Historic Preservation Law & Resources

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 [16 U.S.C. 470-470w-6 (1994)] directs the Federal Government, in cooperation with state and local governments, Native Americans, and the public, to take a leadership role in preservation.

The earliest Federal preservation statute was the Antiquities Act of 1906. Later came the Historic Sites Act of 1935, which made it national policy to preserve for public use historic sites, buildings, and objects of national significance. It also empowered the Secretary of the Interior to designate properties significant to the nation as a whole as National Historic Landmarks or Sites.

Federal Government

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) (Advisory Council on Historic Preservation) (as amended through 2006)
Federal Historic Preservation Case Law, 1966-1996; Thirty Years of the National Historic Preservation Act and Update, 1996-2000
National Register of Historic Places
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation -- an independent Federal agency that administers the Section 106 process under the NHPA and that provides a forum for influencing Federal activities, programs, and policies as they affect historic resources
U.S. General Services Administration National Capital Region: Historic Preservation -- includes GSA Historic Buildings Database
U.S. National Park Service Laws, Regs and Standards -- includes links to the full text of the laws, regulations, standards and guidelines, and executive orders related to cultural resources
U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Historic Buildings
Preserve America
Preserve America "is a federal initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage."

National & State Organizations

National Alliance of Preservation Commissions
"The Alliance is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, governed by a Board of Directors whose members must have direct associations with preservation commissions."
National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers
The professional association of the state government officials who carry out the national historic preservation program.
State Historic Preservation Legislation Database (National Conference of State Legislatures)
Comprehensive listing and narrative summaries for all state legislation or state constitution articles that contain specific references to historic properties; archeological sites or materials collected from archeological sites; or culturally significant unmarked human burials and associated burial objects.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
PreservationAction
State Historic Preservation Offices
List with links to the web sites of the offices in each state; includes link to National Park Service list of statewide historic preservation plans with contact information.