Getting Started

There are multiple ways to pursue listing a property in the National Register. Ultimately the outcome is the same but the most efficient method for achieving the goal can be determined by asking the following questions:

Is the property owned by a public, private, or not for profit entity;
Is the property income-producing; or
Is the owner interested in grants or tax incentives to assist with evaluation, listing, and/or rehabilitation?

If you wish to retain a historical consultant to complete the necessary documentation, a list of consultants who have expressed an interest in conducting cultural resource work is available from the Minnesota Historical Society. (Select “Historic Preservation Consultant” from the specialties menu for a complete list.) Please note that this list is provided as a convenience; it does not imply endorsement by the SHPO. If you complete the documentation yourself, it should be returned to our office for review.

Private ownership

For private owners of non-income-producing properties, the first step is to complete a National Register Questionnaire. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) uses this documentation to determine whether or not we believe the property is eligible for listing in the National Register. Please return the completed Questionnaire for SHPONRHP.ADM@state.mn.us. If your Questionnaire includes large files, please email us to request a secure upload folder.

Use the space provided in the form to describe the property (building, structure, etc.) and to demonstrate the property's significance and its integrity according to the National Park Service guidelines. The documentation should tell us as much as you know about the building, the changes made to the building, and what you know of the history. Questionnaire should also include recent exterior and interior photos of the building, as well as copies of any historic photographs you may have. All of the materials we receive will become part of our public inventory records.

If the SHPO staff finds that the property is eligible for the National Register, we will advise you on how to complete the nomination application.
Private ownership, income-producing

If the property is income-producing the owner may be eligible for Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives (tax credits). In order to take advantage of the tax credits the building must first be certified as a historic structure. A certified historic structure is a building that is listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places or is considered a contributing resource in a listed district.

A Historic Preservation Certification Application (also known as a Part 1 Application) is used to determine whether the property is a “certified historic structure.” To learn more about that application process please visit our Tax Incentives page.
Non-profit, Educational, or Public ownership

If the property is owned by an eligible applicant (a non-profit, educational, or public entity) they may be eligible for a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant to fund a consultant’s work for both the property evaluation as well as the subsequent nomination, should that be appropriate. For questions about grants, please contact the grant staff at 651-259-3497 or e-mail grants@mnhs.org. Additional information is also available on the Grant Office website.