Designating and Listing Your Historic Building, Area or Road

In this section we review the different programs available for listing an historic property and the type of protection each provides and the restrictions they carry. Designating a property as architecturally and historically significant can encourage preservation, promote awareness, and protect a sense of place and character of our communities.

A general overview is provided below. Please make your selection from the navigation bar on the left.

National Historic Landmark

National Historic Landmark is the highest level of designation available. Properties given this foremost form of recognition are deemed significant to all Americans because of their exceptional values or qualities, which help illustrate or interpret the heritage of the United States. The National Historic Landmark program identifies, designates, recognizes and protects buildings, structures, sites and objects of national significance. Please select from the navigation menu to the left for more information.

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's official list of historic buildings and sites worthy of preservation. Listing on the Register indicates that a property is significant because of its architecture or its association with important persons, events or cultural events. Listing does not restrict what a property owner may do with the property unless the owner is using federal assistance. Please select from the pages in the left navigation for more information.

State Register of Historic Places

The State Register of Historic Places is the official listing of those sites important to the historical development of Connecticut. Listing on the State Register does not restrict the rights of the private property owner and offers limited protection. Please select from pages in the left navigation for more information.

State Historic Resource Inventory

The State Historic Resource Inventory identifies and evaluates historic, architectural, archaeological, cultural and industrial resources. The surveys which serve as the basis for most other designations is also a useful tool for municipal officials, local planners, preservationist, property owners and researchers in helping them make sound preservation and development decisions. There are no restrictions associated with the Historic Resources Inventory. Please select from pages in the left navigation for more information.

Local Historic Districts/Properties

Local Historic Districts/Properties offers the most protection for significant architectural buildings in the State of Connecticut. The State General Statutes allow municipalities to establish historic districts and historic properties for which exterior architectural changes are reviewed by a local preservation commission. This allows towns, which have Local Historic Districts/Properties to ensure that alterations, additions, or demolitions are in keeping and consistent with the special character of the designated area. Please select from the pages in the left navigation for more information.

Scenic Road Designation

Rural and scenic roads are a valuable and essential part of Connecticut's notable landscape. Designating roads, both state and local, has proven to be an effective method in preserving and protecting these vital by-ways from alterations that would alter and diminish their appearance including widening, rerouting, destruction of stonewalls and the removal of mature trees. For more information on Scenic Roads select from the navigation menu on the left.

HABS AND HAER The Historic American Building Survey (HABS) and the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) identify and document important architectural, engineering and industrial sites throughout the United States including Connecticut. Organized and managed by the Federal Government, each building or property recorded features a complete set of measured drawings, large-format photographs and a written history. Please refer to the navigation menu to the left for additional information.

HALS

The Historic American Landscapes Survey, like HABS/HAER, is a record of significant American landscapes documented by the Federal Government. This archive of landscapes was created to help us better understand our rich ethnic and cultural heritage.

Archeology

Archeological sites are the physical remains of previous human activity. Wherever people have lived or worked the land and water may contain evidence of their lives. These sites contain valuable information about the material culture and lives of the people who occupied the land before us and these clues and important artifacts are often invisible from the surface. It is important to document and analyze sites to learn about our community's heritage. See the navigation menu to the left for additional information on Archeology in Connecticut.