Historic Preservation

Surveying Vermont’s historic resources is the foundation of our preservation program. Statewide survey began in earnest in 1967 and strengthened by the Vermont Historic Preservation Act of 1975. During this time, more than 30,000 historical, architectural and archaeological properties have been recorded and added to the state’s inventory of historic sites; the Historic Sites and Structures Survey (HSSS).

The National Register of Historic Places, established in 1966 by the National Historic Preservation Act and managed by the National Park Service, is the official list of buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts that embody the historical and cultural foundations of our country.

Vermont's historic resources include buildings, structures, landscapes, and archaeological sites, both on land and underwater. If you want to know the historic status of your property or learn about the history of your community, please use our Online Resource Center.

With evidence of Native American occupations extending as far back as 13,000 years ago, Vermont has a rich cultural, historical, and architectural legacy. This significant heritage manifests itself in the state’s ancient Native encampments, agricultural farmsteads with timber-framed barns and rising silos, villages with white-spired churches and town halls marking the valley bottoms and maple-strewn hillsides, downtowns centered on railroad depots and sites of early industrial centers, summer retreats surrounding lakes and ponds, and ski resorts nested on the slopes of the green mountains.

Municipalities and the developer of the qualified project may jointly apply to the Downtown Board for a reallocation of sales taxes on construction materials. Qualified projects must be located within a designated downtown district and may be eligible for a reallocation of sales taxes on construction materials.

The Vermont Village Greens Initiative is restoring appreciation for village greens and raising awareness about the important cultural and economic role they play. Vermont’s village greens (and commons) serve as the physical, historic and cultural heart of many communities, hosting concerts, fairs, parades, seasonal festivals and farmers markets.