Historic Preservation

A keystone of Preservation Chapel Hill is preserving the history of the land and buildings through maintenance, restoration and education. Using local and national registration frameworks, we have built a historic foundation to last generations.

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Historic Preservation in the United States of America

In the United States, an historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided into two categories, contributing and non-contributing. Districts greatly vary in size: some have hundreds of structures, while others have just a few.

The U.S. federal government designates historic districts through the United States Department of Interior under the auspices of the National Park Service in collaboration with State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO). Federally designated historic districts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Listing usually imposes no restrictions on what property owners may do with a designated property. Contributing properties may apply for historic tax credits for approved renovations.

Historic Preservation in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

A local historic district is a type of zoning applied by the City Council or the Board of County Commissioners to an area of special significance in terms of its history, prehistory, architecture, and/or culture that possesses integrity of design, setting, materials, feeling, and association (as per NCGS 160A-400.3).

Chapel Hill has four National Register districts, three local historical districts, and nine individual properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, two of which are “National Historic Landmarks”.

Chapel Hill has four National Register districts, three local historical districts, and nine individual properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, two of which are “National Historic Landmarks”.

The original Chapel Hill National Register district was listed in 1971. It included much of the historic pre-1900 part of the UNC campus including Battle Woods. It generally ended at the south side of Rosemary Street.

The Franklin-Rosemary local historic district was created in December, 1976. When created it was much larger than the National Register district but excluded the UNC campus and Battle Woods.

PCH contracted for a professional historic re-survey of the original 1971 National Register district resulting in a doubling of its size in 2015 including three areas outside of the local historic district.

The Gimghoul local historic district and national historic districts were both established in the same year, 1993, and overlay slightly with the 1971 National Register district. PCH did a photographic update of Gimghoul in 2013.

The Old Chapel Hill Cemetery was listed on the National Register in 1994.

The Rocky Ridge National Register district was listed in 1989 and expanded slightly in 2008. It includes most of the Laurel Hill Road neighborhood.

The Cameron-McCauley local historic district was established in 1990. The West Chapel Hill National Register district was established in 1998 and generally over-lays the local historic district. A project is underway to add marginal areas to the National Register district.

National Historic Register Locations in Chapel Hill

Chapel of the Cross
CHAPEL HILL

Listed since 2/1/1972

Chapel Hill Town Hall
CHAPEL HILL

Listed since 3/20/1990

Old Chapel Hill Cemetery
CHAPEL HILL

Listed since 6/3/1994

Alexander Hogan Plantation Site
CHAPEL HILL

Listed since 3/4/1996

The Carolina Inn
CHAPEL HILL

Listed since 8/6/1999

Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House
CHAPEL HILL

Listed since 4/20/2005

Arthur C. and Mary S. A. Nash House
CHAPEL HILL

Listed since 10/26/2017

National Historic Landmarks

Old East (UNC-CH Campus)
CHAPEL HILL

Listed since 10/15/1966

Playmakers Theatre
CHAPEL HILL

Listed since 6/24/1971

Carrboro National Register Listings

Alberta Mill Complex
CARRBORO

Listed since 1/19/1976

Carrboro Commercial Historic District
CARRBORO
Listed since 6/20/1985

Thomas F. Lloyd Historic District
CARRBORO

Listed since 8/14/1986