California Register of Historical Resources
Encyclopedia
The California Register of Historical Resources is a California
state government
program for use by state and local agencies, private groups and citizens to identify, evaluate, register and protect California's historical
resources. The Register is the authoritative guide to the state's significant historical and archeological
resources.
The California Register program encourages public recognition and protection of resources of architectural
, historical, archeological and cultural significance, identifies historical resources for state and local planning purposes, determines eligibility for state historic preservation grant funding and affords certain protections under the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA).
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
state government
California government and politics
California government and politics may refer to:*Government of California*Politics of California...
program for use by state and local agencies, private groups and citizens to identify, evaluate, register and protect California's historical
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
resources. The Register is the authoritative guide to the state's significant historical and archeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
resources.
The California Register program encourages public recognition and protection of resources of architectural
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, historical, archeological and cultural significance, identifies historical resources for state and local planning purposes, determines eligibility for state historic preservation grant funding and affords certain protections under the California Environmental Quality Act
California Environmental Quality Act
The California Environmental Quality Act is a California statute passed in 1970, shortly after the United States federal government passed the National Environmental Policy Act , to institute a statewide policy of environmental protection...
(CEQA).
Criteria for designation
In order for a resource to be designated a historical landmark, it must meet the following criteria:- Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local or regional history or the cultural heritage of California or the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. - Associated with the lives of persons important to local, California or national history.
- Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region or method of construction or represents the work of a master or possesses high artistic values.
- Has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistoryPrehistoryPrehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
or history of the local area, California or the nation.
Effects of designation
- Limited protection: Environmental review may be required under CEQA if property is threatened by a project.
- Local building inspector must grant code alternatives provided under State Historical Building Code.
- Local assessorAssessor (property)An assessor is a specialist who calculates the value of property. The value calculated by the assessor is then used as the basis for determining the amounts to be paid or assessed for tax or insurance purposes....
may enter into contract with property owner for property tax reduction (Mills Act). - Owner may place his or her own commemorative plaqueCommemorative plaqueA commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
or marker at the site of the resource.
See also
- California Historical LandmarkCalifornia Historical LandmarkCalifornia Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
- List of California Historical Landmarks
- California Point of Historical InterestCalifornia Point of Historical InterestCalifornia Points of Historical Interest are sites, buildings, features, or events that are of local significance and have anthropological, cultural, military, political, architectural, economic, scientific or technical, religious, experimental, or other value...
- History of CaliforniaHistory of CaliforniaThe history of California can be divided into several periods: the Native American period; European exploration period from 1542 to 1769; the Spanish colonial period, 1769 to 1821; the Mexican period, 1821 to 1848; and United States statehood, which continues to the present day...