What is a Historic Structure?
Historic structures are subcategories of historic properties on the National Register of Historic Places. A historic structure is a building or structure, such as a bridge, mine, canal, ship, highway, or locomotive, that is significant due to its connection to an essential period in the past. However, the official designation distinguishes it from a human shelter.
Understanding a Historic Building
Historic buildings may have distinctive architecture or political significance, and historic districts may have many historic buildings. Historic district property owners must follow additional standards for maintenance and changes. Grants or tax credits may be provided for restoring or disrepairing historic properties.
The National Register of Historic Places designates historic structures. The National Register lists historic buildings, structures, items, places, and districts. The State Historic Preservation Office, where a historic structure is located, can petition the National Park Service to include it on the National Register of Historic Places.
The petition covers the property’s historical and present uses, architectural categorization, and materials. For listing, the property must fulfill one of four National Register criteria.
The Four National Register Criteria
The National Register of Historic Places has four purposes that might certify a structure as historic, and the National Register classifies structures as historic.
- “Events that have shaped our history or
- That relates to notable former figures, or
- That reflects a kind, time, or technique of building, a master’s work, high artistic values, or an essential and identifiable entity whose components may lack individual individuality or
- That has provided or may yield prehistoric or historical information.”
The National Register designates a structure as historic if it meets one of these criteria. These criteria aim to protect culturally and historically significant structures while avoiding overusing the designation for buildings with a specific age but no other significance.
Conclusion
The National Register of Historic Places classifies historic structures as historic properties.
The US has about 2,600 national historic landmarks.
Historic buildings include bridges, mines, canals, ships, and highways, although the formal categorization differentiates them from human shelters.
The National Park Service requires at least one of four National Register criteria for historic property listing.
These criteria aim to protect culturally and historically significant structures.
