface testing. Justifica-tion of the research potential of aproperty may be based on analogy toanother better known property ifsufficient similarities exist to establishthe appropriateness of the analogy.

Eligible

• Data requirements depend onthe specific research topics andquestions to be addressed. Tocontinue the example in "De-veloping Research Questions"above, we might want to ascer-tain the following with refer-ence to questions A, B, and C:A) The site contains CeramicType X in one or more occupa-tion levels and we expect to beable to document the localevaluation of the type or its in-trusive nature. B) The hearthscontain datable carbon depositsand are associated with morethan one occupation. C) Themidden deposits show goodfloral/faunal preservation, andwe know enough about thephysical evolution of foodplants to interpret signs thatsuggest domestication.

Not Eligible

• Generally, if the applicable re-search design requires clearlystratified deposits, then subsur-face investigation techniquesmust be applied. A site com-posed only of surface materialscan not be eligible for its poten-tial to yield information thatcould only be found in strati-fied deposits.

INTEGRITY

The assessment of integrity forproperties considered for informationpotential depends on the data require-ments of the applicable researchdesign. A property possessinginformation potential does not need torecall visually an event, person,process, or construction technique. Itis important that the significant datacontained in the property remainsufficiently intact to yield the ex-pected important information, if theappropriate study techniques areemployed.

Eligible

• An irrigation system signifi-cant for the information it willyield on early engineeringpractices can still be eligibleeven though it is now filled inand no longer retains the ap-pearance of an open canal.

Not Eligible

• A plowed archeological sitecontains several superimposedcomponents that have beenmixed to the extent that arti-fact assemblages cannot be re-constructed. The site cannotbe eligible if the data require-ments of the research designcall for the study of artifactsspecific to one component.

PARTLY EXCAVATED ORDISTURBED PROPERTIES

The current existence of appropri-ate physical remains must be ascer-tained in considering a property'sability to yield important information.Properties that have been partlyexcavated or otherwise disturbed andthat are being considered for theirpotential to yield additional impor-tant information must be shown toretain that potential in their remainingportions.

Eligible

• A site that has been partiallyexcavated but still retains sub-stantial intact deposits (or asite in which the remaining de-posits are small but containcritical information on a topicthat is not well known) is eli-gible.

Not Eligible

• A totally collected surface siteor a completely excavated bur-ied site is not eligible since thephysical remains capable ofyielding important informa-tion no longer exist at the site.(See Completely Excavated Sites,on page 24, for exception.)Likewise, a site that has beenlooted or otherwise disturbedto the extent that the remain-ing cultural materials have losttheir important depositionalcontext (horizontal or verticallocation of deposits) is not eli-gible.

• A reconstructed mound orother reconstructed site willgenerally not be consideredeligible, because original cul-tural materials or context orboth have been lost.

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COMPLETELY EXCAVATEDSITES

Properties that have yieldedimportant information in the past andthat no longer retain additionalresearch potential (such as completelyexcavated archeological sites) must beassessed essentially as historic sitesunder Criterion A. Such sites must besignificant for associative valuesrelated to: 1) the importance of thedata gained or 2) the impact of theproperty's role in the history of thedevelopment of anthropology/archeology or other relevant disci-plines. Like other historic properties,the site must retain the ability toconvey its association as the formerrepository of important information,the location of historic events, or therepresentative of important trends.

Eligible

• A property that has been exca-vated is eligible if the data re-covered was of such impor-tance that it influenced the di-rection of research in the disci-pline, as in a site that clearlyestablished the antiquity of thehuman occupation of the NewWorld. (See Criterion A inPart VI: How to Identify theType of Significance of a Propertyand Criteria Consideration Gin Part VII: How to Apply theCriteria Considerations.)

Not Eligible

• A totally excavated site that atone time yielded important in-formation but that no longercan convey either its historic/prehistoric utilization or sig-nificant modern investigationis not eligible.

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VII. HOW TO APPLY THECRITERIA CONSIDERATIONS

INTRODUCTIONCertain kinds of properties are not

usually considered for listing in theNational Register: religious proper-ties, moved properties, birthplacesand graves, cemeteries, reconstructedproperties, commemorative proper-ties, and properties achieving signifi-cance within the past fifty years.These properties can be eligible forlisting, however, if they meet specialrequirements, called Criteria Consid-erations, in addition to meeting theregular requirements (that is, beingeligible under one or more of the fourCriteria and possessing integrity).Part VII provides guidelines fordetermining which properties mustmeet these special requirements andfor applying each Criteria Consider-ation.

The Criteria Considerations need tobe applied only to individual proper-ties. Components of eligible districtsdo not have to meet the specialrequirements unless they make up themajority of the district or are the focalpoint of the district. These are thegeneral steps to follow when applyingthe Criteria Considerations to yourproperty:

• Before looking at the CriteriaConsiderations, make sure yourproperty meets one or more ofthe four Criteria for Evaluationand possesses integrity.

• If it does, check the Criteria Con-siderations (next column) to see if

the property is of a type that isusually excluded from the Na-tional Register. The sections thatfollow also list specific examplesof properties of each type. Ifyour property clearly does not fitone of these types, then it doesnot need to meet any special re-quirements.

• If your property does fit one o^these types, then it must meet thespecial requirements stipulatedfor that type in the Criteria Con-siderations.

CRITERIACONSIDERATIONS*

Ordinarily cemeteries, birthplaces,or graves of historical figures, proper-ties owned by religious institutions orused for religious purposes, structuresthat have been moved from theiroriginal locations, reconstructedhistoric buildings, properties prima-rily commemorative in nature, andproperties that have achieved signifi-cance within the past fifty years shallnot be considered eligible for theNational Register. However, suchproperties will qualify if they areintegral parts of districts that do meetthe criteria or if they fall within thefollowing categories:

a. a religious property deriving pri-mary significance from architec-tural or artistic distinction or his-torical importance; or

b. a building or structure removedfrom its original location butwhich is significant primarily forarchitectural value, or which isthe surviving structure most im-portantly associated with a his-toric person or event; or

c. a birthplace or grave of a histori-cal figure of outstanding impor-tance if there is no appropriatesite or building directly associ-ated with his or her productivelife; or

d. a cemetery which derives its pri-mary significance from graves ofpersons of transcendent impor-tance, from age, from distinctivedesign features, from associationwith historic events; or

e. a reconstructed building whenaccurately executed in a suitableenvironment and presented in adignified manner as part of a res-toration master plan, and whenno other building or structurewith the same association hassurvived; or

f. a property primarily commemo-rative in intent if design, age, tra-dition, or symbolic value has in-vested it with its own exceptionalsignificance; or,

g. a property achieving significancewithin the past 50 years if it is ofexceptional importance.

*The Criteria Considerations are taken fromthe Criteria for Evaluation, found in the Code ofFederal Regulations, Title 36, Part 60.

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CRITERIA CONSIDERATION A:RELIGIOUS PROPERTIESA religious property is eligible if it derives its primary significance from architectural or artistic distinction or historicalimportance.

UNDERSTANDINGCRITERIACONSIDERATIONA: RELIGIOUSPROPERTIES

A religious property requiresjustification on architectural, artistic,or historic grounds to avoid anyappearance of judgment by govern-ment about the validity of any reli-gion or belief. Historic significancefor a religious property cannot beestablished on the merits of a reli-gious doctrine, but rather, for archi-tectural or artistic values or forimportant historic or cultural forcesthat the property represents. Areligious property's significanceunder Criterion A, B, C, or D must bejudged in purely secular terms. Areligious group may, in some cases,be considered a cultural group whoseactivities are significant in areasbroader than religious history.

Criteria Consideration for Reli-gious Properties applies:

• If the resource was constructedby a religious institution.

• If the resource is presentlyowned by a religious institutionor is used for religious purposes.

• If the resource was owned by areligious institution or used forreligious purposes during its Pe-riod of Significance.

• If Religion is selected as an Areaof Significance.

Examples of Properties that MUSTMeet Criteria Consideration A: Reli-gions Properties

• A historic church where an inipor-tant non-religious event occurred,such as a speetfi by Patrick Henry.

• A historic synagogue that is signifi-cant for architecture.

• A private residence is the site of ameeting important to religious his-tory.

• A commercial block that is currentlyowned as an investment property bya religious institution.

• A historic district in which religionwas either a predominant or signifi-cant function during the period ofsignificance.

Example of Properties that DO NOTNeed to Meet Criteria ConsiderationA: Religious Properties

• A residential or commercial districtthat currently contains a small num-ber of churches that are not a pre-dominant feature of the district.

• A town meeting hall that serves asthe center of community activity andhouses a wide variety of publicand private meetings, including reli-gious service. The resource is sig-nificant for architecture and politics,and the religious function is inciden-tal

• A town hall, significant for politicsfrom 1875 to 1925, that housedreligious services during the 1950s.Since the religious function occurredafter the Period of Significance, theCriteria Consideration does not ap-

APPLYINGCRITERIACONSIDERATIONA: RELIGIOUSPROPERTIES

ELIGIBILITY FOR HISTORICEVENTS

A religious property can be eligibleunder Criterion A for any of three rea-sons:

• It is significant under a theme inthe history of religion havingsecular scholarly recognition; or

• It is significant under another his-torical theme, such as explora-tion, settlement, social philan-thropy, or education; or

• It is significantly associated withtraditional cultural values.

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RELIGIOUS HISTORY

A religious property can be eligibleif it is directly associated with either aspecific event or a broad pattern in thehistory of religion.

Eligible

• The site of a convention atwhich a significant denomina-tional split occurred meets therequirements of Criteria Con-sideration A. Also eligible is aproperty that illustrates thebroad impact of a religious in-stitution on the history of a lo-cal area.

Not Eligible

• A religious property cannot beeligible simply because wasthe place of religious servicesfor a community, or was theoldest structure used by a reli-gious group in a local area.

