The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the official national list of properties considered important in our past and worthy of preservation. It is a program of the National Park Service, administered in Idaho by the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The program recognizes buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts that are significant in American history, architectural history, engineering, archaeology, and/or culture.
Idaho has over 1,000 National Register listings, comprised of over 7,000 buildings, sites, structures, objects and districts. There are many more eligible properties that are not listed because they have not completed the formal paperwork.
Listing in the National Register has the following results which assist in preserving historic properties:
- Recognition that a property is of significance to the nation, the state, or the community.
- Consideration in the planning for federal or federally assisted projects.
- Eligibility for federal tax benefits.
- Consideration in the decision to issue a surface coal mining permit.
- Qualification for federal assistance for historic preservation, when funds are available.
Listing in the National Register does not restrict the rights of private property owners to alter, manage, or dispose of property.
The SHPO administers the National Register of Historic Places program in Idaho and processes nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. Properties nominated to the Register are reviewed by the Idaho Historic Sites Review Board which meets periodically throughout the year. The Review Board is a volunteer group of Idaho residents who have demonstrated a competence, interest, or knowledge in historic preservation. They review nominations and make recommendations for listing on the National Register. Finally, SHPO forwards those nominations to the Keeper of the Register (National Park Service) for official listing.
Anyone may prepare a nomination for listing a property in the Register. Generally, private property owners, other interested individuals, local organizations or governments, and state or federal agencies at all levels prepare nominations. Instructions for completing a nomination are available from the SHPO. If you are interested in finding out if your property is eligible for the National Register, please complete and submit a Preliminary Eligibility Questionnaire.
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