Tools

Introduction

The Historic Preservation Office offers a variety of research tools, guidance and general information about historic resources and preservation. Links to online research tools include the cultural resources inventory, survey report listings, and general guidance. The contents of these tools do not represent everything within our collections, but they will grow as we move to an increasingly digital workflow.

Quick references for office collections

Glossary

Find definitions for terms used throughout HPO’s collections.

HPO numbering systems

Learn how to interpret our project numbers, correspondence and survey report records.

Search our collections online

LUCY Online Map Viewer

Use LUCY, an ArcGIS Online-based web application, to explore our mapped resource data.

The New Jersey Historic Preservation Office (HPO) is pleased to provide LUCY 2.0, an updated and revised online geographic information system (GIS) map viewer for New Jersey’s cultural resources inventory. LUCY fulfills an important mandate to disseminate cultural resources inventory data to constituents and the public.

The updated application …

expands the list of available data layers
provides lists of related reports and typologies
provides tools for better search and export of cultural resources data

DEP DataMiner publication search

DataMiner is a search portal for documents published by DEP programs, including HPO. It now provides access to listings of HPO’s Cultural Resource Surveys and links to digitized documents when available and appropriate for public release.

Our online catalog data lists restricted survey reports, such as archaeological surveys, but the reports themselves are only available through direct request.

DEP DataMiner

Visit the main DataMiner site to search and download our published digital documents.

DataMiner FAQ

Get additional information about each of the search options and how to use the search results.

Instructions by search

Survey reports

To search our survey report library using DataMiner,

Open the DEP DataMiner home page
Click Search by Category
Select Historic Preservation from the list and click Submit
Click one of the available search options
- Planning and Compliance Survey Report Listings by Municipality
- Planning and Compliance Survey Report Listings by Project ID
- Planning and Compliance Survey Report Listings by Survey Name

Other published inventories and catalogs

Historic resource inventory

Our office maintains an internal database of listed and eligible resources within the state. We periodically publish directories of this data on our website. Additionally, we make and publish map data for these resources through LUCY, our online map viewer.

Known Historic Properties List

Read our published lists of listed and eligible properties.

National Historic Landmarks Program

Identify National Historic Landmarks (NHL). This program, which precedes the National Register of Historic Places, identifies resources that are nationally significant in American history and culture.

Historic contexts

Learn how historic contexts provide a framework for recognizing resources as part of a larger thematic, geographic, and/or chronological group.

National Register nomination scans

Several federal sites have scans of the National Park Service’s copies of National Register nominations. Older nominations may have separate scans in both repositories with slightly different materials. Nominations with restricted material, such as archaeological components or properties with owner objections, will be either redacted or withheld.

National Archives NextGen Catalog

Resources listed in 2013 and earlier.

NPGallery NRHP Archive Search

NPS has digital downloads of newer nominations and alternate scans of pre-2013 nominations.

Survey report bibliographies

Our office primarily maintains its report collection through an internal database. The following bibliographies are exported from this data for public reference.

Bibliographic listings are provided for each County and organized alphabetically by Municipality and Shelf Code. Surveys often cross municipal and county boundaries. Accordingly, there is an entry for each municipality in which the study occurred.

Survey Report Bibliographies

All listings are provided in PDF format.

Guidance documents and related resources

National Register of Historic Places nominations

Preparation guidance for nominations

For your convenience, we have collected guidance NPS shared with our staff through:

E-blasts
Policy Clarifications by the Keeper of the National Register
Best Practices Review (BPR)
Whitepapers

Survey and inventory guidelines

Photography guidelines

Find guidelines for different types of photographic submissions to our office.

National Register nominations
Mitigation documentation
Other/general photography

Archaeological survey

Learn when an archaeological survey is recommended and:

The levels of archaeological survey
Phase I archaeological investigation guidelines
Cultural resources management archaeological report guidelines

Architectural survey

Architecture includes more than buildings. Learn more about:

Types of architectural resources
The main levels of architectural survey
Guidelines for writing an architectural survey report
How to use our survey forms

Historic Structure Reports and Preservation Plans

Learn how Historic Structure Reports and Preservation Plans are used to

Document the history and physical condition of historic properties.
Establish planning frameworks guiding use, interpretation and treatment.

Design review standards

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties define treatments for historic properties in permit applications.

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (NPS)

Browse the online version of the standards.

2017 edition publication

Download the published PDF version of the standards, originally from NPS.gov.

Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings

Read NPS’s updated guidance on sustainable rehabilitation methods, originally from NPS.gov.

Other references

Historic preservation regulations

Learn about the various federal- and state-level regulations that govern historic preservation in New Jersey.

NJ Rehabilitation Subcode (DCA)

A set of technical requirements developed by the NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for the rehabilitation or restoration of historic resources. Learn how the Rehabilitation Subcode affects your project.