Re: What is "National Historic Landmarks" ???

All:

The National Register of Historic Places nomination was amended in 2005 and the C&TS property was revised to 'nationally significant' from 'regionally significant'. At the time we improved the property description and more carefully documented all the resource descriptions increasing the number of items from less than 30 to over 300. The original NR form was prepared in 1971. The National Register is maintained by the Secretary of the Interior though the properties are nominated by State Historic Preservation Officers. You can see the complete NR nomination update on the Friends website.

About two years ago the Friends Board approached me about National Historic Landmark status. Roger did a fine job describing this program which is administered by the National Park Service (part of the Department of Interior). Documentation for both programs is very similar. Several of us have met with the National Park Service in Denver multiple times, and the staff there are very supportive of this nomination. National Landmark status is another accolade that can be used to demonstrate the significance of the railroad to other entities.

Roger has been kind enough to prepare some images to NPS standards. I would be remiss not to acknowledge all the work other Friends members have contributed including: Linda Smith, Dick Cowles, Terri Shaw and Tim Tennant. NPS encouraged us to hire a professional historian to prepare the 'Statement of Significance' and we are fortunate to be working with John Hankey.

We hope to have the application in NPS's hands in 2011.

Keith Hayes