OTHER HISTORICALTHEMES

A religious property can be eligibleif it is directly associated with either aspecific event or a broad pattern thatis significant in another historiccontext. A religious property wouldalso qualify if it were significant forits associations that illustrate theimportance of a particular religiousgroup in the social, cultural, eco-nomic, or political history of the area.Eligibility depends on the importanceof the event or broad pattern and therole of the specific property.

Eligible

• A religious property canqualify for its important roleas a temporary hospital duringthe Revolutionary War, or if itsschool was significant in thehistory of education in thecommunity.

Not Eligible

• A religious property is not sig-nificant in the history of edu-cation in a community simplybecause it had occasionallyserved as a school.

TRADITIONAL CULTURALVALUES

When evaluating propertiesassociated with traditional cultures, itis important to recognize that oftenthese cultures do not make cleardistinctions between what is secularand what is sacred. Criteria Consider-ation A is not intended to excludetraditional cultural resources merelybecause they have religious uses orare considered sacred. A property ornatural feature important to a tradi-tional culture's religion and mythol-ogy is eligible if its importance hasbeen ethnohistorically documentedand if the site can be clearly defined.It is critical, however, that the activi-ties be documented and that theassociations not be so diffuse that thephysical resource cannot be ad-equately defined.8

Eligible

• A specific location or naturalfeature that an Indian tribe be-lieves to be its place of originand that is adequately docu-mented qualifies under Crite-ria Consideration A.

ELIGIBILITY FOR HISTORICPERSONS

A religious property can be eligiblefor association with a person impor-tant in religious history, if thatsignificance has scholarly, secularrecognition or is important in otherhistoric contexts. Individuals whowould likely be considered significantare those who formed or significantlyinfluenced an important religiousinstitution or movement, or who wereimportant in the social, economic, orpolitical history of the area. Proper-ties associated with individualsimportant only within the context of asingle congregation and lackingimportance in any other historiccontext would not be eligible underCriterion B.

Eligible

• A religious property stronglyassociated with a religiousleader, such as GeorgeWhitefield or Joseph Smith, iseligible.

8 For more information on applying Criteria Consideration A to traditional cultural properties,refer to National Register Bulletin: Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Traditional CulturalProperties.

ELIGIBILITY FORARCHITECTURAL ORARTISTIC DISTINCTION

A religious property significant forits architectural design or construc-tion should be evaluated as are otherproperties under Criterion C; that is,it should be evaluated within anestablished architectural context and,if necessary, compared to otherproperties of its type, period, ormethod of construction. (See "Com-paring Related Properties" in Part V:How to Evaluate a Property Within ItsHistoric Context.)

ELIGIBILITY FORINFORMATION POTENTIAL

A religious property, whether adistrict, site, building, structure, orobject, is eligible if it can yield impor-tant information about the religiouspractices of a cultural group or otherhistoric themes. This kind of propertyshould be evaluated as are otherproperties under Criterion D, inrelation to similar properties, otherinformation sources, and existing datagaps.

Eligible

• A historic camp meeting dis-trict that meets the require-ments of Criterion C for its sig-nificance as a type of construc-tion is eligible.

Eligible

• A 19th century camp meetingsite that could provide infor-mation about the length andintensity of site use during re-vivals of the Second GreatAwakening is eligible.

• Rock cairns or medicinewheels that had a historic reli-gious mythological functionand can provide informationabout specific cultural beliefsare eligible.

Criteria Consideration A - Religious Properties. A religious property can qualifyas an exception to the Criteria if it is architecturally significant. The Church of theNavity in Rosedale, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, qualified as a rare example in the Stateof a 19th century small frame Gothic Revival style chapel. (Robert Obier)

ABILITY TO REFLECTHISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS

As with all eligible properties,religious properties must physicallyrepresent the period of time for whichthey are significance. For instance, arecent building that houses an oldercongregation cannot qualify based onthe historic activities of the groupbecause the current building does notconvey the earlier history. Likewise,an older building that housed thehistoric activities of the congregationis eligible if it still physically repre-sents the period of the congregation'ssignificance. However, if an olderbuilding has been remodeled to theextent that its appearance dates fromthe time of the remodeling, it can onlybe eligible if the period of significancecorresponds with the period of thealterations.

Eligible

• A church built in the 18th cen-tury and altered beyond recog-nition in the 19th century iseligible only if the additionsare important in themselves asan example of late 19th cen-tury architecture or as a reflec-tion of an important period ofthe congregation's growth.

Not Eligible

• A synagogue built in the 1920scannot be eligible for the im-portant activities of its congre-gation in the 18th and 19thcenturies. It can only be eli-gible for significance obtainedafter its construction date.

• A rural 19th century framechurch recently sheathed inbrick is not eligible because ithas lost its characteristic ap-pearance and therefore can nolonger convey its 19th centurysignificance, either for archi-tectural value or historic asso-ciation.

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CRITERIA CONSIDERATION B:MOVED PROPERTIESA property removed from its original or historically significant location can be eligible if it is significant primarilyfor architectural value or it is the surviving property most importantly associated with a historic person or event.

UNDERSTANDINGCRITERIACONSIDERATIONB: MOVEDPROPERTIES

The National Register criteria limitthe consideration of moved propertiesbecause significance is embodied inlocations and settings as well as in theproperties themselves. Moving aproperty destroys the relationshipsbetween the property and its sur-roundings and destroys associationswith historic events and persons. Amove may also cause the loss ofhistoric features such as landscaping,foundations, and chimneys, as well asloss of the potential for associatedarcheological deposits. Propertiesthat were moved before their period ofsignificance do not need to meet thespecial requirements of CriteriaConsideration B.

One of the basic purposes of theNational Register is to encourage thepreservation of historic properties asliving parts of their communities. Inkeeping with this purpose, it is notusual to list artificial groupings ofbuildings that have been created forpurposes of interpretation, protection,or maintenance. Moving buildings tosuch a grouping destroys the integrityof location and setting, and can createa false sense of historic development.

APPLYINGCRITERIACONSIDERATIONB: MOVEDPROPERTIESELIGIBILITY FORARCHITECTURAL VALUE

A moved property significantunder Criterion C must retain enoughhistoric features to convey its architec-tural values and retain integrity ofdesign, materials, workmanship,feeling, and association.

Examples of Properties that MUSTMeet Criteria Consideration B:Moved Properties

• A resource moved from one locationon its original site to another loca-tion on the property, during or afterits Period of Significance.

• A district in which a significantnumber of resources have beenmoved from their original location.

• A district which has one movedbuilding that makes an especiallysignificant contribution to the dis-trict.

• A portable resource, such as a ship orrailroad car, that is relocated to aplace incompatible with its originalfunction.

• A portable resource, such as a ship orrailroad car, whose importance iscritically linked to its historic loca-tion or route and that is moved.

Examples of Properties that DO NOTNeed to Meet Criteria ConsiderationB: Moved Properties

• A property that is moved prior to itsPeriod of Significance.

• A district in which only a small per-centage of typical buildings in a dis-trict are moved.

• A moved building that is part of acomplex but is of less significancethan the remaining (unmoved)buildings.

• A portable resource, such as a ship orrailroad car, that is eligible underCriterion C and is moved within itsnatural setting (water, rails, etc.).

• A property that is raised or loweredon its foundations.

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ELIGIBILITY FOR HISTORICASSOCIATIONS

A moved property significantunder Criteria A or B must be demon-strated to be the surviving propertymost importantly associated with aparticular historic event or an impor-tant aspect of a historic person's life.The phrase "most importantly associ-ated" means that it must be the singlesurviving property that is mostclosely associated with the event orwith the part of the person's life forwhich he or she is significant.

Eligible

• A moved building occupied byan business woman during themajority of her productive ca-reer would be eligible if theother extant properties are ahouse she briefly inhabitedprior to her period of signifi-cance and a commercial build-ing she owned after her retire-ment.

Not Eligible

• A moved building associatedwith the beginning of railtransportation in a communityis not eligible if the originalrailroad station and ware-house remained intact on theiroriginal sites.

SETTING ANDENVIRONMENT

In addition to the requirementsabove, moved properties must stillhave an orientation, setting, andgeneral environment that are compa-rable to those of the historic locationand that are compatible with theproperty's significance.

ASSOCIATION DEPENDENTON THE SITE

For a property whose design valuesor historical associations are directlydependent on its location, any movewill cause the property to lose itsintegrity and prevent it from convey-ing its significance.

Eligible

• A property significant as anexample of mid-19th centuryrural house type can be eli-gible after a move, providedthat it is placed on a lot that issufficient in size and characterto recall the basic qualities ofthe historic environment andsetting, and provided that thebuilding is sited appropriatelyin relation to natural andmanmade surroundings.

Not Eligible

• A rural house that is movedinto an urban area and abridge that is no longer situ-ated over a waterway are noteligible.

Eligible

• A farm structure significantonly as an example of amethod of construction pecu-liar to the local area is still eli-gible if it is moved within thatlocal area and the new settingis similar to that of the originallocation.

Not Eligible

• A 19th century rural residencethat was designed around par-ticular topographic features,reflecting that time period'sideals of environment, is noteligible if moved.

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PROPERTIES DESIGNED TOBE MOVED

A property designed to move or aproperty frequently moved during itshistoric use must be located in ahistorically appropriate setting inorder to qualify, retaining its integrityof setting, design, feeling, and associa-tion. Such properties include automo-biles, railroad cars and engines, andships.

ARTIFICIALLY CREATEDGROUPINGS

An artificially created grouping ofbuildings, structures, or objects is noteligible unless it has achieved signifi-cance since the time of its assemblage.It cannot be considered as a reflectionof the time period when the indi-vidual buildings were constructed.

PORTIONS OF PROPERTIES

A moved portion of a building,structure, or object is not eligiblebecause, as a fragment of a largerresource, it has lost integrity ofdesign, setting, materials, workman-ship, and location.

