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National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)

The NRHP, which is managed by the National Park Service (NPS), is the nation’s official list of historic districts, landscapes, sites, structures, and objects deserving preservation because of their significance to a locality, a state, or the nation. Established in 1966 with the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act, the NRHP includes more than 90,000 listings comprising some 1.5 million contributing resources. For a resource to be eligible for listing, it must be at least 50 years old and retain a high level of integrity. Historic resources are evaluated based on four criteria: A.) Their association with events that are significant to history; B.) Their association with the lives of significant people; C.) Their embodiment of distinctive characteristics of type, period, or construction or representative of the work of a master; D.) Their potential to yield information about the past. The NPS reviews nominations, determines eligibility, formally lists properties, and provides oversight for the NRHP while also providing technical guidance to federal, state, and local agencies and communities.

National Historic Landmark (NHL)

Comprising cultural resources (buildings, sites, landscapes, districts, objects, and structures) that represent exceptional aspects of American history and culture, the NHL program, managed by the NPS, has its roots in the Historic Sites Act of 1935, although the designation was not used until the 1960s. With the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act in 1966, the NHL initiative was incorporated into the National Register of Historic Places program. NHL designation is reserved for resources of the highest level of national significance. In order for a resource to be designated an NHL, it must retain a high degree of integrity and meet one of the following criteria: A.) Association with an event of national historical significance; B.) Relationship to the life or work of a nationally significant person; C.) Represent a great idea or ideal of national significance; D.) Embody distinguishing design or construction characteristics; E.) Exemplify a way of life; or F.) Have the potential to yield information of national importance. The National Park Service provides guidance on the nomination process, maintains a thematic framework by which properties are evaluated, and administers technical assistance for the management of NHLs, of which there are about 2,550 designations.

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National Heritage Area (NHA)

Designated by Congress, NHAs are places where scenic, natural, historic, and cultural resources merge to create a landscape that is emblematic of American history. Since the program’s start in 1984, each NHA has been created through the passage of individual acts of federal legislation. NHAs are not national parks; rather, through partnerships with the National Park Service (NPS), NHAs represent collaborations between public and private organizations to foster wise stewardship and interpretation of the diverse natural and cultural resources in a given community. Recognizing that NHAs are dynamic landscapes rich in regional and cultural variations, stewards work together to determine the area’s significance. For each NHA, the NPS provides technical assistance and manages the federal funding allocated to each NHA. As of 2015, there are 49 NHAs in 32 states, with some traversing multiple states and encompassing national parks.