The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic resources worthy of preservation. More than 2,000 locations in Iowa are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture at local, state or national levels.
Properties are documented and evaluated according to uniform standards called the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. The criteria is used to identify important historic and archaeological properties worthy of preservation and consideration in making planning and development decisions.
The nomination and listing of a property recognizes the significance of a property. It does not place restrictions on the use, treatment, transfer or disposition of private property. Sites listed on the National Register of Historic places also benefit from funding assistance available through state and federal tax credit programs.
The National Register of Historic Places is administered by the National Park Service under the Secretary of the Interior, and managed at the state level by each respective state.