National Park Service Passport Handy? Come Tour the Nation’s National Register of Historic Places

by ddancis, posted in Electronic Records, Interior/Environment

Today’s post is by John LeGloahec, Archivist in the Electronic Records Division at the National Archives in College Park, MD.

Map of the US
Map of the United States and their Territories (National Archives Identifier 6860623).

In this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, with so many people at home, summer vacation plans on hold or canceled, the future of schools and work in question, staff at the National Archives Electronic Records Division invite you to “see the USA” but maybe not in your Chevrolet, but instead from the comfort of your own home.

photograph of street scene
Gasoline Filling Station on Washington-Baltimore Boulevard (National Archives Identifier 169135647).

Available for download from the National Archives Catalog are more than 94,000 records from the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, 2013 – 2017 (National Archives Identifier 20812721), covering historic single properties, multiple property submissions, and national historic landmarks from across the country, in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and US territories. These records are found in Record Group 79: Records of the National Park Service (NPS).

In the coming months, posts will feature some of the themes that exist in the records as identified by Electronic Records Staff. Researchers interested in learning more about National Park Service sites of historical interest will find these records of great interest. For questions and comments about the materials, individuals may email cer@nara.gov. Additional information is available at the NPS webpage for the National Register of Historic Places.

Here’s a sneak preview of the files that will be showcased in the coming months:

Lighthouses of the United States

Image of a hill with a lighthouse and cabin.
Owls Head Light Station, Maine (National Archives Identifier 45691060).

Back to School in September

image of school house and cabin.
Amish Country Byway – Log Cabin and School House (National Archives Identifier 7717001).

American Archives Month

In October, the archives profession celebrates American Archives Month. Within the records of the National Register are many files pertaining to archival facilities in the United States.

Photograph of National Archives Building, from (National Archives Identifier 35810212).

December Holidays

As the holidays approach in December – we will highlight National Register files pertaining to the Christmas season.

Program for Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony (National Archives Identifier 6728528).

We hope that you will come back often to see how our tour of the United States National Register of Historic Places is going. If you have any advice for us – “y’all just go down the road apiece” or “you gotta turn left at that big red barn, not the first one you come to, but the second one” – you drop us a line and we’ll come see you next month!