History National Register of Historic Places

george b. hartzog jr. director of national park service january 8, 1964, until december 31, 1972



u.s. secretary of interior (1977–1981) cecil andrus removed national register jurisdiction of national park service in 1978

on october 15, 1966, historic preservation act created national register of historic places , corresponding state historic preservation offices (shpo). initially, national register consisted of national historic landmarks designated before register s creation, other historic sites in national park system. approval of act, amended in 1980 , 1992, represented first time united states had broad-based historic preservation policy. 1966 act required agencies work in conjunction shpo , independent federal agency, advisory council on historic preservation (achp), confront adverse effects of federal activities on historic preservation.

to administer newly created national register of historic places, national park service of u.s. department of interior, director george b. hartzog jr., established administrative division named office of archeology , historic preservation (oahp). hartzog charged oahp creating national register program mandated 1966 law. ernest connally office s first director. within oahp new divisions created deal national register. division administered several existing programs, including historic sites survey , historic american buildings survey, new national register , historic preservation fund.

the first official keeper of register william j. murtagh, architectural historian. during register s earliest years in late 1960s , 1970s, organization lax , shpos small, understaffed, , underfunded. however, funds still being supplied historic preservation fund provide matching grants-in-aid listed property owners, first house museums , institutional buildings, later commercial structures well.

a few years later in 1979, nps history programs affiliated both u.s. national parks system , national register categorized formally 2 assistant directorates. established assistant directorate archeology , historic preservation , assistant directorate park historic preservation. 1978 until 1981, main agency national register heritage conservation , recreation service (hcrs) of united states department of interior.

in february 1983, 2 assistant directorates merged promote efficiency , recognize interdependency of programs. jerry l. rogers selected direct newly merged associate directorate. described skilled administrator, sensitive need nps work shpos, academia, , local governments.

although not described in detail in 1966 act, shpos became integral process of listing properties on national register. 1980 amendments of 1966 law further defined responsibilities of shpos concerning national register. several 1992 amendments of nhpa added category national register, known traditional cultural properties: properties associated native american or hawaiian groups.

the national register of historic places has grown considerably legislative origins in 1966. in 1986, citizens , groups nominated 3,623 separate properties, sites, , districts inclusion on national register, total of 75,000 separate properties. of more 1 million properties on national register, 80,000 listed individually. others listed contributing members within historic districts.