The National Register of Historic Places
After the Second World War, the United States entered a period of
prosperity and rapid growth. Cities grew larger, and new roads
and neighborhoods were being built throughout the country. In 1966 Congress passed the Historic Preservation Act to provide a means of preserving some of the nation's older buildings that were being threatened by this new urban growth.
The law created incentives, such as tax credits, to encourage property owners to repair historic buildings rather than tear them down. It also established the National Register of Historic Places.
The National Register of Historic Places is the federal
government's official list of buildings, structures, districts,
and sites which best represent the history and architecture of
our country. It includes buildings of national, state and local importance. It is not enough for a building to simply be old. To be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a building must have two qualities -- significance and integrity. Historic or architectural significance is seen in properties
|
