B E R O A R C H I T E C T U R E P L L C A R
C H I T E C T U R E S U S T A
I N A B I L I T Y P R E S E R V A T I O N
SOME THOUGHTS NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION AND STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION
For a property to qualify for the National Register it must meet one of the National Register Criteria for Evaluation by: • Being associated with an important historic context and • Retaining historic integrity of those features necessary to convey its significance.
Information about the property based on physical examination and documentary research is necessary to evaluate a property’s eligibility for the National Register. Evaluation of a property is most efficiently made when following this sequence:1.Categorize the property. A property must be classified as a district, site, building, structure, or object for inclusion in the National Register. 2. Determine which prehistoric or historic context(s) the property represents. A property must possess significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, or culture when evaluated within the historic context of a relevant geographic area. 3. Determine whether the property is significant under the National Register Criteria. This is done by identifying the links to important events or persons, design or construction features, or information potential that make the property important. 4. Determine if the property represents a type usually excluded from the National Register. If so, determine if it meets any of the Criteria Consideration. 5. Determine whether the property retains integrity. Evaluate the aspects of location, design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling, and association that the property must retain to convey its historic significance. 6. Prepare a written National Register nomination for tor the property.
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
A building’s period of significance is the span of time when the property was associated with important events, activities, or persons; or attained the characteristics which qualify it for National Register listing. The period of significance usually begins with the date when historically significant activities or events began; this is often a date of construction. The period of significance continues for the duration of time that the property is associated with significant activities or events.
Identifying the period of significance is important when changes to a building are planned. With the period of significance determined, we can identify the building features that date to that period and are therefore significant. Significant features should be retained or restored, but features outside the period of significance may be removed, altered, replaced, or left in place as appropriate in regard to the planned reuse. This is particularly important when expanding or altering a building; with significant features identified, we can insert features or construct an addition necessary for modern usage that is minimally disruptive to historic fabric.
While the following/preceding information appears to assume a building is eligible and the owner is interested in listing it, the thought process is relevant for any building. It is necessary to determine the period of significance so that the worth of individual elements of the property can be objectively evaluated, especially prior to permanent physical changes such as demolition, restoration or renovation. An agreed-upon period of significance provides context for interpretation and the proper allocation of scarce funds. | |||
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