August 11, 2015

National Register Guide, Episode 7: Establishing Significance

As fantastic as it is, the National Register of Historic Places can get a little confusing -- even for a seasoned pro. But fear not, because the PreservationNation blog has teamed up with Jim Gabbert, a historian with the National Park Service, to create our National Register Guide.

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Field Director Rob Nieweg, Vice President of Public Affairs Germonique Ulmer, and National Trust President Stephanie K. Meeks learn about the signficance of Hampton University.

Episode Six of our National Register of Historic Places Guide explored the formula for creating a narrative statement of significance that will give your property the best chance of being listed on the National Register. Episode Seven of our guide explains how to actually establish a property's historic significance.

This episode answers specific questions such as:

  • What is the success of a National Register nomination based on?
  • Does my property need to be nationally significant to be listed in the National Register?
  • What role does historic context play in establishing significance?
  • What does "historic context" really mean?
  • What are some potential themes that relate to historic significance?
  • How do you actually establish a property's significance?


We hope you enjoy the show.

Special thanks to the President Woodrow Wilson House for filming accommodations.

David Weible is a former content specialist at the National Trust, previously with Preservation and Outside magazines. His interest in historic preservation is inspired by the ‘20s-era architecture, streetcar neighborhoods, and bars of his hometown of Cleveland.

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