During the last week I have given a few presentations on the genealogical value of the National Register of Historic Places. Each time I start this conversation with people they are surprised by what they can find. Here is a short explanation of the NRHP. Watch this blog and my YouTube channel for more stories about this amazing national resource.
What is it?
Legislation creating the National Register of Historic Places was passed by Congress in 1966. The law established State Historic Preservation Offices known as SHPOs to manage the process in each state and territory.
At the federal level, the National Park Service (NPS) oversees the register calling it “a conversation with our past about our future,” which makes it a perfect fit for genealogists. The Register includes approximately 100,000 properties (or group of properties) that range from wagon tracks on the Oregon Trail to large districts in urban settings, such as the twenty-one districts in New Orleans. One of the largest is a twenty-three-block area in Savannah, GA.
To qualify for the National Register a property must be at least 50 years old. More than 1.4 million individual buildings, structures, objects and natural wonders are included in United States, our territories, & U.S. properties overseas including the American Legation in Tangiers Morocco.
Want to explore the Legation? You can take a virtual tour of the 200-year-old building.
Wait, my family isn’t famous! How can they be in the NRHP?
You may think that your ancestor wasn’t famous or even important in a small town and therefore can’t be in the National Register. Not true! The NRHP is about our collective history – all ethnicities, rich, poor, city to rural, from the American revolution and pioneer days to the 1970s.
I use the word “property” because archeological artifacts as well as “built” elements are eligible. Here are a few examples:
Hermit’s Cave on Belfry Hill in Council Grove, Kansas (listed 2016) represents an unusual property type because it is not a building, but a naturally occurring element that was used as a home/respite for an Italian monk in the early 1800s. The site became a significant tourist attraction in the early 20th century and that fact provides the significance of the site and the reason for its inclusion in the National Register.
Madonna of the Trail (2017) was nominated under the Thematic “umbrella” of the Historic Resources of the Santa Fe Grail, 1821-1880. Located in Council Grove, KS, it is one of twelve Daughters of the American Revolution statues the organization sponsored to mark waypoints on the Santa Fe Trail. The Trail, considered one of America’s “Great Prairie Highways,” is a National Historic Landmark reaching across Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico.
Wolf House Historic District (2019) provides an excellent example of four buildings nominated together based on their shared history with the Wolf family of Manhattan, KS. The Wolf House, a large stone vernacular structure constructed in 1868, represents the work of master stone mason John Diehl. Three families owned the home the home’s 115-year existence. The Wolf Studio housed the photography studio of Henry Luther Wolf and later his son Max. When the business closed in 1956, it had been one of the longest running family-owned businesses in the city.
Still not sure?
The NRHP contains stories that are relevant to your family and maybe even directly related to them. The non-profit organization National Trust for Historic Preservation explains that “Old places shape the story of who we are, where we come from, and where we’re going. Historic places tell America’s full story. They inspire us and help us imagine what comes next.” I couldn’t agree more! During the last 11 years, I have found inspiring stories of business owners lives changed by historic events (pioneer era, Civil War, the Great War, the Great Depression, Dust Bowl and WWII), legislative measures (the Missouri Compromise, Prohibition, and the National Highways Act), and social trends and popular culture (roaring twenties, early usage of automobiles, pizza) that have helped me to better understand what life was like in those times at the personal level. Not just the places but stories of people too — their hopes, dreams, successes and failures – created the foundation on which our country and each of our own lives was built.
Navigating the resource
There are several ways to discover what is listed in your ancestor’s state, county or town. The quickest method is to use Wikipedia, which provides the most up-to-date list of properties, usually with a link to their nomination. Watch for more details on this blog. Welcome to your new rabbit hole!