For Public Review: American Beach National Historic Landmark Nomination Draft (July 2025)

The National Park Service (NPS) commissioned The NDN Companies, in cooperation with Stantec and Community Planning Collaborative, to draft the National Historic Landmark (NHL) nomination, documenting American Beach in narrative and graphic formats, and placing it into a national context. The effort involves research, a field survey, photographic documentation, Geographic Information Systems analysis and public engagement. The NPS hopes the information will enable stewards and the public to better understand the resources at American Beach and identify what nationally distinguishes the community from similar properties.

The key finding of the draft nomination is that American Beach is a good candidate for NHL designation. Resources within the study area were collectively determined to illustrate American Beach is significant as a nationally recognized space comprehensively planned by Black leaders during segregation.

NPS welcomes public comments on the draft American Beach NHL nomination prior to finalizing the document later this year.

Topic Questions:

1. Does the draft National Historic Landmark nomination for the American Beach Historic District sufficiently establish why the district is important, its national significance? Please tell us why or why not.

2. Does the draft nomination describe the important features of the district—such as its buildings, natural landscape, and overall setting—in a way that helps tell its story? If not, what else should be included?

3. Do you support the effort to nominate American Beach as a National Historic Landmark? Please share your reasons.

4. Is there anything else you would like to add? Have we missed anything important that you believe should be considered?

Document Content:

American Beach NHL Nomination Draft_20250718.pdf   (20.9 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.