The National Register of Historic Places is the official Federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. Sites can have significance on a national level as well as a local, community level. The National Register is maintained by the National Park Service but is typically managed at the state level. In Illinois, the state level organization is the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
In addition to the honorific recognition, properties listed individually or deemed to be contributing to a National Register Historic District, may be eligible for Federal tax provisions. A 20% investment tax credit is available for income-producing certified historic structures that undertake rehabilitation work that adheres to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. This rehabilitative tax incentive is available to commercial, industrial, and rental residential buildings. For more information visit the National Register website.