Surveyed Resources / Landmark Inventory / Washburne District / National Register

Historic Sites and Buildings

Often referred to as a ‘building block’ of historic preservation, historic resource surveys are one of the most important historic preservation tools.  Historic resource surveys identify and gather data on a community’s historic resources.  While there are no regulations restricting the use of properties identified historic resource surveys, the surveys allow the City of Springfield to better plan for the preservation and development of areas that contain historic resources by understanding what type of resources make up that environment.  The Springfield Historic Commission has conducted numerous historic resource surveys throughout Springfield over the years, a list of which can be found here.   

Springfield’s Landmark Inventory consists of individual historic resources that the City of Springfield has determined, through historic resource surveys and subsequent additional research, have one or more characteristics of citywide, statewide, or national significance for their historic, cultural, archaeological, or architectural merit.  Currently, there are 11 resources on the Landmark Inventory. All resources on the Landmark Inventory are subject to the Historic Overlay District regulations ^[1] contained in the Springfield Development Code.  If you are interested in having your property be considered for inclusion on Springfield’s Landmark Inventory, please contact us. 

The National Register of Historic Places, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Parks Service, is the nation’s official list of the buildings, structures, districts, sites, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, and culture.  Authorized and created with the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect the nation’s historic and archaeological resources.  In general, districts, sites, buildings, structures, or objects listed on the National Register are over 50 years of age and exhibit "integrity" or closely resemble their historic appearance (integrity can be related to location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association).  Currently, there are six properties in Springfield individually listed on the National Register, some of which are also listed on Springfield’s Landmark Inventory.  All properties within the Washburne Historic District are also listed together on the National Register and are subject to the Historic Overlay District regulations ^[1] contained in the Springfield Development Code.  For general information on the National Register of Historic Places, please visit the National Parks website at http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/.  If you are interested in having your property be considered for inclusion on the National Register, please contact us.

A map of all listed properties can be found here.

^[1] Historic Overlay District regulations can be found in the Development Code under Chapter 3 - Land Use Districts then to Section 3.3-900 Historic Overlay District.