Eldean Bridge, Troy, OH(upper left); Walrus Islands Archeological District (lower left); Indiana War Memorials Historic District, Indianapolis, IN (upper right); and Keim Homestead, Pike, PA (lower right)

NHL Bulletin Update

National Park Service - Washington Office » NHL Bulletin Update » Document List

The National Park Service (NPS) has initiated an update of the "National Register Bulletin: How to Prepare National Historic Landmark Nominations," and is seeking written comments and recommendations on potential revisions. This publication provides guidance for identifying, evaluating, and documenting properties that are historically significant at a national level under the NPS' National Historic Landmark (NHL) Program.

NHLs are nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. Currently, nearly 2,600 historic places bear this national distinction. Working with Federal, State and local agencies, historic preservation organizations, professional practitioners, and citizens throughout the nation, the NHL Program draws upon the expertise of NPS staff in the Washington and regional NPS offices, which guides the nomination process for new Landmarks and provides assistance to existing Landmarks.

To provide improved and publicly accessible guidance on the NHL Program, the NPS first developed and published "National Register Bulletin: How to Prepare National Historic Landmark Nominations" in 1999. These guidelines describe in detail the processes of how to identify, evaluate, and document the national significance of various types of historic properties and to nominate these properties for designation by the Secretary of the Interior as NHLs. Since that time, the NHL Program's goals and documentation requirements have evolved such that a revision and update of the 1999 Bulletin has become necessary.

The NPS invites the submission of comments, questions, and/or recommendations on the update/revision of the "National Register Bulletin: How to Prepare National Historic Landmark Nominations." Such feedback may be submitted online by clicking the "Open For Comment" weblink at the left of this webpage and selecting the "NR Bulletin: How to Prepare National Historic Landmark Nominations" document. This action will open the comment submission screen. Alternatively, feedback may be submitted via email to nr_info@nps.gov. If using the latter, respondents should identify their submission(s) as "NHL Bulletin Revision Comment" in the email subject line.

Respondents are strongly encouraged to review the guidance and regulations that govern the NHL Program when considering potential updates/revisions, including the Historic Sites Act of 1935, the National Historic Preservation Act, and 36 CFR Part 65. Copies of these documents and others are available under the "Documents" and "Links" weblinks at the left of this webpage.

This project is being pursued in accordance with the authority provided by the Historic Sites Act of 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461-467), the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), and the NHL Program's regulations (36 CFR Part 65). The NPS is the Federal agency tasked by the Secretary of the Interior with responsibility for providing administrative support for the NHL Program. Completion of the project will serve to significantly assist the Federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Indian tribes, Native Hawaiians, Federal agencies, and state and tribal historic preservation officers, national and state preservation organizations, professional practitioners, and the general public in the implementation of 36 CFR Part 65, 36 CFR Part 800, and environmental reviews mandated pursuant to 54 U.S.C. 306107 et seq., 54 U.S.C. 306108, and 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.



Contact Information

Christopher Hetzel
Program Manager, National Historic Landmarks
(202) 354-2246