State Historic Resource Inventory

The first step in a community's preservation planning process is to identify, describe and locate buildings, structures, objects, areas and sites that are of historical, architectural, or archaeological importance to the community, state and nation. This comprehensive inventory of a community's historical assets will serve as the basis for all future preservation activities and serve as useful tools for municipal officials, local planners, preservationists, property owners, and researchers to help them make informed preservation decisions. The survey acknowledges that these historic resources, which provide character, continuity and sense of place to the community, have value to present and future generations. The survey is fundamental to historic preservation by identifying significant historic resources and increasing the public's awareness and interest of their community's important cultural, historic and architectural properties.

The State Historic Resource Inventory (SHRI) is the comprehensive survey of Connecticut's buildings and structures built before 1950. The survey has documented over 90, 000 properties since 1966 and includes historical and architectural information, as well as photographs and maps. Properties are added yearly to the list. A historic resource is defined as a district, site, building, or structure significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, or culture. The survey identifies and gathers information on the historical and physical character of a community's historic buildings and sites through fieldwork and extensive archival research. Survey information is used as the basis of many State Register and National Register of Historic Places nominations. The Survey may also be used in attaining Certified Local Government Status or define areas or properties to be designated as a local historic district or property.

Surveys in Connecticut have been completed either under a Town Architecture Survey or Thematic Architecture Survey. Over half of Connecticut's 169 towns have been partially or fully surveyed. Thematic Surveys have been conducted statewide of certain buildings or objects classified by a theme rather that geography. Thematic Surveys include lighthouses, railroad stations, post offices and historic bridges to name a few.

To see if your town has surveyed and to what degree, click on the Map of Connecticut Historic/Architectural Resource Survey.

The survey forms are a good source of information for those seeking historical or architectural data on a specific property. Each property inventoried has its own form, which identifies the original owner, architect, date of construction and original use. The research also evaluates the property's significance within the context of the community's development. Most town-wide surveys include all types of buildings including municipal, commercial, residential, industrial and ecclesiastical. Unique structures such as bridges, forts and carousels are also included. Sites inventoried incorporate town greens, city parks, cemeteries, and outdoor sculpture.

For more information on the Statewide Historic Resource Inventory please use the link provided below.

State Historic Preservation Office (State Historic Resource Inventory)