Eligible

• A ship docked in a harbor, alocomotive on tracks or in arailyard, and a bridge relo-cated from one body of waterto another are eligible.

Not Eligible

• A ship on land in a park, abridge placed in a pasture, or alocomotive displayed in an in-door museum are not eligible.

Eligible

• A grouping of moved historicbuildings whose creationmarked the beginning of a ma-jor concern with past lifestylescan qualify as an early attemptat historic preservation and asan illustration of that genera-tion's values.

Not Eligible

• A rural district composed of afarmhouse on its original siteand a grouping oi historicbarns recently moved onto theproperty is not eligible.

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CRITERIA CONSIDERATION C:BIRTHPLACES OR GRAVESA birthplace or grave of a historical figure is eligible if the person is of outstanding importance and if there is noother appropriate site or building directly associated with his or her productive life.

UNDERSTANDINGCRITERIACONSIDERATIONC: BIRTHPLACESAND GRAVES

Birthplaces and graves often attainimportance as reflections o( the originsof important persons or as lastingmemorials to them. The lives ofpersons significant in our past nor-mally are recognized by the NationalRegister through listing of propertiesillustrative of or associated with thatperson's productive life's work.Birthplaces and graves, as propertiesthat represent the beginning and theend of the life of distinguished indi-viduals, may be temporally andgeographically far removed from theperson's significant activities, andtherefore are not usually consideredeligible.

Examples of Properties that MUSTMeet Criteria Consideration C: Birth-places and Graves

• The birthplace of a significant personwho lived elsewhere during his or herPeriod of Significance.

• A grave that is nominated for its as-sociation with the significant personburied in it.

• A grave that is nominated for infor-mation potential.

Examples of Properties that DO NOTNeed to Meet Criteria ConsiderationC: Birthplaces and Graves

• A house that was inhabited by a sig-nificant person for his or her entirelifetime.

• A grave located on the grounds of thehouse where a significant personspent his or her productive years.

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APPLYINGCRITERIACONSIDERATIONC: BIRTHPLACESAND GRAVESPERSONS OFOUTSTANDINGIMPORTANCE

The phrase "a historical figure ofoutstanding importance" means thatin order for a birthplace or grave toqualify, it cannot be simply thebirthplace or grave of a personsignificant in our past (Criterion B). Itmust be the birthplace or grave of anindividual who was of outstandingimportance in the history of the localarea, State, or nation. The birthplaceor grave of an individual who wasone of several people active in someaspect of the history of a community,a state, or the Nation would not beeligible.

LAST SURVIVINGPROPERTY ASSOCIATEDWITH A PERSON

When an geographical areastrongly associated with a person ofoutstanding importance has lost allother properties directly associatedwith his or her formative years orproductive life, a birthplace or gravemay be eligible.

ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHERASSOCIATIONS

A birthplace or grave can also beeligible if it is significant for reasonsother than association with theproductive life of the person inquestion. It can be eligible for signifi-cance under Criterion A for associa-tion with important events, underCriterion B for association with theproductive lives of other importantpersons, or under Criterion C forarchitectural significance. A birth-place or grave can also be eligible inrare cases if, after the passage of time,it is significant for its commemorativevalue. (See Criteria Consideration Ffor a discussion of commemorativeproperties.) A birthplace or grave canalso be eligible under Criterion D if itcontains important information onresearch, e.g., demography, pathol-ogy, mortuary practices, socioeco-nomic status differentiation.

Criteria Consideration C - Birthplaces. A birthplace of a historical figure is eligibleif the person is of outstanding importance and there is no other appropriate site orbuilding associated with his or her productive life. The Walter Reed Birthplace,Gloucester vicinity, Gloucester County, Virginia is the most appropriate remainingbuilding associated with the life of the man who, in 1900, discovered the cause andmode of transmission of the great scourge of the tropics, yellow fever. (VirginiaHistoric Landmarks Commission)

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CRITERIA CONSIDERATION D:CEMETERIESA cemetery is eligible if it derives its primary significance from graves of persons of transcendent importance, fromage, from distinctive design features, or from association with historic events.

UNDERSTANDINGCRITERIACONSIDERATIOND: CEMETERIES

A cemetery is a collection of gravesthat is marked by stones or otherartifacts or that is unmarked butrecognizable by features such asfencing or depressions, or throughmaps, or by means of testing. Cem-eteries serve as a primary means of anindividual's recognition of familyhistory and as expressions of collec-tive religious and/or ethnic identity.Because cemeteries may embodyvalues beyond personal or family-specific emotions, the NationalRegister criteria allow for listing ofcemeteries under certain conditions.

Examples of Properties that MUSTMeet Criteria Consideration D:Cemeteries

• A cemetery that is nominated indi-vidually for Criterion A, B, or C,

Examples of Properties that DO NOTNeed to Meet Criteria ConsiderationD: Cemeteries

• A cemetery that is nominated alongwith its associated church, but thechurch is the main resource nomi-nated.

• A cemetery that is nominated underCriterion D for information poten-tial.

• A cemetery that is nominated as partof a district but is not the focal pointof the district.

Criteria Consideration D - Cemeteries. The Hancock Cemetery, Quincy, NorfolkCounty, Massachusetts meets the exception to the Criteria because it derives itsprimary significance from its great age (the earliest burials date from 1640) and fromthe distinctive design features found in its rich collection of late 17th and early 18thcentury funerary art. (N. Hobart Holly)

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APPLYINGCRITERIACONSIDERATIOND: CEMETERIESPERSONS OFTRANSCENDENTIMPORTANCE

A cemetery containing the gravesof persons of transcendent importancemay be eligible. To be of transcendentimportance the persons must havebeen of great eminence in their fieldsof endeavor or had a great impactupon the history of their community,State, or nation. (A single grave thatis the burial place of an importantperson and is located in a largercemetery that does not qualify underthis Criteria Consideration should betreated under Criteria ConsiderationC: Birthplaces and Graves.)

Eligible

• A historic cemetery containingthe graves of a number of per-sons who were exceptionallysignificant in determining thecourse of a State's political oreconomic history during a par-ticular period is eligible.

Not Eligible

• A cemetery containing gravesof State legislators is not eli-gible if they simply performedthe daily business of State gov-ernment and did not have anoutstanding impact upon thenature and direction of theState's history.

ELIGIBILITY ON THE BASISOF AGE

Cemeteries can be eligible if theyhave achieved historic significance fortheir relative great age in a particulargeographic or cultural context.

Eligible

• A cemetery dating from acommunity's original 1830ssettlement can attain signifi-cance from its association withthat very early period.

ELIGIBILITY FOR DESIGN

Cemeteries can qualify on the basisof distinctive design values. Thesevalues refer to the same design valuesaddressed in Criterion C and caninclude aesthetic or technologicalachievement in the fields of cityplanning, architecture, landscapearchitecture, engineering, mortuaryart, and sculpture. As for all othernominated properties, a cemeterymust clearly express its design valuesand be able to convey its historicappearance.

Eligible

• A Victorian cemetery is eli-gible if it clearly expresses theaesthetic principlesrelated tofunerary design for that pe-riod, through such features asthe overall plan, landscaping,statuary, sculpture, fencing,buildings, and grave markers.

Not Eligible

• A cemetery cannot be eligiblefor design values if it nolonger conveys its historic ap-pearance because of the intro-duction of new grave markers.

ELIGIBILITY FORASSOCIATION WITHEVENTS

Cemeteries may be associated withhistoric events including specificimportant events or general eventsthat illustrate broad patterns.

Eligible

• A cemetery associated with animportant Civil War battle iseligible.

• A cemetery associated with thesettlement of an area by anethnic or cultural group is eli-gible if the movement of thegroup into the area had an im-portant impact, if other prop-erties associated with thatgroup are rare, and if fewdocumentary sources havesurvived to provide informa-tion about the group'shistory.

Not Eligible

• A cemetery associated with abattle in the Civil War doesnot qualify if the battle wasnot important in the history ofthe war.

• A cemetery associated with anarea's settlement by an ethnicor cultural group is not eli-gible if the impact of the groupon the area cannot be estab-lished, if other extant historicproperties better convey asso-ciation with the group, or ifthe information that the cem-etery can impart is available indocumentary sources.

ELIGIBILITY FORINFORMATION POTENTIAL

Cemeteries, both historic andprehistoric, can be eligible if theyhave the potential to yield importantinformation. The information must beimportant within a specific contextand the potential to yield informationmust be demonstrated.

A cemetery can qualify if it haspotential to yield important informa-tion provided that the information itcontains is not available in extantdocumentary evidence.

Eligible

• A cemetery associated with thesettlement of a particular cul-tural group will qualify if ithas the potential to yield im-portant information about sub-jects such as demography,variations in mortuary prac-tices, or the study of the causeof death correlated with nutri-tion or other variables.

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INTEGRITY

Assessing the integrity of a historiccemetery entails evaluating principaldesign features such as plan, gravemarkers, and any related elements(such as fencing). Only that portionof a historic cemetery that retains itshistoric integrity can be eligible. If theoverall integrity has been lost becauseof the number and size of recent gravemarkers, some features such asbuildings, structures, or objects thatretain integrity may be considered asindividual properties if they are ofsuch historic or artistic importancethat they individually meet one ormore of the requirements listedabove.

NATIONAL CEMETERIES

National Cemeteries administeredby the Veterans Administration areeligible because they have beendesignated by Congress as primarymemorials to the military history ofthe United States. Those areas withina designated national cemetery thathave been used or prepared for thereception of the remains of veteransand their dependents, as well as anylandscaped areas that immediatelysurround the graves may qualify.Because these cemeteries draw theirsignificance from the presence of theremains of military personnel whohave served the country throughout

its history, the age of the cemetery isnot a factor in judging eligibility,although integrity must be present.

A national cemetery or a portion ofa national cemetery that has only beenset aside for use in the future is noteligible.

