Arkansas Register of Historic Places facts for kids
The Arkansas Register of Historic Places (often called ARHPs) is a special list of important places in Arkansas. These can be buildings, old structures, beautiful gardens, or even objects. They are chosen because they have a big meaning for Arkansas's history, culture, or how they were built.
How Places Get Listed
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) helps decide which places should be added to the ARHP list. Usually, a property owner or a local community suggests a place. They fill out a special form, which is then sent to a group of eleven people. This group, called the selection board, looks at all the suggestions. They decide if a place is important enough to be added to the Register. The people on this board are chosen by the Governor of Arkansas.
What Makes a Place Historic?
To be added to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places, a building or site usually needs to be at least 50 years old. It also needs to be well-built and look like it did in the past. The selection board checks each place against these important rules:
- It was part of big events in Arkansas's history, either for the whole state or just a local area.
- It is connected to important people who made a difference in Arkansas's history.
- It shows a special way of building or a certain style from a specific time period.
- It helps us understand important parts of Arkansas's history or even its very old past before written records.
