National Register Database and Research

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources.
Mural "Parque Chicano" painted on pillar of San Diego-Coronado Bridge
Chicano Park, San Diego, California

Photograph courtesy of California State Historic Preservation Office

Database

We are currently scanning our records. Unfortunately, until they are all scanned, they will be in three different places.

  1. National Register of Historic Places NPGallery Database
    NOTE: the database does not include the following states: Arkansas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.

  2. National Archives. All of our records will eventually be in the National Archives. Right now NARA has the states of: Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Texas, and Virginia. (and more will be added.)

    How to search NARA's holdings. The easiest way is if you know the reference number. (Available on our spreadsheet. Then follow this link to NARA And just replace the reference number with the one you want, or the property name.

  3. Weekly List Search Engine for new listings (from 2013 to the present)

  4. If the file has not been digitized yet you can request a copy from us. Please include the name of the property, the state, and the reference number (or as much information as you know on the property). And e-mail the request to us at: Reference e-mail

Restricted files have not been posted online.

Five single family detached home in the Greenwood Park Plats Historic District
Greenwood Park Plats Historic District, Des Moines, Iowa

Photograph courtesy of Iowa State Historic Preservation Office

Map

You can see a map and do an address search of non-restricted listed properties in the National Register of Historic Places at:
https://www.nps.gov/maps/full.html?mapId=7ad17cc9-b808-4ff8-a2f9-a99909164466
The map prefers Google Chrome, and doesn't work well in Firefox or Internet Explorer.
To download GIS spatial data, please see the instructions on our Data Downloads page.


Geographical (GIS) Data

Spreadsheets

These three spreadsheets are current through the end of 2017.

Spreadsheet of NRHP Listed Properties

Spreadsheet of National Historic Landmarks (NHLs)

Spreadsheet of Multiple Property Covers

Additional spreadsheets are available on our Data Downloads page.

Diver looking at Success Shipwreck
Diver looking at Success Shipwreck

Photograph courtesy of Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office

How to best find:

Multiple Property Covers:
By Name: use our NPGallery Database and select National Register Multiples (covers) as the "Record Category" or use the MPS spreadsheet to look up the reference number, then use the reference number to search in our NPGallery Database.

National Historic Landmark Files:
By Name:use our NPGallery Database and select National Historic Landmark System as the "Record Category" or use the Spreadsheet of NHLs to look up the reference number, then use the reference number to search in our NPGallery Database.

National Park Service Properties:
Most NPS Properties have been scanned and are in NPGallery. You can search by Park name.

If an address is listed:
You can do an address search in the spreadsheet and in the weekly list search engine (for new properties). Many properties are within historic districts. You can look for likely districts based on the address field in the spreadsheet. You can also try looking at the GIS data we have.

Determinations of Eligibility:
DOEs have not been scanned. We do have a spreadsheet of Federal DOEs.

How to search text through multiple pdfs:

Almost two million pages of the PDF text and photos are word searchable in the Advanced Search in Google by going to

www.google.com/advanced_search and limiting the site or domain to the NPGallery server, https://npgallery.nps.gov/nrhp

and entering your search parameters.

About National Register Documentation:

Since its inception in 1966, more than 92,000 properties have been listed in the National Register. Together these records hold information on more than 1.4 million individual resources--buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects--and therefore provide a link to the country's heritage at the national, state, and local levels.

The Documentation consists of

  • National Register registration form, which provides a physical description of the place, information about its history and significance, and a bibliography.
  • Photographs - Use of photographs and forms is available under Fair Use, see our Content and Copyright page for more information
  • Maps
Many State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) have digitized their files and put them on their websites. The depth of information available varies from state to state, but ranges from basic locational information to searchable databases with downloadable narrative descriptions and photos. You can check their websites to see if they have the information you need. List of SHPOs with extended information.

Request copies of individual nominations either via e-mail please include your mailing address and the property name, county, and state. or postal mail:

National Register of Historic Places
National Park Service
1849 C St., NW (MS 2280)
Washington, DC 20240

Last updated: July 13, 2018

Stay Connected