Louisiana- Division of Historic Preservation

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Established by Congress in 1966, the National Register of Historic Places is the nation's official list of significant historic properties. Each state has a historic preservation office which is responsible for nominating buildings, sites, districts, etc. to the Register. In Louisiana this program is administered by the Division of Historic Preservation, which is part of the Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

Established in 1966, the National Register of Historic Places seeks to recognize buildings for their architectural and/or historical importance. Ascension Parish's Hermitage plantation house is an early listing, recognized for its architectural significance and importance in the local agricultural economy. (Louisiana Office of Tourism)


Benefits of the National Register

  • Honor:
     lt is a great honor for a property to be listed on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places. This status can be very useful in helping to save historic buildings and sites because people typically hold Register properties in high regard and think twice about insensitive alteration or demolition.
  • Financial:
    There are two types of tax incentives available:

    1. A 20% federal income tax credit on the cost of renovating Register properties used for income- producing purposes. If you are interested in this program, it is important that you contact the Division of Historic Preservation early in the project, preferably before planning and construction work begins.
    2. A state property tax relief program available for renovating owner-occupied homes as well as income-producing properties. For information, contact:

    Ed Baker
    Business Incentives Division
    Office of Business Development
    Department of Economic Development
    P.O. Box 94185
    Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9185
    Phone: (225) 342-5402

  • Protection:
    The National Register program also provides a measure of protection from federally assisted projects.
Another important resource recognized by the National Register is the log architecture of the Upland South Culture. Now very rare, log houses are found in North and West Louisiana and the northern portion of the Florida Parishes. (Autrey House, Lincoln Parish)

No Restrictions: The National Register is an honorary designation that does not restrict private property rights. An individual is free to do as he pleases with his Register property.

Types of Properties Eligible for the National Register:

The National Register recognizes five basic types of historic properties:

  1. historic buildings such as plantation houses, courthouses or log cabins
  2. historic structures such as old bridges, Iighthouses or forts
  3. historic districts such as old residential or commercial neighborhoods
  4. historic sites such as battlefields or Indian mounds, and
  5. historic objects such as old steamboats or fire engines
It is important to note that not every historic site or old building or neighborhood is eligible for the National Register. Properties must have some type of significance either on the national, state or local level in order to qualify.

Significance:

Basically, there are three types of significance:

  1. Properties are considered historically significant if they are closely associated with an important person, event or development.
  2. Buildings are considered architecturally significant if they are important examples of a particular style or type, or a method of construction.
  3. Properties are considered archaeologically significant if the remains yield information about the nation's history or prehistory.

Generally, properties are not placed on the Register if they are less than 50 years old; if the period of their historical significance is less than 50 years old; or if they have been significantly altered.

 

The Register is especially interested in buildings symbolizing the historic themes which contributed to the development of the state. One of those themes is the railroad industry. Although many railroad resources have been lost, the depot in the Tangipahoa Parish town of Hammond still serves passengers.


The Procedure:

If you are interested in having a property placed on the National Register, send current exterior and interior snapshots and whatever historical data you may have to the Division of Historic Preservation at the address below. The staff will examine your material to see if the property appears to be eligible for the Register and if so, will work with you to prepare a National Register application form. The finished application will then be presented to the Louisiana National Register Review Committee at one of its quarterly meetings. The Committee is an appointed board composed of lay people and experts in the fields of architecture, history and archaeology. Upon a favorable recommendation by the Committee and an approval by the State Historic Preservation Officer, the Register nomination will be forwarded to the Department of the Interior in Washington for federal review. The final decision on National Register status is made by the Keeper of the National Register in the Department of the Interior.

ATTN: National Register Coordinator
Division of Historic Preservation
Office of Cultural Development
P.O. Box 44247
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
(225) 342-8160

Please Note:

Listing in the National Register does not, in and of itself, constitute approval for other historic preservation programs administered by the Division of Historic Preservation. These programs include:

Louisiana Main Street Program
Certified Local Government Program
Federal Tax Credit Incentive Program
Section 106 Environmental Review

Separate application and review processes are required for each. If you need assistance with these programs, please use the links above or contact the Division at the address and telephone number listed on this site.

 
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