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CRITERIA CONSIDERATION E:RECONTRUCTED PROPERTIESA reconstructed property is eligible when it is accurately executed in a suitable environment and presented in a dig-nified manner as part of a restoration master plan and when no other building or structure with the same associationshas survived. All three of these requirements must be met.

UNDERSTANDINGCRITERIACONSIDERATION E:RECONSTRUCTEDPROPERTIES

"Reconstruction" is defined as thereproduction of the exact form anddetail of a vanished building, struc-ture, object, or a part thereof, as itappeared at a specific period of time.Reconstructed buildings fall into twocategories: buildings wholly con-structed of new materials and build-ings reassembled from some historicand some new materials. BotH catego-ries of properties present problems inmeeting the integrity requirements ofthe National Register criteria.

Examples of Properties that MUSTMeet Criteria Consideration E: Recon-structed Properties

• A property in which most or all of thefabric is not original.

• A district in which an important re-source or a significant number of re-sources are reconstructions.

Examples of Properties that DO NOTNeed to Meet Criteria Consideration E:Reconstructed Properties

• A property that is remodeled or reno-vated and still has the majority of itsoriginal fabric.

APPLYINGCRITERIACONSIDERATION E:RECONSTRUCTEDPROPERTIES

ACCURACY OF THERECONSTRUCTION

The phrase "accurately executed"means that the reconstruction must bebased upon sound archeological,architectural, and historic data con-cerning the historic construction andappearance of the resource. Thatdocumentation should include bothanalysis of any above or below groundmaterial and research in written andother records.

SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT

The phrase "suitable environment"refers to: 1) the physical contextprovided by the historic district and2) any interpretive scheme, if thehistoric district is used for interpretivepurposes. This means that thereconstructed property must belocated at the same site as the original.It must also be situated in its originalgrouping of buildings, structures, andobjects (as many as are extant), andthat grouping must retain integrity.In addition, the reconstruction mustnot be misrepresented as an authentichistoric property.

Eligible

• A reconstructed plantationmanager's office building isconsidered eligible because itis located at its historic site,grouped with the remaininghistoric plantation buildingsand structures, and the planta-tion as a whole retains integ-rity. Interpretation of theplantation district includes anexplanation that the manager'soffice is not the original build-ing, but a reconstruction.

Not Eligible

• The same reconstructed plan-tation manager's office build-ing would not qualify if itwere rebuilt at a location dif-ferent from that of the originalbuilding, or if the district as awhole no longer reflected theperiod for which it is signifi-cant, or if a misleading inter-pretive scheme were used forthe district or for the recon-struction itself.

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RESTORATION MASTERPLANS

Being presented "as part of arestoration master plan" means that:1) a reconstructed property is anessential component in a historicdistrict and 2) the reconstruction ispart of an overall restoration plan foran entire district. "Restoration" isdefined as accurately recovering theform and details of a property and itssetting as it appeared at a particularperiod by removing later work or byreplacing missing earlier work (asopposed to completely rebuilding theproperty). The master plan for theentire property must emphasizerestoration, not reconstruction. Inother words, the master plan for theentire resource would not be accept-able under this consideration if itcalled for reconstruction of a majorityof the resource.

Eligible

• A reconstructed plantationmanager's office is eligible ifthe office were an importantcomponent of the plantationand if the reconstruction is oneelement in an overall plan forrestoring the plantation and ifno other building or structurewith the same associations hassurvived.

• The reconstruction of the plan-tation manager's office build-ing can be eligible only if themajority of buildings, struc-tures, and objects that com-prised the plantation are ex-tant and are being restored.For guidance regarding resto-ration see the Secretary of theInterior's Standards for HistoricPreservation Projects.

LAST SURVIVINGPROPERTY OF A TYPE

This consideration also stipulatesthat a reconstruction can qualify if, inaddition to the other requirements, noother building, object, or structurewith the same association has sur-vived. A reconstruction that is part ofa restoration master plan is appropri-ate only if: 1) the property is the onlyone in the district with which aparticular important activity or eventhas been historically associated or2) no other property with the sameassociative values has survived.

RECONSTRUCTIONSOLDER THAN FIFTY YEARS

After the passage of fifty years, areconstruction may attain its ownsignificance for what it reveals aboutthe period in which it was built,rather than the historic period it wasintended to depict. On that basis, areconstruction can possibly qualifyunder any of the Criteria.

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CRITERIA CONSIDERATION F:COMMEMORATIVE PROPERTIESA property primarily commemorative in intent can be eligible if design, age, tradition, or symbolic value has investedit with its own historical significance.

UNDERSTANDINGCRITERIACONSIDERATION F:COMMEMORATIVEPROPERTIES

Commemorative properties aredesigned or constructed after theoccurrence of an important historicevent or after the life of an importantperson. They are not directly associ-ated with the event or with theperson's productive life, but serve asevidence of a later generation's assess-ment of the past. Their significancecomes from their value as culturalexpressions at the date of their cre-ation. Therefore, a commemorativeproperty generally must be over fiftyyears old and must possess signifi-cance based on its own value, not onthe value of the event or person beingmemorialized.

Examples of Properties that MUSTMeet Criteria Consideration F:Commemorative Properties

• A property whose sole or primaryfunction is commemorative or inwhich the commemorative functionis of primary significance.

Examples of Properties that DO NOTNeed to Meet Criteria ConsiderationF: Commemorative Properties

• A resource that has a non-commemorative primary functionor significance.

• A single marker that is a componentof a district (whether contributing ornon-contributi ng).

APPLYINGCRITERIACONSIDERATION F:COMMEMORATIVEPROPERTIESELIGIBILITY FOR DESIGN

A commemorative property derivesits design from the aesthetic values ofthe period of its creation. A com-memorative property, therefore, maybe significant for the architectural,artistic, or other design qualities of itsown period in prehistory or history.

Eligible

• A commemorative statue situ-ated in a park or square is eli-gible if it expresses the aesthet-ics or craftsmanship of the pe-riod when it was made, meet-ing Criterion C.

• A late 19th century statueerected on a courthouse squareto commemorate Civil War vet-erans would qualify if it reflectsthat era's shared perception ofthe noble character and valor ofthe veterans and their cause.This was commonly conveyedby portraying idealized soldiersor allegorical figures of battle,victory, or sacrifice.

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ELIGIBILITY FOR AGE,TRADITION, OR SYMBOLICVALUE

A commemorative property cannotqualify for association with the eventor person it memorializes. A com-memorative property may, however,acquire significance after the time ofits creation through age, tradition, orsymbolic value. This significance mustbe documented by accepted methodsof historical research, includingwritten or oral history, and must meetone or more of the Criteria.

Eligible

• A commemorative markererected by a cultural groupthat believed the place was thesite of its origins is eligible if,for subsequent generations ofthe group, the marker itself be-came the focus of traditionalassociation with the group'shistoric identity.

• A building erected as a monu-ment to an important histori-cal figure will qualify ifthrough the passage of timethe property itself has come tosymbolize the value placedupon the individual and iswidely recognized as a re-minder of enduring principlesor contributions valued by thegeneration that erected themonument.

• A commemorative markererected early in the settlementor development of an area willqualify if it is demonstratedthat, because of its relativegreat age, the property haslong been a part of the historicidentity of the area.

Not Eligible

• A commemorative markererected in the past by a cul-tural group at the site of anevent in its history would notbe eligible if the marker weresignificant only for associationwith the event, and it had notbecome significant itselfthrough tradition.

• A building erected as a monu-ment to an important histori-cal figure would not be eligibleif its only value lay in its asso-ciation with the individual,and it has not come to symbol-ize values, ideas, or contribu-tions valued by the generationthat erected the monument.

• A commemorative markererected to memorialize anevent in the community'shistory would not qualify sim-ply for its association with theevent it memorialized.

INELIGIBILITY AS THELAST REPRESENTATIVE OFAN EVENT OR PERSON

The loss of properties directlyassociated with a significant event orperson does not strengthen the casefor consideration of a commemorativeproperty. Unlike birthplaces andgraves, a commemorative propertyusually has no direct historic associa-tion. The commemorative propertycan qualify for historic associationonly if it is clearly significant in itsown right, as stipulated above.

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CRITERIA CONSIDERATION G:PROPERTIES THAT HAVEACHIEVED SIGNIFICANCEWITHIN THE LAST FIFTY YEARSA property achieving significance within the last fifty years is eligible if it is of exceptional importance.

UNDERSTANDINGCRITERIACONSIDERATIONG: PROPERTIESTHAT HAVEACHIEVEDSIGNIFICANCEWITHIN THE LASTFIFTY YEARS

The National Register Criteria forEvaluation exclude properties thatachieved significance within the lastfifty years unless they are of excep-tional importance. Fifty years is ageneral estimate of the time needed todevelop historical perspective and toevaluate significance. This consider-ation guards against the listing ofproperties of passing contemporaryinterest and ensures that the NationalRegister is a list of truly historicplaces.

Examples of Properties that MUSTMeet Criteria Consideration G: Prop-erties that Have Achieved Signifi-cance Within the Last Fifty Years

• A property that is less than fiftyyears old.

• A property that continues to achievesignificance into a period less thanfifty years before the nomination.

• A property that has non-contiguousPeriods of Significance, one of whichis less than fifty years before thenomination.

• A property that is more than fiftyyears old and had no significanceuntil a period less than fifty yearsbefore the nomination.

Examples of Properties that DO NOTNeed to Meet Criteria ConsiderationG: Properties that Have AchievedSignificance Within the Last FiftyYears

• A resource whose construction be-gan over fifty years ago, but thecompletion overlaps the fifty year pe-riod by a few years or less.

• A resource that is significant for itsplan or design, which is over fiftyyears old, but the actual completionof the project overlaps the fifty yearperiod by a few years.

• A historic district in which a fewproperties are newer than fifty yearsold, but the majority of propertiesand the most important Period ofSignificance are greater than fiftyyears old.

