National N Historic e Landmarks w J e r s e y ’ s ❖ The Historic Preservation Office is committed to enhancing the quality of life for the residents of New Jersey through the preservation and appreciation of our collective past. ❖ Our mission is to assist the residents of New Jersey in identifying, preserving, protecting and sustaining our historic and archaeological resources through the implementation of the state’s historic preservation program. ❖ We provide assistance through our annual conference, consultation with staff professionals, training workshops, co-sponsorship of history and historic preservation-related activities, the Historic Preservation Planning Bulletin and other free publications. Cover Photo: Old Queens, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Middlesex County, ca. 1948. Other cover photos identified elswhere. National Historic Landmarks National Historic Landmarks (NHL) are buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that have been determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be nationally significant in American history and culture. Many of the most renowned historic properties in the nation are Landmarks. Mount Vernon, Pearl Harbor, the Apollo Mission Control Center, Alcatraz, and the Martin Luther King Birthplace in Atlanta, Georgia Sandy Hook are Landmarks that illustrate important contributions Lighthouse, to the nation’s historical Monmouth development. Women’s History. The County, historic importance of candi- New Jersey has over 50 dates for Landmark desig- drawing ca. NHL’s, including Craftsman nation is evaluated by the 1790. Farms, Monmouth Battle- National Park Service and field, Paulsdale, Ringwood the National Park System Manor, Sandy Hook Light- Advisory Board twice yearly house, and the Walt Whitman at meetings that are open to House. the public. The Advisory Potential Landmarks are Board includes citizens who identified primarily through are national and community theme studies undertaken by leaders in the conservation of the National Park Service natural, historic and cultural (NPS); these studies provide areas. Recommendations by a comparative analysis of the Advisory Board are made properties associated with a to the Secretary of the Inte- specific area of American his- rior on potential National tory, such as Labor or Historic Landmarks. Final decisions regarding National demonstrate only State or Historic Landmark desig- local significance. For exam- nation are made by the ple, many of New Jersey’s Old Secretary of the Interior. lighthouses are listed in the Queens, Nominations prepared National Register because of the key roles they played in Rutgers by other Federal agencies, State Historic Preservation the state’s history. Sandy University, Officers, and individuals are Hook Light, however, is Middlesex also accepted for review and nationally significant as the County, oldest standing lighthouse in the United States. drawing 1844. All National Historic Landmarks are included in the National Register which is the official list of the nation’s historic properties worthy of preservation. Land- marks constitute some 2,100 of almost 65,000 entries in the National Register. The criteria, process and proce- dures for listing a property in the National Register are dif- ferent from that for Land- represent an increasing num- marks designation. ber of nominations reviewed Nominations to the National each year. Register are submitted by Landmarks that have been the state historic preservation recognized by the Secretary offices and include cultural William of the Interior possess resources of local, state and Livingston national significance and national significance. Evalua- House have exceptional value in tion and final decision rest with the National Register (Liberty representing or illustrating an important theme in the his- Office. Conversely, properties Hall), tory of the nation. Properties must be of national signifi- Union listed in the National Regis- cance to be designated as County, ter of Historic Places, need to National Historic Landmarks. Evaluation is conducted by drawing, the National Park Service’s 1844. National Historic Landmarks Survey. Nominations are then reviewed by the National Park System Advisory Board with designation made by the Secretary of the Interior. Some properties already listed in the National Regis- ter are subsequently identi- fied by the Survey as nationally significant; others are identified for the first time during Landmark theme studies or other special studies. Both the National His- toric Landmarks and the Nassau National Register pro- Hall, grams are administered by the National Park College Service under the Secre- of NJ, now tary of the Interior. Princeton . The National Park Designation as a National Service publishes University, Historic Landmark or listing 1 and distributes infor- Mercer in the National and New Jer- mation available to sey Registers does not gener- Landmark owners county, ally place restrictions on and administrators drawing, private property owners. on a variety of 1844. Whenever a project is pub- preservation sub- licly funded, however , there jects. For a catalog of is a measure of protection NPS publications afforded to NHL’s. The contact the NHL National Park Service may program manager. recommend to private owners various preservation actions, . From time to time, but owners are not obligated the National Park to carry out these recommen- 2 Service contacts dations. They are free to Landmark owners make whatever changes they about the condition wish if public funding, licens- of their properties ing or permits are not and may ask for involved. permission to visit. Landmarks owners are The NPS is respon- provided with a bronze sible by law for plaque to display at the prop- monitoring the con- erty. These are available from dition of National the National Park Service at Historic Landmarks and to report to no cost to the owner. Congress those that The National Park Service are seriously threat- also provides technical ened or damaged. preservation advice to owners The annual report of National Historic Land- identifies the nature marks. Questions regarding of the threat and preservation issues are rou- damage and tinely answered by phone or includes recom- letters, or during on-site visits mendations for pre- by NPS staff. The following serving the endan– are other forms of assistance gered Landmark. Its purpose is to the NPS provides to owners: inform Congress Craftsman Farms, and the preserva- ments, and estimate Morris tion community of the costs for carrying the endangered sta- out this work. If County, tus of these proper- funding permits, photo ties and to stimulate information derived 1912. preservation action. from the indepth A Landmark’s inspection may be inclusion in this compiled in a build- report requires no ing condition assess- compliance action ment report which on the part of the may be made avail- owner or the parties able to owners, causing the threat preservation organi- or damage. How- zations, and inter- ever, if the qualities ested public and which led to the private groups. Also, property’s designa- as funding permits, tion have been lost, executive sum- the Landmark des- maries of condition ignation will be assessment reports removed. titled “Landmarks at Risk” may be pre- pared by the . Each year, as National Park Ser- 3 funding permits, vice for selected a limited number of Landmarks. Copies Landmark buildings of these reports are may be selected to made available to receive indepth property owners, property assess- local governments, ments funded and community organi- coordinated by the zations and visitors. National Park Ser- These publications vice. The purpose of are used to raise these inspections is awareness of the to analyze the spe- Landmark’s signifi- cific condition of the cance and preserva- Landmark, identify tion needs. and prioritize recom- mended work treat- Landmark Preservation Offices and the Assistance National Park Service. This article was developed Initiative from information provided by The Preservation Initia- the National Historic Land- tives Branch of Heritage marks Program. For further Preservation Service of the information and publications National Park Service coordi- on National Historic Land- nates the National Historic marks please contact: Landmark Assistance Initia- tive. NHL Program This initiative has three National Park Service goals: Northeast Field Area, U.S. Custom House . To preserve 200 Chestnut Street 1 National Historic Philadelphia, PA 19106 Landmarks. (215) 597-7946. To improve service For specific information on 2 and technical assis- New Jersey’s National tance to the owners Historic Landmarks, of National Historic please contact: Landmarks. Historic Preservation Office Prospect . To build a con- P.O. Box 404 House, 3 stituency for cul- Trenton, NJ 08625-0404 tural resources (609) 984-6018 Mercer through education County, of the public about National Historic photo Landmarks. 1989. As part of this initiative, the National Park Ser- vice will attempt to provide owners of NHLs with basic information about the program, including sources of technical and financial assistance for preservation and to facilitate communication among owners, State Historic National Historic Landmarks Abbott Farm Botto (Pietro & Historic District Maria) House 12/08/76 12/17/82 Trenton Haledon Mercer County Passaic County All Saints Boxwood Hall Memorial Church 11/28/72 12/23/87 Elizabeth Navesink, Union County Middletown Township Monmouth County Burlington