Video
National Historic Landmarks Overview
Transcript
00:00:00:00 - 00:00:36:00
History is not just something that happened long ago - It is the world's longest-running reality show, and National Historic Landmarks are where some of the most memorable episodes took place. Imagine standing where women like Susan B. Anthony fought for the right to vote; where Harriet Tubman lived after she led enslaved people to freedom on the Underground Railroad; Or where Anne Sullivan taught Helen Keller how to communicate.
00:00:36:02 - 00:01:05:10
Since 1960, the National Park Service has researched and documented over 2,600 National Historic Landmarks. Some are owned by governments, some by individual people, and some by organizations. Some you can visit, others you can only admire from a distance. Each one has earned its spot in our nation's highlight reel. So how does a place become a National Historic Landmark?
00:01:05:12 - 00:01:35:23
First, it gets nominated. Then it faces the expert judges. Finally, the Secretary of the Interior makes the call, presumably while sitting in a very important chair. Learning about these very important places - or VIPs - is like getting a backstage pass to moments where America’s story comes to life. History is not just names and dates to memorize before a test and immediately forget.
00:01:36:00 - 00:01:50:09
It is our origin story. And now you can be part of keeping that story going.
Descriptive Transcript
0:06
[Illustration of the Wyoming State Capitol against an orange background and seafoam-colored sky with the title: What are National Historic Landmarks?] History is not just something that happened long ago, It is the world's longest running reality show, and National Historic Landmarks are where some of the most memorable episodes took place. [Illustration shifts to a spinning globe as viewed on a computer monitor. As it stops spinning over the United States, the screen shifts to highlight illustrations of the Brooklyn Bridge, St. Louis Memorial Arch, and US Capitol].
0:19
[An Illustration of Susan B. Anthony's two-story, front-gable house is shown alongside a portrait of her and a photograph of a suffragette flag in turn gives way to a line drawing of the Harriet Tubman residence, a sepia-toned portrait of her, and a drawing of a fist gripping a chain.] Imagine standing where women like Susan B Anthony fought for the right to vote, where Harriet Tubman lived after she LED enslaved people to freedom on the Underground Railroad, or where Anne Sullivan taught Helen Keller how to communicate. [The segment concludes with a black-and-white photograph of Helen Keller in profile seated with her tutor Anne Sullivan, dressed in black. A line drawing of Ivy Green, the Helen Keller Birthplace, is at right, over which are illustrations of two hands using sign language to sign the letters A and B and C.]
0:36
[A line drawing of the United States in orange with insets for Alaska and Hawai'i appear against a seafoam green background. Blue dots populate the map in turn to evoke National Historic Landmark place-based designations.] Since 1960, the National Park Service has researched and documented over 2600 National Historic Landmarks.
0:44
[The screen shifts to a purple background with three inset illustrations of Mount Vernon, Iolani Palace, and a covered bridge.] Some are owned by governments, some by individual people, and some by organizations.
0:50
[An orange background appears as a backdrop for a line drawing of two people viewing a building reminiscent of Tolson's Chapel sitting in a parklike setting,] Some you can visit, others you can only admire from a distance. [The screen shifts to show illustrations of two other people viewing a faraway butte. Each holds a pair of binoculars.]
0:55
[A screen reel of illustrations against a dark blue background features line drawings of places and a historic photograph, The first highlight shows the Frances Perkins House, followed by the Lunar Landing Research Facility, Maggie Lena Walker House, and Marjory Stineman Douglas House, all National Historic Landmarks.] Each one has earned its spot in our nation's highlight reel.
1:01
[The screen gives way to an orange background showing an illustrated building with eyes against a green hillside.] So how does a place become a National Historic Landmark?
1:05
First it gets nominated. [The illustrated building is raised up by three people.]
1:08
Then it faces the expert judges. [The illustrated building is picked up by a bright orange hand. A purple background appears and the orange hand places the building on a pedestal. At right is a panel of three people. Both the building and people are under spotlights. The individual at center is sitting in a large orange chair.]
1:11
[The figure at center is identified as the Secretary of the Interior, who presses a button signaling approval. The illustrated building opens it eyes. Stars and cheering people appear.] Finally, the Secretary of the Interior makes the call, presumably while sitting in a very important chair. [The Secretary and orange chair are highlighted as the building jumps up and dances with excitement.]
1:20
[The highlight reel against a blue background reappears, showing the Marjory Stoneman Douglas House, Clair Barton House, and Ladd Field.] Learning about these very important places, or VIPs, is like getting a backstage pass to moments where America's story comes to life. [Stars appears to celebrate these historic places.]
1:30
[Three individuals sitting at school desks appear against a light blue backdrop. The individual at middle has a thought bubble intimating speaking or thinking.] History is not just names and dates to memorize before a test and immediately forget.
1:36
[The thought bubble zooms in to show a DNA double helix with white, orange, and light blue stars. The lines of the double helix flatten out and an individual pops up at center.] It is our origin story, and now you can be part of keeping that story going. [A concluding image showing a banner with the words National Historic Landmarks shows above the Makematic Better education media logo.]
Description
Short, illustrated video providing an overview of the National Historic Landmarks process, highlighting properties associated with the history of significant women.
Duration
1 minute, 50 seconds
Credit
NPS/Makematic
Date Created
06/02/2025
Copyright and Usage Info