Community Survey
Among the services offered by the Nevada SHPO is support for community surveys. Community surveys are efforts by local government staff, non-profit groups, and private citizens to research and understand the buildings and landscapes within their local environment. For direct assistance in beginning a community survey, individuals or local representatives should contact the Nevada SHPO’s National Register Coordinator. However, some brief guidance and resources are offered below. The Nevada SHPO’s survey forms and guidance are available at the bottom of this page.
Please note: Some of the surveys types below may not be sufficient for Section 106 (National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended) compliance. Please consult the appropriate federal agency to determine the level of survey needed for a federal undertaking. Information about the Section 106 process can be found here.
Types of Survey
There are many different ways to survey the buildings and landscapes of a community or area. Where funding and resources allow, the Nevada SHPO encourages the use of a professional architectural historian on architectural surveys, as they bring unique expertise about the built environment that may not be available locally. However, before deciding what kind of survey to complete, a local official or resident will want to consider what the purpose of the survey is. The kinds of survey are detailed in brief below:
“Windshield” Survey
This is a very brief kind of survey used to get a basic sense of what types of resources might exist in a particular area. No formal documentation is compiled about any specific resources, but field notes and photographs may be taken. This is best done when very little is known about an area, and when the goal is to determine where to spend more time and effort on research.
Reconnaissance Survey
This is a fast-moving survey best used for large areas, or when documenting a potential historic district. “Recon” surveys may fill out short forms about each property in the study area, but will usually only evaluate whether those properties might be “contributing” or “non-contributing” to a larger neighborhood, commercial area, or townsite. This type of survey can be especially helpful when dealing with resources constructed after 1940 like large, master-planned housing developments. If completing this kind of survey, researchers are welcome to use the first page of the Nevada SHPO’s ARA Form to record information. It may also be helpful to compile final results in the Nevada SHPO’s District RA Form.
Intensive Survey
This is a slower-moving, but more thorough, type of survey that involves a full documentation and evaluation of individual resources. This will typically result in conclusions about whether that individual building or place is eligible for the National Register on its own, as well as if there might be a larger historic district. This type of survey is best used when seeking to record detailed information about individual places. If completing this kind of survey, researchers will likely find the Nevada SHPO’s ARA Form to be a helpful tool in recording information.
Forms and Instructions
ARA Form (Word Version) – use for all architectural/engineered resources and non-archaeological sites (parks, fields, etc.)
ARA Form (Fillable PDF Version) – same as above, for those who prefer PDF
District RA Form (Word Version) – use for all historic districts (architectural, archaeological, or districts with both resources types).
District RA Form (Fillable PDF Version) – same as above, for those who prefer PDF
One-page Reconnaissance Survey Form (Word Version) - for use in reconnaissance-level surveys to provide basic information. Check with the SHPO for appropriate use.
Continuation Sheet PDF – If using the PDF version of the form, use this form to add information that may not fit on the fillable PDF forms.
Instructions for the Architectural Resource Assessment Form – instructions for filling out both the ARA and District RA Forms.
Nevada Companion Bibliography – a helpful guide to resources on Nevada history, and local/regional/national architectural history.
Other Resources
Guidelines for Local Surveys: A Basis for Preservation Planning (National Park Service, National Register Bulletin 24)
Research a Historic Property (National Park Service, National Register Bulletin 39)
Historic Residential Suburbs: Guidelines for Evaluation and Documentation for the National Register of Historic Places (National Park Service, 2002)
How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation (National Park Service, National Register Bulletin 15)