9 For more information on Criteria Consideration G, refer to National Register Bulletin: Guidelines for Evaluating and Nominating Properties that HaveAchieved Significance Within the Last Fifty Years.

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APPLYINGCRITERIACONSIDERATIONG: PROPERTIESTHAT HAVEACHIEVEDSIGNIFICANCEWITHIN THE PASTFIFTY YEARS

ELIGIBILITY FOREXCEPTIONALIMPORTANCE

The phrase "exceptional impor-tance" may be applied to the extraor-dinary importance of an event or toan entire category of resources sofragile that survivors of any age areunusual. Properties listed that hadattained significance in less than fiftyyears include: the launch pad at CapeCanaveral from which men firsttraveled to the moon, the home ofnationally prominent playwrightEugene O'Neill, and the ChryslerBuilding (New York) significant as theepitome of the "Style Moderne"architecture.

Properties less than fifty years oldthat qualify as exceptional because theentire category of resources is fragileinclude a recent example of a tradi-tional sailing canoe in the TrustTerritory of the Pacific Islands, wherebecause of rapid deterioration ofmaterials, no working Micronesiancanoes exist that are more than twentyyears old. Properties that by theirnature can last more than fifty yearscannot be considered exceptionallyimportant because of the fragility ofthe class of resources.

The phrase "exceptional impor-tance" does not require that theproperty be of national significance.It is a measure of a property's impor-tance within the appropriate historiccontext, whether the scale of thatcontext is local, State, or national.

Eligible

• The General Laundry Buildingin New Orleans, one of the fewremaining Art Deco Stylebuildings in that city, waslisted in the National Registerwhen it was forty years old be-cause of its exceptional impor-tance as an example of that ar-chitectural style.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

A property that has achievedsignificance within the past fifty yearscan be evaluated only when sufficienthistorical perspective exists to deter-mine that the property is exception-ally important. The necessary per-spective can be provided by scholarlyresearch and evaluation, and mustconsider both the historic context andthe specific property's role in thatcontext.

In many communities, propertiessuch as apartment buildings built inthe 1950s cannot be evaluated becausethere is no scholarly research avail-able to provide an overview of thenature, role, and impact of thatbuilding type within the context ofhistorical and architectural develop-ments of the 1950s.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICERUSTIC ARCHITECTURE

Properties such as structures builtin a rustic style by the National ParkService during the 1930s and 1940scan be evaluated because a broadstudy, National Park Service RusticArchitecture (1977), provides thecontext for evaluating properties ofthis type and style. Specific exampleswere listed in the National Registerprior to reaching fifty years of agewhen documentation concerning theindividual properties established theirsignificance within the historical andarchitectural context of the type andstyle.

VETERANSADMINISTRATIONHOSPITALS

Hospitals less than fifty years oldthat were constructed by the VeteransBureau and Veterans Administrationcan be evaluated because the collec-tion of forty-eight facilities built be-tween 1920 and 1946 has been ana-lyzed in a study prepared by theagency. The study provided a historicand architectural context for develop-ment of veteran's care within whichhospitals could be evaluated. The ex-ceptional importance of specific indi-vidual facilities constructed within thepast fifty years could therefore be de-termined based on their role and theirpresent integrity.

COMPARISON WITHRELATED PROPERTIES

In justifying exceptional impor-tance, it is necessary to identify otherproperties within the geographicalarea that reflect the same significanceor historic associations and to deter-mine which properties best representthe historic context in question.Several properties in the area couldbecome eligible with the passage oftime, but few will qualify now asexceptionally important.

POST-WORLD WAR IIPROPERTIES

Properties associated with the post-World War II era must be identifiedand evaluated to determine whichones in an area could be judgedexceptionally important. For ex-ample, a public housing complex maybe eligible as an outstanding expres-sion of the nation's post-war urbanpolicy. A military installation couldbe judged exceptionally importantbecause of its contribution to the ColdWar arms race. A church building ina Southern city may have served asthe pivotal rallying point for the city'smost famous civil rights protest. Apost-war suburban subdivision maybe the best reflection of contemporarysiting and design tenets in a metro-politan area. In each case, the nomi-nation preparer must justify theexceptional importance of the propertyrelative to similar properties in thecommunity, State, or nation.

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ELIGIBILITY FORINFORMATION POTENTIAL

A property that has achievedsignificance within the past fifty yearscan qualify under Criterion D only ifit can be demonstrated that theinformation is of exceptional impor-tance within the appropriate contextand that the property contains datasuperior to or different from thoseobtainable from other sources, includ-ing other culturally related sites. Anarcheological site less than fifty yearsold may be eligible if the formerinhabitants are so poorly documentedthat information about their lifewaysis best obtained from examination ofthe material remains.

Eligible

• Data such as the rate of adop-tion of modern technologicalinnovations by rural tenantfarmers in the 1950s may notbe obtainable through inter-views with living persons butcould be gained by examina-tion of homesites.

Not Eligible

• A recent archeological sitesuch as the remains of aNavajo sheep corral used inthe 1950s would not be consid-ered exceptionally significantfor its information potential onanimal husbandry if better in-formation on the same topic isavailable through ethno-graphic studies or living infor-mants.

HISTORIC DISTRICTS

Properties which have achievedsignificance within the past fifty yearscan be eligible for the NationalRegister if they are an integral part ofa district which qualifies for NationalRegister listing. This is demonstratedby documenting that the propertydates from within the district'sdefined Period of Significance andthat it is associated with one or moreof the district's defined Areas ofSignificance.

Properties less than fifty years oldmay be an integral part of a districtwhen there is sufficient perspective toconsider the properties as historic.This is accomplished by demonstrat-ing that: 1) the district's Period ofSignificance is justified as a discreteperiod with a defined beginning andend, 2) the character of the district'shistoric resources is clearly definedand assessed, 3) specific resources inthe district are demonstrated to datefrom that discrete era, and 4) themajority of district properties are overfifty years old. In these instances, it isnot necessary to prove exceptionalimportance of either the district itselfor the less-than-fifty-year-old proper-ties. Exceptional importance stillmust be demonstrated for districtwhere the majority of properties orthe major Period of Significance is lessthan fifty years old, and for less-than-fifty-year-old properties which arenominated individually.

PROPERTIES MORE THANFIFTY YEARS IN AGE, LESSTHAN FIFTY YEARS INSIGNIFICANCE

Properties that are more than fiftyyears old, but whose significantassociations or qualities are less thanfifty years old, must be treated underthe fifty year consideration.

Eligible

• A building constructed earlyin the twentieth century (andhaving no architectural impor-tance), but that was associatedwith an important personduring the 1950s, must beevaluated under Criteria Con-sideration G because the Pe-riod of Significance is withinthe past fifty years. Such aproperty would qualify if theperson was of exceptional im-portance.

REQUIREMENT TO MEETTHE CRITERIA,REGARDLESS OF AGE

Properties that are less than fiftyyears old and are not exceptionallyimportant will not automaticallyqualify for the National Register oncethey are fifty years old. In order to belisted in the National Register, allproperties, regardless of age, must bedemonstrated to meet the Criteria forEvaluation.

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VIII. HOW TO EVALUATE THEINTEGRITY OF A PROPERTY

INTRODUCTIONIntegrity is the ability of a prop-

erty to convey its significance. To belisted in the National Register ofHistoric Places, a property must notonly be shown to be significant underthe National Register criteria, but italso must have integrity. The evalua-tion of integrity is sometimes asubjective judgment, but it mustalways be grounded in an under-standing of a property's physicalfeatures and how they relate to itssignificance.

Historic properties either retainintegrity (this is, convey their signifi-cance) or they do not. Within theconcept of integrity, the NationalRegister criteria recognizes sevenaspects or qualities that, in variouscombinations, define integrity.

To retain historic integrity aproperty will always possess several,and usually most, of the aspects. Theretention of specific aspects of integ-rity is paramount for a property toconvey its significance. Determiningwhich of these aspects are mostimportant to a particular propertyrequires knowing why, where, andwhen the property is significant. Thefollowing sections define the sevenaspects and explain how they com-bine to produce integrity.

SEVEN ASPECTS OFINTEGRITY

• Location

• Design

• Setting

• Materials

• Workmanship

• Feeling

• Association

UNDERSTANDINGTHE ASPECTS OFINTEGRITY

LOCATION

Location is the place where thehistoric property was constructed orthe place where the historic eventoccurred. The relationship betweenthe property and its location is oftenimportant to understanding why theproperty was created or why some-thing happened. The actual locationof a historic property, complementedby its setting, is particularly importantin recapturing the sense of historicevents and persons. Except in rarecases, the relationship between aproperty and its historic associationsis destroyed if the property is moved.(See Criteria Consideration B in PartVII: How to Apply the Criteria Consider-ations, for the conditions under whicha moved property can be eligible.)

DESIGN

Design is the combination ofelements that create the form, plan,space, structure, and style of aproperty. It results from consciousdecisions made during the originalconception and planning of a prop-erty (or its significant alteration) andapplies to activities as diverse ascommunity planning, engineering,architecture, and landscape architec-ture. Design includes such elementsas organization of space, proportion,scale, technology, ornamentation, andmaterials.

A property's design reflects historicfunctions and technologies as well asaesthetics. It includes such consider-ations as the structural system;massing; arrangement of spaces;pattern of fenestration; textures andcolors of surface materials; type,amount, and style of ornamentaldetailing; and arrangement and typeof plantings in a designed landscape.

Design can also apply to districts,whether they are important primarilyfor historic association, architecturalvalue, information potential, or acombination thereof. For districtssignificant primarily for historicassociation or architectural value,design concerns more than just theindividual buildings or structureslocated within the boundaries. It alsoapplies to the way in which buildings,sites, or structures are related: forexample, spatial relationships be-tween major features; visual rhythmsin a streetscape or landscapeplantings; the layout and materials ofwalkways and roads; and the relation-ship of other features, such as statues,water fountains, and archeologicalsites.

