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Historic Registers

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Virginians are justly proud of their history and have worked hard to preserve its tangible reminders. The state's rich heritage is reflected in its vernacular and high-style architecture—some of the best in the United States—as well as in its many archaeological sites, battlefields, and historic districts.

The Department of Historic Resources (DHR) administers two programs designed to recognize our resources and to encourage their continued preservation: the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Register, established in 1966 and managed by the National Park Service, is the official list of structures, sites, objects, and districts that embody the historical and cultural foundations of the nation. The National Register of Historic Places already includes more than 2,000 properties in Virginia. For more information on the national register, a weekly list of registered properties, educational programs, and publications, visit the website of the National Register of Historic Places.

The Virginia Landmarks Register, also established in 1966 and managed by the Department of Historic Resources, is the state’s official list of properties important to Virginia’s history. The same criteria are used to evaluate resources for inclusion in the state register as are used for the National Register.

The list of Virginia properties on the state and national registers is available online. The list now includes state themes for listing. For further information about thematic nominations and Multiple Property Documentation, go to the National Park Service. 

The completed nomination forms for sites to be considered for listing in the state register and forwarded to the NPS for listing on the National Register at quarterly meetings of the Virginia Board of Historic Resources and the Virginia State Review Board are posted in the Board Activities area of the DHR website. Nomination forms and photographs of sites listed on the registers are available under their appropriate jurisdiction on the County & City Listings on this website.

For more information about the register programs, refer to the Frequently Asked Questions section. To learn about the process for determining if your property is eligible, go to the Preliminary Evaluation and Nomination Process page. If you have additional questions, contact your nearest regional office.

Updated: 12.20.2012