Historic Preservation

So, you want to restore your historic home?
How to start...

National Register of Historic Places
You might want to see if your home is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, or on the historic register that your state has available.  As a private building owner, being listed in the National Register will not impact what you do to your building.  It is a common misconception for people to think that living in a house that is listed in the National Register will require them to get permission to make changes, will increase taxes, or even require a homeowner to open their homes for a tour once a year.  Listing in the National Register does not do any of these things. 

However, if your home is listed, obtaining a copy of the National Register nomination from your State Historic Preservation Office may help you get historical information about your home.  In some states, tax credits may be available for homeowners who have buildings listed in the National Register and/or the state register.  The National Park Service website has a database that will help you figure out if your home is listed in the National Register.  Your State Historic Preservation Office can tell you more about tax credits that are available. 

Local Landmarks and Local Historic Districts
Contact your city or county government to see if you home is listed as a "local landmark" or in a "local historic district."  This designation differs from the National Register as it is adopted through a city (or sometimes county) ordinance that attaches design guidelines to the buildings involved.  If a building is designated locally, it will usually mean that homeowners have to get permission on changes they make to the exterior of their homes through a local historic preservation commission or historic review board. 

Being part of a local historic district means that the city or county you are living in is trying to preserve the character of your historic neighborhood.  Studies across the country have shown that property values tend to rise more quickly in these neighborhoods because everyone is following the same rules.  There is another advantage to being listed in a local historic district, and that is there is a local historic preservation commission that is there to help you make wise design decisions and give you direction and advise regarding the exterior of your house. 

Grants
Many people believe there are grants available to help them to restore their historic home.  Unfortunately, this is usually not the case.  Contact your local historic preservation commission or a local or statewide non-profit organization to see if there are any in your area. 

How To
Materials that were used on historic buildings are much different than the materials we use today and, therefore, need to be treated differently when we are fixing them.  Unfortunately, many contractors and even engineers and architects are not familiar with how to treat these materials, and so it is extremely important to hire contractors who are familiar with working on historic buildings.  It is common for things to be "fixed" incorrectly, and fail shortly.  These fixes often even cause additional problems. 

The National Park Service publishes "Preservation Briefs," which are short "how to" guides that talk about the history of materials, common problems, and how to fix the problems.  Even if you are not doing the work yourself, educate yourself on how things should be fixed so that when you are talking with contractors you know what they are talking about and you can tell if they will be using the appropriate methods to fix your historic home. 

For More Information
In short, research the resources that are available to you.  Many cities and towns have non-profit organizations dedicated to helping people save historic buildings. The National Trust for Historic Preservation can help you find a state or local organization to help you. 

In Indiana:
Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana
www.historiclandmarks.org

Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (Indiana's State Historic Preservation Office)
http://www.in.gov/dnr/historic

Nationally:
National Trust for Historic Preservation
www.nationaltrust.org

National Park Service
http://www.nps.gov/history/preservation.htm

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