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SETTING

Setting is the physical environ-ment of a historic property. Whereaslocation refers to the specific placewhere a property was built or an eventoccurred, setting refers to the characterof the place in which the propertyplayed its historical role. It involveshow, not just where, the property issituated and its relationship to sur-rounding features and open space.

Setting often reflects the basicphysical conditions under which aproperty was built and the functions itwas intended to serve. In addition,the way in which a property is posi-tioned in its environment can reflectthe designer's concept of nature andaesthetic preferences.

The physical features that constitutethe setting of a historic property canbe either natural or manmade, includ-ing such elements as:

• Topographic features (a gorge orthe crest of a hill);

• Vegetation;

• Simple manmade features (pathsor fences); and

• Relationships between buildingsand other features or open space.

These features and their relation-ships should be examined not onlywithin the exact boundaries of theproperty, but also between the prop-erty and its surroundings. This isparticularly important for districts.

MATERIALS

Materials are the physical ele-ments that were combined or depos-ited during a particular period oftime and in a particular pattern orconfiguration to form a historicproperty. The choice and combinationof materials reveal the preferences ofthose who created the property andindicate the availability of particulartypes of materials and technologies.Indigenous materials are often thefocus of regional building traditionsand thereby help define an area'ssense of time and place.

A property must retain the keyexterior materials dating from theperiod of its historic significance. Ifthe property has been rehabilitated,the historic materials and significantfeatures must have been preserved.The property must also be an actualhistoric resource, not a recreation; a

recent structure fabricated to lookhistoric is not eligible. Likewise, aproperty whose historic features andmaterials have been lost and thenreconstructed is usually not eligible.(See Criteria Consideration E in PartVII: How to Apply the Criteria Consider-ations for the conditions under whicha reconstructed property can beeligible.)

WORKMANSHIP

Workmanship is the physicalevidence of the crafts of a particularculture or people during any givenperiod in history or prehistory. It isthe evidence of artisans' labor andskill in constructing or altering abuilding, structure, object, or site.Workmanship can apply to theproperty as a whole or to its indi-vidual components. It can be ex-pressed in vernacular methods ofconstruction and plain finishes or inhighly sophisticated configurationsand ornamental detailing. It can bebased on common traditions orinnovative period techniques.

Workmanship is important becauseit can furnish evidence of the technol-ogy of a craft, illustrate the aestheticprinciples of a historic or prehistoricperiod, and reveal individual, local,regional, or national applications ofboth technological practices andaesthetic principles. Examples ofworkmanship in historic buildingsinclude tooling, carving, painting,graining, turning, and joinery. Ex-amples of workmanship in prehistoriccontexts include Paleo-Indian clovisprojectile points; Archaic periodbeveled adzes; Hopewellian birdstonepipes; copper earspools and workedbone pendants; and Iroquoian effigypipes.

FEELING

Feeling is a property's expressionof the aesthetic or historic sense of aparticular period of time. It resultsfrom the presence of physical featuresthat, taken together, convey theproperty's historic character. Forexample, a rural historic districtretaining original design, materials,workmanship, and setting will relatethe feeling of agricultural life in the19th century. A grouping of prehis-toric petroglyphs, unmarred bygraffiti and intrusions and located onits original isolated bluff, can evoke asense of tribal spiritual life.

ASSOCIATION

Association is the direct linkbetween an important historic eventor person and a historic property. Aproperty retains association if it is theplace where the event or activityoccurred and is sufficiently intact toconvey that relationship to an ob-server. Like feeling, associationrequires the presence of physicalfeatures that convey a property'shistoric character. For example, aRevolutionary War battlefield whosenatural and manmade elements haveremained intact since the 18th centurywill retain its quality of associationwith the battle.

Because feeling and associationdepend on individual perceptions,their retention alone is never sufficientto support eligibility of a property forthe National Register.

ASSESSINGINTEGRITY INPROPERTIES

Integrity is based on significance:why, where, and when a property isimportant. Only after significance isfully established can you proceed tothe issue of integrity.

The steps in assessing integrity are:

• Define the essential physical fea-tures that must be present for aproperty to represent its signifi-cance.

• Determine whether the essentialphysical features are visibleenough to convey their signifi-cance.

• Determine whether the propertyneeds to be compared with simi-lar properties. And,

• Determine, based on the signifi-cance and essential physical fea-tures, which aspects of integrityare particularly vital to the prop-erty being nominated and if theyare present.

Ultimately, the question of integ-rity is answered by whether or not theproperty retains the identity forwhich it is significant.

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DEFINING THE ESSENTIALPHYSICAL FEATURES

All properties change over time. Itis not necessary for a property toretain all its historic physical featuresor characteristics. The property mustretain, however, the essential physicalfeatures that enable it to convey itshistoric identity. The essentialphysical features are those featuresthat define both why a property issignificant (Applicable Criteria andAreas of Significance) and when it wassignificant (Periods of Significance).They are the features without which aproperty can no longer be identifiedas, for instance, a late 19th centurydairy barn or an early 20th centurycommercial district.

CRITERIA A AND B

A property that is significant for itshistoric association is eligible if itretains the essential physical featuresthat made up its character or appear-ance during the period of its associa-tion with the important event, histori-cal pattern, or person(s). If theproperty is a site (such as a treaty site)where there are no material culturalremains, the setting must be intact.

Archeological sites eligible underCriteria A and B must be in overallgood condition with excellent preser-vation of features, artifacts, andspatial relationships to the extent thatthese remains are able to conveyimportant associations with events orpersons.

CRITERION C

A property important for illustrat-ing a particular architectural style orconstruction technique must retainmost of the physical features thatconstitute that style or technique. Aproperty that has lost some historicmaterials or details can be eligible if itretains the majority of the featuresthat illustrate its style in terms of themassing, spatial relationships, propor-tion, pattern of windows and doors,texture of materials, and ornamenta-tion. The property is not eligible,however, if it retains some basicfeatures conveying massing but haslost the majority of the features thatonce characterized its style.

Archeological sites eligible underCriterion C must be in overall goodcondition with excellent preservation

of features, artifacts, and spatialrelationships to the extent that theseremains are able to illustrate a sitetype, time period, method of construc-tion, or work of a master.

CRITERION D

For properties eligible underCriterion D, including archeologicalsites and standing structures studiedfor their information potential, lessattention is given to their overallcondition, than it they were beingconsidered under Criteria A, B, or C.Archeological sites, in particular, donot exist today exactly as they wereformed. There are always culturaland natural processes that alter thedeposited materials and their spatialrelationships.

For properties eligible underCriterion D, integrity is based uponthe property's potential to yieldspecific data that addresses importantresearch questions, such as thoseidentified in the historic contextdocumentation in the StatewideComprehensive Preservation Plan orin the research design for projectsmeeting the Secretary of the Interior'sStandards for Archeological Documenta-tion.

INTERIORS

Some historic buildings are virtu-ally defined by their exteriors, andtheir contribution to the built environ-ment can be appreciated even if theirinteriors are not accessible. Examplesof this would include early examplesof steel-framed skyscraper construc-tion. The great advance in Americantechnology and engineering made bythese buildings can be read from theoutside. The change in Americanpopular taste during the 19th century,from the symmetry and simplicity ofarchitectural styles based on classicalprecedents, to the expressions of HighVictorian styles, with their combina-tion of textures, colors, and asym-metrical forms, is readily apparentfrom the exteriors of these buildings.

Other buildings "are" interiors.The Cleveland Arcade, that soaring19th century glass-covered shoppingarea, can only be appreciated from theinside. Other buildings in thiscategory would be the great coveredtrain sheds of the 19th century.

In some cases the loss of an interiorwill disqualify properties from listing

in the National Register—a historicconcert hall noted for the beauty of itsauditorium and its fine acousticqualities would be the type of prop-erty that if it were to lose its interior,it would lose its value as a historicresource. In other cases, the over-arching significance of a property'sexterior can overcome the adverseeffect of the loss of an interior.

In borderline cases particularattention is paid to the significance ofthe property and the remaininghistoric features.

HISTORIC DISTRICTS

For a district to retain integrity as awhole, the majority of the compo-nents that make up the district'shistoric character must possessintegrity even if they are individuallyundistinguished. In addition, therelationships among the district'scomponents must be substantiallyunchanged since the period of signifi-cance.

When evaluating the impact ofintrusions upon the district's integ-rity, take into consideration therelative number, size, scale, design,and location of the components thatdo not contribute to the significance.A district is not eligible if it containsso many alterations or new intrusionsthat it no longer conveys the sense ofa historic environment.

A component of a district cannotcontribute to the significance if:

• it has been substantially alteredsince the period of the district'ssignificance or

• it does not share the historic asso-ciations of the district.

VISIBILITY OF PHYSICALFEATURES

Properties eligible under CriteriaA, B, and C must not only retain theiressential physical features, but thefeatures must be visible enough toconvey their significance. This meansthat even if a property is physicallyintact, its integrity is questionable ifits significant features are concealedunder modern construction. Archeo-logical properties are often theexception to this; by nature theyusually do not require visible featuresto convey their significance.

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NON-HISTORIC EXTERIORS SUNKEN VESSELS

If the historic exterior buildingmaterial is covered by non-historicmaterial (such as modern siding), theproperty can still be eligible if thesignificant form, features, and detail-ing are not obscured. If a property'sexterior is covered by a non-historicfalse-front or curtain wall, the prop-erty will not qualify under Criteria A,B, or C, because it does not retain thevisual quality necessary to conveyhistoric or architectural significance.Such a property also cannot beconsidered a contributing element in ahistoric district, because it does notadd to the district's sense of time andplace. If the false front, curtain wall,or non-historic siding is removed andthe original building materials areintact, then the property's integritycan be re-evaluated.

