The Great American Landmarks Adventure
The National Historic Landmarks program was established in 1935 by the U.S. Department of Interior's National Park Service (NPS) so that our nation's most significant properties might be purchased and included in the National Park System. Over the years, it became apparent that having the Federal government buy and maintain all of these properties would be very costly and impractical. So, although some Landmarks are included in the Park System, the vast majority are privately owned.
Today, the well-being of National Historic Landmarks depends on many factors: how changes in property use are handled, what effects acts of nature have, how developers approach the historical value of landmarks, and whether an owner has the commitment and financial ability to maintain and preserve the property. The National Park Service encourages and supports the preservation and restoration of our National Historic Landmark properties.
The National Park Service also assists NHL owners by providing published information about maintaining, repairing, and restoring historic buildings, structures, and sites, as well as offering other educational and training activities. NHL owners can helpful guidance in one stop by accessing Online Education and Publications.