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National Register of Historic Places / Register of Historic Kansas Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the country’s official list of historically significant properties, which must meet one or more of the four criteria for evaluation. Properties eligible for the register generally retain their historic appearance, are at least 50 years old, and have the potential to be documented as historically or architecturally significant at either the local, state, or national level. Many types of properties are listed in the register, including barns, banks, courthouses, libraries, houses, parks, ranches, battlefields, hospitals, roads, bridges, rail depots, and archeological sites. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service.

The Register of Historic Kansas Places is our state’s official list of historically significant properties. The state register was established in 1977. Though properties included in the National Register can also be listed in the state register, not all properties listed in the state register are included in the National Register. The same general criteria are used to assess the eligibility of a property for inclusion in the state register, but more flexibility is allowed in the interpretation of the criteria for eligibility.  

An Initial Determination of Eligibility (IDOE) helps you learn if a property is eligible for the registers. Complete and submit this to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for review and feedback. Find more information about nominating a historic district to the National Register.

Research guide and instruction booklet are tools to use when a property appears eligible for either register. The sponsor is provided a nomination form to complete, along with supplemental materials that include an example nomination.

Benefits of Listing
In addition to honorific recognition, listing in the registers results in the following benefits for historic properties:

  • Eligibility for State and Federal Financial Incentives
  • Consideration in planning for state and federally funded or assisted projects
  • Making history more accessible