PROPERTY CONTAINEDWITHIN ANOTHERPROPERTY

Some properties contain an earlierstructure that formed the nucleus forlater construction. The exteriorproperty, if not eligible in its ownright, can qualify on the basis of theinterior property only if the interiorproperty can yield significant infor-mation about a specific constructiontechnique or material, such asrammed earth or tabby. The interiorproperty cannot be used as the basisfor eligibility if it has been so alteredthat it no longer contains the featuresthat could provide important infor-mation, or if the presence of impor-tant information cannot be demon-strated.

A sunken vessel can be eligibleunder Criterion C as embodying thedistinctive characteristics of a methodof construction if it is structurallyintact. A deteriorated sunken vessel,no longer structurally intact, can beeligible under Criterion D if theremains of either the vessel or itscontents is capable of yielding signifi-cant information. For further infor-mation, refer to National RegisterBulletin: Nominating Historic Vesselsand Shipwrecks to the National Registerof Historic Places.

Natural FeaturesA natural feature that is associated

with a historic event or trend, such asa rock formation that served as a trailmarker during westward expansion,must retain its historic appearance,unobscured by modern constructionor landfill. Otherwise it is not eli-gible, even though it remains intact.

COMPARING SIMILARPROPERTIES

For some properties, comparisonwith similar properties should beconsidered during the evaluation ofintegrity. Such comparison may beimportant in deciding what physicalfeatures are essential to properties ofthat type. In instances where it hasnot been determined what physicalfeatures a property must possess inorder for it to reflect the significanceof a historic context, comparison withsimilar properties should be under-taken during the evaluation of integ-rity. This situation arises whenscholarly work has not been done on aparticular property type or whensurviving examples of a property typeare extremely rare. (See ComparingRelated Properties in Part V: How toEvaluate a Property within its HistoricContext.)

RARE EXAMPLES OF APROPERTY TYPE

Comparative information isparticularly important to considerwhen evaluating the integrity of aproperty that is a rare survivingexample of its type. The propertymust have the essential physicalfeatures that enable it to convey itshistoric character or information. Therarity and poor condition, however, ofother extant examples of the type mayjustify accepting a greater degree ofalteration or fewer features, providedthat enough of the property survivesfor it to be a significant resource.

Eligible

• A one-room schoolhouse thathas had all original exteriorsiding replaced and a replace-ment roof that does not exactlyreplicate the original roof pro-file can be eligible if the otherextant rare examples have re-ceived an even greater degreeof alteration, such as the sub-division of the original one-room plan.

Not Eligible

• A mill site contains informa-tion on how site patterning re-flects historic functional re-quirements, but parts of thesite have been destroyed. Thesite is not eligible for its infor-mation potential if a compari-son of other mill sites revealsmore intact properties withcomplete information.

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DETERMINING THERELEVANT ASPECTS OFINTEGRITY

Each type of property depends oncertain aspects of integrity, more thanothers, to express its historic signifi-cance. Determining which of theaspects is most important to a particu-lar property requires an understand-ing of the property's significance andits essential physical features.

CRITERIA A AND B

A property important for associa-tion with an event, historical pattern,or person(s) ideally might retain somefeatures of all seven aspects of integ-rity: location, design, setting, materi-als, workmanship, feeling, andassociation. Integrity of design andworkmanship, however, might not beas important to the significance, andwould not be relevant if the propertywere a site. A basic integrity test for aproperty associated with an importantevent or person is whether a historicalcontemporary would recognize theproperty as it exists today.

For archeological sites that areeligible under Criteria A and B, theseven aspects of integrity can beapplied in much the same way as theyare to buildings, structures, or objects.It is important to note, however, thatthe site must have demonstrated itsability to convey its significance, asopposed to sites eligible under Crite-rion D where only the potential toyield information is required.

Eligible

A mid-19th century waterpoweredmill important for its associationwith an area's industrial develop-ment is eligible if:

• it is still on its original site(Location), and

• the important features of itssetting are intact (Setting), and

• it retains most of its historicmaterials (Materials), and

• it has the basic features expres-sive of its design and function,such as configuration, propor-tions, and window pattern(Design).

Not Eligible

A mid-19th century water-powered mill important for itsassociation with an area's indus-trial development is not eligibleif:

• it has been moved (Location,Setting, Feeling, and Associa-tion), or

• substantial amounts of newmaterials have been incorpo-rated (Materials, Workman-ship, and Feeling), or

• it no longer retains basic de-sign features that convey itshistoric appearance orfunction (Design, Workman-ship, and Feeling).

CRITERION C

A property significant underCriterion C must retain those physi-cal features that characterize the type,period, or method of construction thatthe property represents. Retention ofdesign, workmanship, and materialswill usually be more important thanlocation, setting, feeling, and associa-tion. Location and setting will beimportant, however, for those proper-ties whose design is a reflection oftheir immediate environment (such asdesigned landscapes and bridges).

For archeological sites that areeligible under Criterion C, the sevenaspects of integrity can be applied inmuch the same way as they are tobuildings, structures, or objects. It isimportant to note, however, that thesite must have demonstrated its abilityto convey its significance, as opposedto sites eligible under Criterion Dwhere only the potential to yieldinformation is required.

Eligible

A 19th century wooden coveredbridge, important for illustratinga construction type, is eligible if:

• the essential features of its de-sign are intact, such as abut-ments, piers, roof configura-tion, and trusses (Design,Workmanship, and Feeling),and

• most of the historic materialsare present (Materials, Work-manship, and Feeling), and

• evidence of the craft ofwooden bridge technology re-mains, such as the form andassembly technique of thetrusses (Workmanship).

• Since the design of a bridge re-lates directly to its function asa transportation crossing, it isalso important that the bridgestill be situated over a water-way (Setting, Location, Feel-ing, and Association).

Not Eligible

For a 19th century wooden cov-ered bridge, important for itsconstruction type, replacementof some materials of the flooring,siding, and roofing would notnecessarily damage its integrity.Integrity would be lost, however,if:

• the abutments, piers, or trusseswere substantially altered (De-sign, Workmanship, and Feel-ing) or

• considerable amounts of newmaterials were incorporated(Materials, Workmanship,and Feeling).

• Because environment is astrong factor in the design ofthis property type, the bridgewould also be ineligible if it nolonger stood in a place thatconveyed its function as acrossing (Setting, Location,Feeling, and Association).

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CRITERION D

For properties eligible underCriterion D, setting and feeling maynot have direct bearing on theproperty's ability to yield importantinformation. Evaluation of integrityprobably will focus primarily on thelocation, design, materials, andperhaps workmanship.

Eligible

A multicomponent prehistoricsite important for yielding dataon changing subsistence patternscan be eligible if:

• floral or faunal remains arefound in clear association withcultural material (Materialsand Association) and

• the site exhibits stratigraphicseparation of cultural compo-nents (Location).

Not Eligible

A multicomponent prehistoricsite important for yielding dataon changing subsistence patternswould not be eligible if:

• floral or faunal remains wereso badly decomposed as tomake identification impossible(Materials), or

• floral or faunal remains weredisturbed in such a manner asto make their association withcultural remains ambiguous(Association), or

• the site has lost its strati-graphic context due to subse-quent land alterations(Location).

Eligible

A lithic scatter site important foryielding data on lithic technologyduring the Late Archaic periodcan be eligible if:

• the site contains lithicdebitage, finished stone tools,hammerstones, or antlerflakers (Material and Design),and

• the site contains datable mate-rial (Association).

Not Eligible

A lithic scatter site important foryielding data on lithic technologyduring the Late Archaic periodwould not be eligible if:

• the site contains natural de-posits of lithic materials thatare impossible to distinguishfrom culturally modified lithicmaterial (Design) or

• the site does not contain anytemporal diagnostic evidencethat could link the site to theLate Archaic period (Associa-tion).

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IX. SUMMARY OF THENATIONAL HISTORICLANDMARKS CRITERIA FOREVALUATION

A property being nominated to theNational Register may also meritconsideration for potential designa-tion as a National Historic Landmark.Such consideration is dependent uponthe stringent application of thefollowing distinct set of criteria(found in the Code of Federal Regula-tions, Title 36, Part 65).

NATIONALHISTORICLANDMARKSCRITERIA

The quality of national significanceis ascribed to districts, sites, buildings,structures, and objects that possessexceptional value or quality in illus-trating or interpreting the heritage ofthe United States in history, architec-ture, archeology, engineering, andculture and that possess a high degreeof integrity of location, design,setting, materials, workmanship,feeling, and association, and:

1. That are associated with eventsthat have made a significant con-tribution to, and are identifiedwith, or that outstandingly repre-sent, the broad national patternsof United States history and fromwhich an understanding and ap-preciation of those patterns maybe gained; or

2. That are associated importantlywith the lives of persons nation-ally significant in the history ofthe United States; or

3. That represent some great ideaor ideal of the American people;or

4. That embody the distinguishingcharacteristics of an architecturaltype specimen exceptionallyvaluable for a study of a period,style or method of construction,or that represent a significant,distinctive and exceptional entitywhose components may lack in-dividual distinction; or

5. That are composed of integralparts of the environment not suf-ficiently significant by reason ofhistorical association or artisticmerit to warrant individual rec-ognition but collectively composean entity of exceptional historicalor artistic significance, or out-standingly commemorate or il-lustrate a way of life or culture;or

6. That have yielded or may belikely to yield information of ma-jor scientific importance by re-vealing new cultures, or by shed-ding light upon periods of occu-pation over large areas of theUnited States. Such sites arethose which have yielded, orwhich may reasonably be ex-pected to yield, data affectingtheories, concepts and ideas to amajor degree.

