State & National Registers of Historic Places
The Official list
of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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Frost Woods Historic District
The Frost Woods Historic District is a significant neighborhood of distinctive and houses in the International, Ranch, Contemporary, and Colonial Revival styles in Monona.
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About the State & National Registers of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is managed by the National Park Service and is the nation's official list of historic places worthy of preservation. Since 1966, the National Park Service has designated more than 100,000 listings nationwide with approximately 2700 in Wisconsin.
The State Register is Wisconsin's official list of state properties determined historically significant to Wisconsin heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office coordinates both the State and National Registers in Wisconsin.
Most properties listed in the State and National Registers are privately owned and not open to the public. If you plan to visit, please respect the owners' privacy and avoid trespassing on private property.
The National Register and State Register of Historic Places database contains the most current information about a property on the date it was listed in the register. A property may have been altered, demolished, or moved since listing. If you believe information on our website about a listed property is inaccurate or outdated, please contact us.
Consulting this online database may not be sufficient to satisfy requirements of a local preservation ordinance, or state and federal historic preservation statutes. More information about compliance with historic preservation statutes is available from the SHPO. Some National Register and State Register properties are also local landmarks regulated by local governments and require coordination with the local government.
This site has been financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior and administered by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the National Park Service or the Wisconsin Historical Society. Nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior or the Wisconsin Historical Society.
This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age in its federally assisted programs. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to:
Office of Equal Opportunity
National Park Service
1849 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20240
What's the Difference?
What's the difference between the Architecture & History Inventory
and the National & State Register of Historic Places?
Registers of Historic Places
- Listed on the National Register means that the property meets at least one National Register Criterion for significance.
- Listing is largely an honorific distinction for private property.
- A formal National Register nomination has been submitted to WI SHPO, nominated by the WI Historic Preservation Review Board, and approved by the National Park Service.
Architecture & History Inventory
- Has been recorded in the Architecture and History Inventory, possibly through a survey, an owner inquiry, or a preservation project.
- May or may not have received or be eligible for a listing in State Register or National Register of Historic Places.
- Not every entry in the AHI has a historic designation
Want to know if a
historic place is eligible?
The State and National Registers of Historic Places recognize properties that physically embody important aspects of local, state, and national history.
Learn more about program requirementsFrequently Asked Questions
One process is used to nominate properties to both registers at the same time. Generally, the nomination process requires two steps:
- Submission of a preliminary Questionnaire that provides basic information about the property for the State Historic Preservation Office staff to determine if the property appears to be potentially eligible for listing in the State and National Registers.
- National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form that is completed according to state and federal standards. Any person or organization may nominate properties to the registers, but because it is a complex process, private historic preservation consultants are often hired. The owner of the property is informed of the nomination.
Online
All Wisconsin National Register of Historic Places listings are searchable on our website. Each listing in the collection has a digital record providing basic information about the property.
Physical
Copies of Wisconsin nominations and their associated documentation are located at the State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society headquarters building. The documents are available for review by scheduling an appointment.
To find out if your building is already listed in the National Register or State Register of Historic Places, you can conduct a property record search of the Architecture and History Inventory. You can search for your address, use the various filters on the left side of the search to help narrow your search, or try the Historic Properties section of Advanced Search. If your property appears, check the record for its National Register or State Register status.
Search the Architecture and History Inventory
The property record search provides historical and architectural information on approximately 160,000 properties in Wisconsin. It contains both listed National Register and State Register properties and unlisted properties.
The property record will tell you if your property is listed, either individually or as a contributing element to a historic district. If you can't find your property in the property records, then it is probably not listed in the State or the National Register.
If you are still unsure, please contact staff at the State Historic Preservation Office.
The length of time depends on many factors including the type of property and location. The researcher must research and photograph the property and complete and submit the required forms. SHPO staff review the nomination forms and schedule the property for review and approval by the State Historic Preservation Review Board, which meets 3 times per year. State Register nominations are approved at the state level by the review board. National Register nominations approved by the State Historic Preservation Review Board are forwarded to the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. for final approval. The process can often take about one and a half years.
No.
A National Register or State Register historic district listing includes the individual buildings or sites within that district. The individual properties are classified as either contributing or non-contributing.
- A contributing classification means the property adds to the historic association, architectural importance or archaeological value for which the district is important. It must have been present during the district’s historic period and must physically retain the sufficient features representing that era. The property can be a building, structure, site, or object.
- A non-contributing classification means the property is most likely newer or altered and has lost many of its historic features.
For private property owners, this is an honorary program and state or federal agencies cannot mandate that a private property owner maintain or preserve a historic place because it is listed in the State or National Register. Of course, because the property is historically significant, private property owners are encouraged to preserve it.
Local, state, or federal governments should see our Review and Compliance program area for more information about their historic property responsibilities.
If a private, listed property is damaged or destroyed, there is no state or federal requirement that it be rebuilt or repaired to recreate its historic appearance. The historic property should be treated like any other building for insurance purposes. For more information, please see our memo for insurance agencies and property owners.
No. However, an owner of a listed property is eligible to apply for state or federal income tax credits for the rehabilitation of the historic property.
No. Listing a property in the registers does not automatically protect it from demolition or other alterations. However, listing a property in the registers does trigger state and federal preservation laws that require federal, state, and local government agencies to take into consideration the effect of their plans or projects on the listed property.
The principal benefit is the knowledge that you are helping to preserve your local, state and national heritage. The state and federal governments provide several more tangible benefits:
- Eligibility for state and federal income tax credits for rehabilitating listed historic properties
- Eligibility for federal grants, when available
- Consideration in the planning of federally assisted and state assisted projects, as well as projects of local governments and school boards, when those projects affect the property
- Eligibility to use the state's Historic Building Code, which may facilitate rehabilitation
- Qualification for state and federal charitable income tax deductions for the donation of historic preservation easements
- Eligibility for official State Register of Historic Places plaques
Listing a property in the registers does not impose restrictions on the private property owner. The private owner is free to sell, alter, or demolish the property. Of course, if the property owner is utilizing any federal or state funding or assistance, the proposed project must be reviewed to ensure that the historic values of the property are taken into consideration.
No, but you may purchase an official State Register of Historic Places plaque or other appropriate plaques of your choosing. The choice to display a plaque on your historic building is a personal one.
Yes. Because these are publicly owned historic properties, the state agencies or local governments, including school boards, must consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer at the Wisconsin Historical Society regarding any plans or proposed actions that will affect any listed property. The State Historic Preservation Officer may require negotiations to reduce or avoid adverse effects to the property.
Please note that the state and federal historic preservation programs involve a number of statutes, regulations, rules, and guidelines. For further information or details about these preservation programs contact compliance. Local historic preservation programs are often established by local government ordinances, and property owners are advised to contact their local governments for information about local regulations.
Information for Property Owners
Property owners often have questions about what happens when a property is listed in the State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. These are some of the most frequently asked questions about any benefits or regulations on private or public property listed in the National Register and State Register of Historic Places.
(Coming Soon!)
Information for Preservation Professionals
Preparing a National Register Nomination?
Access Wisconsin supplementary materials, required forms, and guidance for preservation professionals preparing a complete and accurate submission.
(Coming Soon!)
Explore the National Register of Historic Places
Historic Preservation Review Board
The Governor-appointed Historic Preservation Review Board reviews and acts on nominations to the State Register and the National Register of Historic Places.
Historic Preservation Review BoardQuestions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or have other questions about the registers, reach out today!
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