National Historic Landmark facts for kids

The USS Constitution is a famous ship and a National Historic Landmark.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin is a National Historic Landmark.

The American Legation in Tangiers, Morocco, is the only National Historic Landmark outside the U.S.

The Navajo Nation Council Chamber in Window Rock, Arizona, is where the Navajo Nation government meets.

Mohonk Mountain House is a resort hotel. Important meetings held here helped create the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

This special plaque shows that Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, is a National Historic Landmark.

A National Historic Landmark (often called an NHL) is a very important place in the United States. It can be a building, a special site, a structure, an object, or a whole district. The U.S. government gives this special title to places that have huge historical importance.

Out of more than 80,000 places listed on the National Register of Historic Places, only about 2,430 are important enough to be called NHLs. This shows how special they are!

A National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) is a large area, like a neighborhood, that is recognized as an NHL. It can include many different buildings, structures, or sites that all contribute to its historical value.

What Makes a Place a National Historic Landmark?

The United States Secretary of the Interior decides which places become NHLs. They choose places based on certain important reasons:

• Important Events: Sites where big events in American history happened.
• Famous People: Places where important people lived or worked.
• National Symbols: Buildings or sites that represent key ideas that shaped the nation.
• Amazing Design: Outstanding examples of how things were designed or built.
• Way of Life: Places that show how people used to live.
• Old Discoveries: Archeological sites that can teach us a lot about the past.

Where Are National Historic Landmarks Located?

There are about 2,442 National Historic Landmarks today. You can find them in all 50 states!

Three states have the most NHLs:

• Pennsylvania
• Massachusetts
• New York

These three states together have almost a quarter of all the NHLs in the country. Some cities, like Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City, have more NHLs than most entire states! For example, New York City has 116 NHLs, which is more than any other U.S. city.

Beyond the 50 states, there are also NHLs in:

• District of Columbia (74 NHLs)
• Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories (15 NHLs)
• U.S.-associated states like Micronesia (5 NHLs)
• Even one in Morocco, called the American Legation in Tangiers.

Many ships and shipwrecks are also NHLs. There are about 128 of them!

Who Takes Care of National Historic Landmarks?

About half of all National Historic Landmarks are owned by private citizens or groups. The National Park Service helps decide which new places should become NHLs. They also help take care of these important landmarks.

There is a group called the National Historic Landmark Stewards Association. This group is made up of the owners and managers of NHLs. They work hard to protect, preserve, and promote these special places for everyone to enjoy.

If a place becomes an NHL, it is automatically added to the National Register of Historic Places. Only about three percent of all places on the National Register are also NHLs.

Images for kids

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  Independence National Historical Park is a very popular National Historic Landmark District.

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  Central Park in New York City is a famous National Historic Landmark.

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  The Navajo Nation Council Chamber in Window Rock, Arizona, is the center of government for the Navajo Nation.

See also

In Spanish: Hito Histórico Nacional (Estados Unidos) para niños