NATIONALHISTORICLANDMARKEXCLUSIONS

Ordinarily, cemeteries, birthplaces,graves of historical figures, propertiesowned by religious institutions orused for religious purposes, structuresthat have been moved from theiroriginal locations, reconstructed his-toric buildings and properties thathave achieved significance within thepast fifty years are not eligible for des-ignation. If such properties fallwithin the following categories theymay, nevertheless, be found toqualify:

1. A religious property deriving itsprimary national significancefrom architectural or artistic dis-tinction or historical importance;or

2. A building or structure removedfrom its original location butwhich is nationally significantprimarily for its architecturalmerit, or for association with per-sons or events of transcendentimportance in the nation's his-tory and the association conse-quential; or

3. A site of a building or structureno longer standing but the per-son or event associated with it isof transcendent importance in thenations's history and the associa-tion consequential; or

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4. A birthplace, grave or burial if itis of a historical figure of tran-scendent national significanceand no other appropriate site,building, or structure directly as-sociated with the productive lifeof that person exists; or

5. A cemetery that derives its pri-mary national significance fromgraves of persons of transcendentimportance, or from an exception-ally distinctive design or an ex-ceptionally significant event; or

6. A reconstructed building or en-semble o^ buildings of extraordi-nary national significance whenaccurately executed in a suitableenvironment and presented in adignified manner as part of a res-toration master plan, and whenno other buildings or structureswith the same association havesurvived; or

7. A property primarily commemo-rative in intent if design, age, tra-dition, or symbolic value has in-vested it with its own nationalhistorical significance; or

8. A property achieving nationalsignificance within the past 50years if it is of extraordinary na-tional importance.

COMPARING THENATIONALHISTORICLANDMARKSCRITERIA AND THENATIONALREGISTERCRITERIA

In general, the instructions forpreparing a National Register nomina-tion and the guidelines stated in thisbulletin for applying the NationalRegister Criteria also apply to Land-mark nominations and the use of theLandmark criteria. While there arespecific distinctions discussed below,Parts IV and V of this bulletin applyequally to National Register listingsand Landmark nominations. That is,the categories of historic properties aredefined the same way; historic con-

texts are identified similarly; andcomparative evaluation is carried outon the same principles enumerated inPart V.

There are some differences betweenNational Register and NationalHistoric Landmarks Criteria. Thefollowing is an explanation of howeach Landmark Criterion compareswith its National Register Criteriacounterpart:

CRITERION 1

This Criterion relates to NationalRegister Criterion A. Both coverproperties associated with events.The Landmark Criterion, however,requires that the events associatedwith the property be outstandinglyrepresented by that property and thatthe property be related to the broadnational patterns of U.S. history.Thus, the quality of the property toconvey and interpret its meaningmust be of a higher order and mustrelate to national themes rather thanthe narrower context of State or localthemes.

CRITERION 2

This Criterion relates to NationalRegister Criterion B. Both coverproperties associated with significantpeople. The Landmark Criteriondiffers in that it specifies that theassociation of a person to the propertyin question be an important one andthat the person associated with theproperty be of national significance.

CRITERION 3

This Criterion has no counterpartamong the National Register Criteria.It is rarely, if ever, used alone. Whilenot a landmark at present, the LibertyBell is an object that might be consid-ered under this Criterion. The appli-cation of this Criterion obviouslyrequires the most careful scrutiny andwould apply only in rare instancesinvolving ideas and ideals of thehighest order.

CRITERION 4

This Criterion relates to NationalRegister Criterion C. Its intent is toqualify exceptionally important worksof architecture or collective elementsof architecture extraordinarily signifi-cant as an ensemble, such as a historic

district. Note that the language ismore restrictive than that of theNational Register Criterion in requir-ing that a candidate in architecture be"a specimen exceptionally valuable forthe study of a period, style, or methodof construction" rather than simplyembodying distinctive characteristicsof a type, period, or method of con-struction. With regard to historicdistricts, the Landmarks Criterionrequires an entity that is distinctiveand exceptional. Unlike NationalRegister Criterion C, this Criterion willnot qualify the works of a master, perse, but only such works which areexceptional or extraordinary. Artisticvalue is considered only in the contextof history's judgement in order toavoid current conflicts of taste.

CRITERION 5

This Criterion does not have a strictcounterpart among the NationalRegister Criteria. It may seem redun-dant of the latter part of LandmarkCriterion 4. It is meant to covercollective entities such as GreenfieldVillage and historic districts like NewBedford, Massachusetts, which qualifyfor their collective association with anationally significant event, move-ment, or broad pattern of nationaldevelopment.

CRITERION 6

The National Register counterpartof this is Criterion D. Criterion 6 wasdeveloped specifically to recognizearcheological sites. All such sites mustaddress this Criterion. The followingare the qualifications that distinguishthis Criterion from its National Regis-ter counterpart: the informationyielded or likely to be yielded must beof major scientific importance byrevealing new cultures, or by sheddinglight upon periods of occupation overlarge areas of the United States. Suchsites should be expected to yield dataaffecting theories, concepts, and ideas to amajor degree.

The data recovered or expected tobe recovered must make a majorcontribution to the existing corpus ofinformation. Potentially recoverabledata must be likely to revolutionize orsubstantially modify a major theme inhistory or prehistory, resolve a sub-stantial historical or anthropologicaldebate, or close a serious gap in amajor theme of U. S. history or prehis-tory.

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EXCLUSIONS ANDEXCEPTIONS TOTHE EXCLUSIONS

This section of the National His-toric Landmarks Criteria has itscounterpart in the National Register's"Criteria Considerations/' The mostabundant difference between them isthe addition of the qualifiers "na-tional," "exceptional," or "extraordi-nary" before the word significance.Other than this, the following are themost notable distinctions:

EXCLUSION 2

Buildings moved from theiroriginal location, qualify only if one oftwo conditions are met: 1) the build-ing is nationally significant for

architecture, or 2) the persons orevents with which they are associatedare of transcendent national signifi-cance and the association is conse-quential.

Transcendent significance meansan order of importance higher thanthat which would ordinarily qualify aperson or event to be nationallysignificant. A consequential associa-tion is a relationship to a building thathad an evident impact on events,rather than a connection that wasincidental and passing.

EXCLUSION 3

This pertains to the site of a struc-ture no longer standing. There is nocounterpart to this exclusion in theNational Register Criteria. In orderfor such a property to qualify forLandmark designation it must meetthe second condition cited for Exclu-sion 2.

EXCLUSION 4

This exclusion relates to CriteriaConsideration C of the NationalRegister Criteria. The only differenceis that a burial place qualifies forLandmark designation only if, inaddition to other factors, the personburied is of transcendent nationalimportance.

When evaluating properties at thenational level for designation as aNational Historic Landmark, pleaserefer to the National Historic Land-marks outline, History and Prehistoryin the National Park System and theNational Historic Landmarks Program,1987. (For more information aboutthe National Historic Landmarksprogram, please write to Departmentof the Interior, National Park Service,National Historic Landmarks, 1849 CStreet, NW, NC400, Washington, DC20240.)

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X. GLOSSARY

Associative Qualities - An aspect of aproperty's history that links it withhistoric events, activities, orpersons.

Code of Federal Regulations -Commonly referred to as "CFR."The part containing the NationalRegister Criteria is usually referredto as 36 CFR 60, and is availablefrom the National Park Service.

CLG - Certified Local Government.Culture - A group of people linked

together by shared values, beliefs,and historical associations, togetherwith the group's social institutionsand physical objects necessary tothe operation of the institution.

Cultural Resource - See HistoricResource.

Evaluation - Process by which thesignificance and integrity of ahistoric property are judged andeligibility for National Registerlisting is determined.

Historic Context - An organizingstructure for interpreting historythat groups information abouthistoric properties that share acommon theme, common geo-graphical area, and a common timeperiod. The development ofhistoric contexts is a foundation fordecisions about the planning,identification, evaluation, registra-tion, and treatment of historicproperties, based upon compara-tive historic significance.

Historic Integrity - The unimpairedability of a property to convey itshistorical significance.

Historic Property - See HistoricResource.

Historic Resource - Building, site,district, object, or structure evalu-ated as historically significant.

Identification - Process throughwhich information is gatheredabout historic properties.

Listing - The formal entry of a prop-erty in the National Register ofHistoric Places. See also, Registra-tion.

Nomination - Official recommenda-tion for listing a property in theNational Register of HistoricPlaces.

Property Type - A grouping o^properties defined by commonphysical and associative attributes.

Registration - Process by which ahistoric property is documentedand nominated or determinedeligible for listing in the NationalRegister.

Research Design - A statement ofproposed identification, documen-tation, investigation, or othertreatment of a historic propertythat identifies the project's goals,methods and techniques, expectedresults, and the relationship of theexpected results to other proposedactivities or treatments.

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XL LIST OF NATIONALREGISTER BULLETINSThe BasicsHow to Apply National Register Criteria for Evaluation *

Guidelines for Completing National Register of Historic Places FormPart A: How to Complete the National Register Form *Part B: How to Complete the National Register Multiple Property Documentation Form *

Researching a Historic Property *

Property Types

Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Historic Aids to Navigation *

Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating and Registering America's Historic Battlefields

Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Historical Archeological Sites

Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Historic Aviation Properties

Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Cemeteries and Burial Places

How to Evaluate and Nominate Designed Historic Landscapes *

Guidelines for Identifying, Evaluating and Registering Historic Mining Sites

How to Apply National Register Criteria to Post Offices *

Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Properties Associated with Significant Persons

Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Properties That Have Achieved Significance Within the Last Fifty Years *

Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Rural Historic Landscapes *

Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Traditional Cultural Properties *

Nominating Historic Vessels and Shipwrecks to the National Register of Historic Places

Technical Assistance

Defining Boundaries for National Register Properties*

Guidelines for Local Surveys: A Basis for Preservation Planning *

How to Improve the Quality of Photographs for National Register Nominations

National Register Casebook: Examples of Documentation *

Using the UTM Grid System to Record Historic SitesTo order these publications, write to: National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1849 C St., NC 400, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240, ore-mail at: nr_reference@nps.gov. Publications marked with an asterisk (*) are also available in electronic form at www.cr.nps.gov/nr.

,_ . o U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 2005—717-788